The IU men’s track and field team defeated the best athletes the Big Ten had to offer throughout the weekend on its way to becoming the conference’s indoor champions for the first time in half a decade.
The Hoosiers ran away with the competition early on after taking a lead on day one. IU finished with a final team score of 112 and defeated runner-up Penn State by 28 points.
IU took home many individual championships, and an abundance of Hoosiers set personal records. IU Coach Ron Helmer said his team met its goals for the weekend.
“The reality of it is that it’s an incredibly difficult thing to do,” Helmer said. “Our athletes proved capable of having what it takes to pull this off, so from a professional standpoint, it was very gratifying for me.”
IU won Big Ten gold in five events and had many Hoosiers make the podium or finish just outside the top three. Helmer called the conference meet one of the most outstanding weekends he’s ever been part of.
Sophomore Willie Morrison capped off his winning season by posting a career-best throw of 19.79 meters in the shot put. He broke the IU record and became a Big Ten champion. Fellow sophomore David Schall also helped the team out by finishing seventh in the same event.
Sophomore jumpers Eric Bethea and Treyton Harris also captured Big Ten gold medals. After taking bronze in the triple jump last season, Bethea returned this year and won the event with a distance of 15.95 meters.
Harris set a personal record of 7.71 meters and won the long jump. He followed up that performance by taking second in the high jump.
Junior Daniel Kuhn won the 600-meter run for the second consecutive year. His time of 1:15.23 is the fifth-fastest indoor 600-meter time ever run. Kuhn set a new IU and Big Ten record even after he had to qualify and run in the distance medley relay the day before.
“Things like that aren’t supposed to happen on your third race of the weekend,” Helmer said. “Daniel just comes to race every time out. He gives you everything he’s got, and he doesn’t overthink it.”
Kuhn, alongside junior Joe Murphy, sophomore Markevious Roach and freshman Kyle Mau, was victorious in the distance medley relay. They set a Big Ten record and were only the second IU team to ever win the event.
The Hoosiers were able to get the overall team win due to contributions made by everyone who raced, even those who might not have won. Helmer said every member of the team was expected to compete at the highest level possible.
“We didn’t put anyone on the bus that wasn’t going to give us a positive effort and contribution,” Helmer said. “When you look around and that is what’s going on, you want to be a part of that.”
After finishing with the two fastest mile times in qualifying, Murphy and Mau placed second and third in the finals.
Senior Jason Crist led the way for the distance runners as he placed second in the 3,000-meter and fourth in the 5,000-meter.
Junior Andrew Miller finished fourth in the weight throw, and freshman William Session added a seventh-place finish in the 60-meter hurdle finals. Although the team is happy about its performance, Helmer said there is no time for celebration.
“That comes later,” Helmer said.
IU will take a week off before competing in the NCAA Championships the following week. Then the Hoosiers will gear up for outdoor season, which starts two weeks after the national meet.
