Hoosiers seek better competition, faster times

Four Hoosiers and a relay team won events at the women's track and field Indiana Invitational this weekend at the Harry Gladstein Fieldhouse. Personal records were set, and IU sprinters dominated the finals. But coach Randy Heisler said he's not yet sure if his team is ready for the indoor Big Ten championship in three weeks.\n"I think we're on track to where we need to be," said Heisler, whose team is the defending conference champions. "We'll have a much better feel after this week because it's a short week of training, very similar to what the Big Ten week will be like."\nDespite the invite's meager competition and non-scored format, the Hoosiers won six events and commanded the sprints.\nSophomore Rachelle Boone defeated two teammates in the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes. She won the 60-meter dash by 0.01 seconds against school-record holder Lorraine Dunlop, a senior. Boone won the 200-meter dash by a heftier margin -- 0.35 seconds -- against Dunlop, the runner-up.\nIn the 200-meter dash, junior Tia Trent placed third. She won the 400-meter dash with a time of 55.46 seconds. Trent has won the event at three consecutive meets without serious competition.\n"Tia is running (personal records) every weekend, but Tia isn't running against anybody," Heisler said. "Tia hasn't had anyone in the last 200 yards. In the last 200 yards of a 400-yard race, she hasn't seen anybody."\nSophomore Danielle Carruthers won 60-meter hurdles Saturday by 0.2 seconds against Kenyetta Grigsby of Eastern Kentucky. Carruthers' winning time of 8.27 seconds is an NCAA provisional qualifying time and 0.02 seconds off her indoor school-record time.\n"I'm happy that I'm getting better, but I'm not happy with the time," said Carruthers, who placed third in the 60-meter dash. "I probably won't be pleased until I'm in the final round of hurdles at nationals."\nIn the throwing events, senior Jennifer Brown won the shot put with a throw of 14.80 meters and placed second in the weight throw with a toss of 18.25 meters. Despite Brown's win and second-place finish, Heisler said he'd like to see the All-American match the distances she throws in practice.\n"When Jenn Brown decides to get in the ring and throw like she throws in practice, I'm not sure there's anybody in the United States that can beat her," Heisler said. "Jenn threw 54, 55 feet on Wednesday in practice. To take six throws and whatever she threw, 48 feet or whatever, she's the first one that will tell you she's not happy with that at all. That's not what she needs to be doing"