Hoosiers splash toward Big Ten championships

The competition doesn’t move indoors when it is raining. The stadium doesn’t have a retractable roof. So when it rains, everything – the athletes, equipment, competitive surface – gets wet. \nThe outdoor track and field season has not been easy for the Hoosiers, who experienced much of the same bad weather conditions Friday as they hosted the Billy Hayes Invitational. \n“The weather has been far worse than in other years, but we are used to it by now,” junior John Gunnell said. \nWith constant rain coming down all evening, the wind wasn’t as bad as it was in the past. Rather than the gusts of wind exceeding 20 mph that the team faces in previous meets, the wind was rather calm.\n“There are three things – cold, wind and rain,” said IU coach Ron Helmer, describing the bad weather conditions that make track competitions difficult. “We had two of them.” \nAs hurdlers sophomore Kayla Smith and senior Ryan Smith opened up the meet with the singing of the National Anthem, the flags barely moved. The rain, however, was a different story, at one point sliding a pole and a Purdue pole vaulter right off of the landing mat. The vaulter experienced no injuries but was upset and frustrated. \nDespite the unfavorable weather conditions, some athletes were still able to excel in their events. Junior Molly Beckwith led the way for the women’s team, claiming victory in the 800-meter run.\nBeckwith, who clocked her third best time in the event, crossed the finish line in 2:08.64, but ran the race a little differently then she did when recording her previous best times. \n“I was leading the whole time,” she said. “It’s always hard to run faster when you’re leading the whole race.”\nHelmer said he believes that Beckwith has been working hard and is seeing positive results.\n“I think a big part of it is she’s talented,” he said. “Another part is she’s a tough competitive kid.” \nAfter qualifying for nationals in the indoor season and already improving on her career best this season, Beckwith has run well, but knows she will face a tough challenge next week at the Big Ten Championships.\nGoing into this meet, Beckwith ranked 20th in the 800, but above her on the list are three Big Ten Athletes, including Minnesota’s Heather Dorniden, a former NCAA Champion. \n“After last week I ran a 2:06, and this week 2:08 is pretty good because next week I’m going to have to run really fast,” Beckwith said. \nFor several Hoosiers including senior Kyndal Carr, this meet represented the last time they would compete on their home track. Although she would have liked to have done a little better, Carr, who finished seventh in the 100-meter dash and 14th in the 200-meter dash, said she had fun competing. \n“I always have a good time,” she said. “It didn’t really feel like my last meet, but it’s kinda sad now that I’m actually leaving the track.”\nOne athlete who will have plenty more opportunities to run on the Hoosiers home track is freshman Andy Weatherford. After beating the NCAA regional qualifying mark in the steeplechase last week, Weatherford came back strong coming close to the regional qualifying mark in the 1500-meter run, placing third in 3:47.95.\nWeatherford finished as the first collegiate runner in the race which lasted 109 meters short of a mile. The freshman said he likes the shape he is in. \n“I’m feeling really good about where I am at,” he said. “This is the best I’ve ever felt.” \nThe men’s 4-by-400-meter relay team closed out the meet with a victory, and inched closer to the regional mark of 3:10, with a time of 3:10.98, much to the delight of Gunnell, who anchored the group. \n“It was a much needed performance at this time of the season,” he said. \nAlthough the weather wasn’t great, Carr tried to keep everyone’s spirits up. \n“It was tough but I kept telling everyone this is perfect track and field weather,” she said. “The more positives you think the more positive outcomes you will have.”