IU track and field found success at home in Gladstein Fieldhouse this weekend at the IU Relays.
Much of the team’s success was propelled by experienced athletes such as senior Adam Coulon, junior Cooper Williams, senior Jenna Jungels, redshirt senior Kyle Mau and junior Maddy Pollard.
Coulon continued his four-meet winning streak by placing first in the men’s pole vault with a mark of 5.57 meters.
Williams faced formidable competition in the men’s 800 meter, which featured the top four 800-meter runners in the nation, but emerged victorious with a time of 1:48.17.
Jungels won her second straight meet in the women’s long jump with a distance of 6.01 meters. She said she has been consistent this year and has been doing well but not as well as she would like.
“I feel like I’ve been jumping somewhat well, but I have a better jump out there,” Jungels said.
Mau, propelled by the chants of his teammates, took first in the 3000 meter fast section with a time of 7:51.90.
Pollard surpassed teammate senior Khayla Dawson for not only the best mark on the team in the women’s shot put, but also a new national best with a mark of 17.57 meters on her final attempt.
While the Hoosiers’ veteran leaders showed out as they have all season, the team’s youth also had an opportunity to showcase their talents this weekend. Notable younger athletes who performed well at the relays were freshmen Nathan Stone and Alyssa Robinson and sophomores Matthew Schadler and Hope Purcell.
Stone took second place behind Coulon in the men’s pole vault with a mark of 5.37 meters. He left high school ranked No. 2 nationally in the event.
Robinson placed fourth in the 200 meter and set a new personal best with a time of 23.95.
Schadler was the top collegiate finisher of the day for the men’s mile fast section with a time of 4:01.05. He finished second to former IU and current Nike athlete Andy Bayer.
Purcell won the women’s indoor pentathlon with a score of 3,469.
While there was success from some of the team’s young talent at the relays, head coach Ron Helmer said the younger members are still growing as athletes.
“There’s probably a bit of a mixed bag there,” Helmer said about the younger athletes on the team. “They’re young, they’re developing athletes.”
The team will return to action this weekend at Notre Dame for the Meyo Invitational.
