IU relay, shot-putter seek national titles

For the sixth consecutive year, IU’s distance medley relay will conclude its indoor track and field season at the NCAA Indoor Championship meet.

Sophomore Jordan Gornall, senior Derrick Morgan, freshman Tre’tez Kinnaird and junior Rorey Hunter make up the distance medley — ranked second-best in the NCAA. They will join senior shot-putter Kyla Buckley in representing the Hoosiers in Albuquerque, N.M.

These IU athletes will contend for two national titles and five All-American Honors as they compete this weekend against other elite college athletes from all over the country.

IU Coach Ron Helmer said his Hoosiers are prepared to take advantage of another opportunity.

“I think these athletes making most of their opportunities is what has most impressed me,” Helmer said. “I think if there’s a secret to success, that’s probably what it is. It’s what champions do.”

Three weeks ago, the IU distance medley took advantage of their one chance to qualify for nationals by running the fifth-fastest time in collegiate history.

But a week later at the Big Ten Championship, the quartet had a major hiccup.

The mistake occurred when Kinnaird — who would have set a new school record with his 800-meter relay split at the Alex Wilson Invitational — was preparing to hand off to Hunter, the relay’s final leg.

Hunter reached out his hand to grab the baton from Kinnaird, and the metal tube fell between their outstretched palms, toppling to the ground.

It cost the relay a Big Ten title.

“I think we learned our lesson,” Hunter said. “The race will be a lot different at nationals. It will be slow and tactical. I always pride myself on a good kick at the end, so I think if I stay with the frontrunners and race late, we’ll be fine.”

Big Ten Champion Kyla Buckley has also faced adversity during the indoor season.

The senior from Indianapolis started the season injured, but didn’t let it hold her back.

She has surpassed her personal-best throw twice since her return.

The second record came for Buckley at the Big Ten Championships, where she out-threw top-seeded Dani Bunch of Purdue to claim back-to-back indoor conference titles in the women’s shot put.

Buckley’s winning throw of 17.17 meters (56 feet, four inches) puts her at sixth in the NCAA rankings heading into a weekend at nationals.

“Kyla has the ability to throw farther yet than she’s shown us at this point,” Helmer said. “We’ve seen her throw better than her best throw in practice. She just needs to go in and handle the stress and anxiety of the competition. If she goes and hits a big one, then who knows what that will get her.”

Earlier in the season, Helmer expressed his doubts about whether or not any of his athletes would score this year at the national meet.

Now, with Buckley and the distance medley relay in prime positions to challenge for national titles, Helmer said he will pleased just to see them compete and score.

“I’m hoping that both the relay and Kyla go in and compete well and come out of there with some points and All-America certificates,” he said. “If they do that, it will be a successful weekend.”