Track and field team returns to Indiana after 2-month absence

Sixty-three days have passed since the Hoosiers last competed in Bloomington.\nDuring that time, a lot has happened. A former president and a presidential hopeful have visited IU. One basketball coach resigned and another has taken over. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is the IU track and field team’s dedication to improvement. \nHaving traveled in the first three weeks of the outdoor season to Alabama, California, Texas and Tennessee, the team is finally back home again in Indiana, something junior John Gunnell is happy about. \n“It’s good to be home,” he said.\nThe Hoosier men’s and women’s track and field teams will host the Indiana Invitational Friday at the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex on the E.C. “Billy” Hayes Track, the first of two home meets in the outdoor season. \nGunnell has been part of the 4x400-meter relay team, which has steadily improved this season. Last weekend at the Sea Ray Relays in Knoxville, Tenn., Gunnell teamed up with fellow junior Martin Stephen and seniors Ryan Smith and Doug Dayhoff. The group finished in fifth place, recording a time of 3:11.32, only 1.32 seconds shy of the NCAA regional qualifying time.\n“With our training, we will be there,” Gunnell said.\nThe Hoosiers are off to a hot start in the outdoor season, with several athletes setting career bests and posting regional qualifying times. \nAssociate head coach Jeff Huntoon said he thinks this meet will allow several athletes who are close to regional marks to achieve the times. \n“They will be home and relaxed and hopefully they can take that last little step,” he said. \nIn addition to the career bests and regional marks, several Hoosiers have been recognized by the Big Ten for their outstanding performances. \nSenior Marcus Thigpen was awarded Big Ten Co-Track Athlete of the Week after the Alabama Relays. The next week, fellow senior Abbie Stechschulte was honored with Big Ten Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after recording the second-highest heptathlon point total in school history at the Texas Relays.\nAt the Sea Ray Relays last weekend, two IU pole vaulters received Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week accolades. Freshman Stephanie Chin, who jumped a new school record of 4.25 meters, and junior Jeff Coover, who came within one centimeter of fifth all time at IU with a mark of 5.35 meters, received the awards. \nHuntoon said he is excited about the awards the team is winning, and they are having a ripple effect on the success and motivation of the team.\n“These kids know it and they want to be next,” he said. \nJunior Brent Bahler practices with Chin, Coover and the other pole vaulters, and said he has thoroughly enjoyed being on the team. \n“I get to train with good athletes every day,” he said. \nBahler, who grew up on the shores of the Wabash in West Lafayette, said he is happy to be home again in Indiana competing, but also is glad to be with people on the team who have become his close friends. \n“This is one of the best things I’ve done in my life,” he said.