There was a lot of cream and crimson spread across the four days of competition at the track and field NCAA Championships this weekend in Austin, Texas.
On the first day of competition, senior Daniel Michalski and sophomore Cooper Williams each advanced to the finals of their respective events. Michalski ran the second-fastest time of the day in the steeplechase, clocking in an 8:41.62, while Williams advanced in the 800 with a 1:47.76.
Junior Adam Coulon and sophomore Brock Mammoser competed in the pole vault and finished ninth and 21st respectively. Coulon’s finished earned him Second Team All-American honors.
In the 1500-meter run, the Hoosiers had three representatives — senior Joe Murphy, graduate student Kenneth Hagen and sophomore Teddy Browning. Murphy took eighth in the heat, Hagen took 17th and Browning took 23rd. The top five of each heat and next two best times were to advance to the finals, so neither of the three saw another day of competition. Murphy’s finish gave him Second Team All-American honors.
The final Hoosier competing Wednesday night was sophomore Ben Veatch in the 10K. Veatch finished 18th with a time of 30:14.93.
The second day of competition was highlighted by junior Khayla Dawson and sophomore Maddy Pollard in the shot put. Dawson finished sixth place with a throw of 17.24 meters, and Pollard took eighth with a personal record toss of 16.94, earning both women First Team All-American honors.
Senior Nycia Ford placed 20th in the hammer throw, and senior Maggie Allen took 17th in the 10K. Junior Kelsey Harris just missed qualifying for the 800 finals when she ran a time of 2:08.48.
Friday, the third day of competition, saw the most success for IU with four athletes taking home First Team All-American honors.
Williams took fifth in the 800 with a 1:46.45 to become a First Team All-American. Michalski was leading the steeplechase to begin the final lap, but an untimely fall at the water pit caused him to finish seventh overall, still making First Team All-American.
Also taking seventh place was senior Eric Bethea in the triple jump when he leaped a personal best of 16.65 meters.
Junior Kyle Mau rounded out the First Team All-American performances when he finished eighth place in the 5K in 14:09.62.
On the fourth and final day of competition, junior Leah Moran was the lone Hoosier competing. Moran placed 13th in the triple jump with a personal best of 13.15 meters, earning her Second Team All-American honors.
The meet concluded the season for IU as it finished with six First Team All-Americans and three Second Team All-Americans. A majority of the IU’s track and field team will be back in action in August for the 2019 cross-country season.
