The Hoosiers found success across the board from both the team’s developing young talent and veteran standouts in Loftus Sports Center at Notre Dame in the Meyo Invitational over the weekend.
The team’s youth were able to show their ability and potential this weekend with performances from sophomore Alexis Hill and freshmen Elizabeth Stanhope, Janii Jenkins and Lauren Thomas.
Hill threw a new personal best mark of 21.25 meters Friday placing third, which also stands just 0.28 meters shy of the school record.
Stanhope recorded a breakout performance in the 600-meter with a time of 1:30.61, a new personal best, and placed fourth.
Stanhope, who has competed in every meet for the Hoosiers this season, came to IU holding the Indiana state record in the 800-meter.
Jenkins and Thomas, both competing in the 400-meter, were able to set new personal best times of 55.18 and 56.30, respectively.
“Anytime we’re going forward is a good thing,” IU head coach Ron Helmer said after the meet. “Not everybody is capable of being an All-American or a Big Ten Champion, but everybody is capable of getting better.”
Along with success from developing underclassmen, the team’s veteran members contributed to the overall success of the weekend.
Senior Megan Grabowski finished in fifth place in her sole event, the women’s 200-meter, with a time of 24.28.
Senior Joely Pinkston finished first among all collegiate competition in the 800-meter championship with a time of 2:07.40. Pinkston finished third only to unattached athlete Jaimie Phelan and IU’s Kelsey Harris.
Senior Khayla Dawson and junior Maddy Pollard, who have both held the No. 1 mark nationally in the shot put this season, finished third and fifth respectively with marks of 16.93 and 16.70 meters.
The final event of the day, the women’s 4x400-meter relay, featured Pinkston, Jenkins, Stanhope, and senior Mallory Mulzer.
Uniting both developing athletes alongside upperclassmen, the relay team ultimately finished in fifth place with a time of 3:47.70.
The Hoosiers will compete at three separate meets this upcoming weekend as they send athletes to the Iowa State Classic, the Tyson Invitational at the University of Arkansas and Hoosier Hills in Bloomington.
“We intend to go in this weekend and come out with positive performances.” Helmer said.
