IU competed in the NCAA East Regional meet last weekend. Thirty-one Hoosiers who achieved qualifying marks during the regular season competed in this meet.
Many athletes for IU fared well throughout the weekend, but none more than the five athletes who qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The top 12 from each region qualify for nationals.
Last Thursday, two throwers earned their spots for nationals in the women’s hammer throw. Senior Laura Schroeder finished second in the event with a 62.58-meter throw. Junior Nakel McClinton had a 58.88-meter throw, which earned her the 12th and final qualifying spot.
McClinton and Schroeder are No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the school record book in women’s hammer throw. The top mark was traded back and forth between the two for the first few weeks of the season, but neither has been able to top McClinton’s 65.12-meter throw at the IU-Purdue dual meet April 23rd. Schroeder’s top mark this season was a 64.99 meter throw at the Big Ten Championships three weeks ago.
Senior pole vaulter Sydney Clute also advanced to nationals. Her 4.25-meter vault put her in a three-way tie for the top overall finisher. She cleared all four vaults on her first attempt — something only one other vaulter achieved last weekend. Senior Sophie Gutermuth narrowly missed qualifying, as she tied for 15th with a 4.20-meter vault.
Clute is first in the school record book for women’s pole vault. She set the mark, a 4.42-meter vault, three weeks ago at the Big Ten Championships. That mark also was an Ed Weir facility record and a Big Ten Championship meet record.
McClinton and Clute went to indoor nationals in March, and both have been to outdoor nationals in previous seasons. McClinton had a largely underwhelming performance at indoor nationals, and she kept that in the back of her mind for the duration of outdoor season. She said she was excited to have a chance at redemption at regionals, and will look for similar redemption at nationals.
On the men’s side, sophomore middle distance runner Daniel Kuhn advanced to nationals in the men’s 800-meter run. Kuhn had a remarkably strong indoor season, setting multiple school records and winning a Big Ten Championship in the 600-meter run, but barely missed qualifying for nationals in the 800-meter run. He left no doubts this outdoor season, finishing third with a 1:48.40 time.
Kuhn is second in school history in the men’s 800-meter run. He set that mark during the first meet of the outdoor season, the Pac 12 vs. Big Ten Invitational, running the race in 1:46.69.
Freshman thrower Willie Morrison became the first freshman thrower to qualify for nationals since 1991. He recorded a 19.27-meter throw in the men’s shot put, which placed him fourth in the event and is second in school history. His previous personal best was 19.25 meters, which he achieved at the Big Ten Championships.
The NCAA Outdoor Championships are June 9-11 in Eugene, Oregon.
Seth Tow
