Track and field begins outdoor season

IU senior Kyla Buckley and the Hoosier distance medley relay team earned All-American honors and went back to work competing in Charlotte, N.C., as track and field began its outdoor season.

The Hoosiers opened the outdoor season at the 49er Classic Series. They competed Friday and Saturday, earning top prize in 10 events.

Competing in the steeple chase and javelin events for the first time this season, the IU athletes were dominant.

Sophomore Brianna Johnson and freshman Jason Crist won the two-kilometer steeple chase, while junior Nolan Fife, senior Robby Nierman and sophomore Josh Roche finished first, second and third, respectively, in the three-kilometer steeple chase.

Sophomore Matt Birk’s javelin throw of 61.85 meters (202 feet, 11 inches) was good for another first-place finish, and the fourth-best toss in program history.

“We had a lot of kids that if you mentioned their names, a personal best was behind it,” Associate Head Coach Jeff Huntoon said. “To run times that they were barely ahead of last year in an opener like this is great.”

The team’s indoor strengths also continued to develop outdoors on UNC Charlotte’s Irwin Belk Track.

Sophomores Drew Volz and Sophie Gutermuth won the men’s and women’s pole vault. Gutermuth’s clearance of 4.15 meters (13 feet, 7 inches) set a facility record.

The duo of sophomore Owen Skeete and junior Samantha Ginther also found success, emerging victorious in the men’s and women’s three-kilometer race.

Ginther crossed the finish line in 10 minutes and 24.89 seconds, 30 seconds before the nearest competitor.

Though neither captured first, sophomore Cornelius Strickland and freshman Nakel McClinton held their own in numerous events.

Strickland raced in five events throughout the weekend, with top-five finishes in each event, including fourth-place finishes in the 100- and 200-meter finals.

McClinton placed fourth in the discus and hammer throws, capturing the ninth-best mark in school history by launching the hammer 45.32 meters (148 feet, 8 inches).

“It was a long trip, but it was worth it to get a lot of work in,” Huntoon said. “We had a lot of kids that were able to do multiple events this weekend, and they took advantage of the conditions.”

Huntoon said the beautiful Charlotte weather was an added benefit of the nine-hour bus ride, as the sun shone down on the field of 46 teams and 2,600 athletes during the two days of competition.

But not all Hoosiers enjoyed the warmer climate. Distance medley runners freshman Tre’tez Kinnaird, sophomore Jordan Gornall and junior Rorey Hunter took the weekend to recover after finishing third in the Indoor Nationals.

Senior Kyla Buckley, who finished ninth nationally in the women’s shot put, also rested. On Saturday, she celebrated her 23rd birthday with an All-American
certificate.

All four members of the distance medley relay were also recognized as
All-Americans.

Senior Derrick Morgan was the only national competitor who competed in Charlotte, winning his 400-meter heat in a time of 49.04 seconds.

“What we talked about going out here is controlling what you can,” Huntoon said. “If the weather got crazy or the schedule got off, don’t worry about it. Do the best you can and make sure that you’re ready to go. And a lot of them were. It was a great way to start the season.”