Bayer to go for record at Invitational

The IU men’s and women’s track and field squads will have an opportunity to witness redshirt junior Andy Bayer attempt to break the collegiate record in the 3,000-meter race at this weekend’s Gladstein Invitational at Harry Gladstein Fieldhouse.

Bayer said he has been nothing but calm and relaxed about the record, despite having an opportunity to accomplish such a feat.

“It was kind of in our heads at the beginning of the year, and we’ll see how it goes,” Bayer said. “We’re going to go out a little more conservatively.”

In addition to Bayer’s efforts, the rest of his teammates on the distance squad are seeking improved times and performances after taking down Purdue last weekend.
Fellow distance runner senior Andrew Poore said the group is just getting started after having some downtime during winter break.

“Last weekend was more of a rust-buster weekend,” Poore said. “A lot of us got on the track for the first time, and we weren’t really ready to run fast, so this week will be the first time that we’ll go for some personal records and national qualifying marks.”

Aside from achieving those individual accolades, Poore and the rest of the distance group said they feel responsible for a large chunk of the overall team success.
However, success will not take on an added significance until the Big Ten Indoor Championships during the last weekend in February.

“We’re a group that has a lot more scholarships invested in ourselves, so we owe it to our team to get out there and perform,” Poore said. “There are a lot of expectations on our group.”

IU Coach Ron Helmer said heading into Saturday’s meet, the women’s distance squad, particularly the 3,000 meters and the mile, will also be counted upon to produce.

“Both of those races are set to be very fast,” Helmer said. “We’re to a point where we’re going to get similar excitement for the women’s distance events that we typically do for the men.”

The field events will also play a significant factor on both sides, especially after having a strong meet last weekend against a Purdue squad that prides itself on its field events.

Senior throwers Daniel Galos and Monique Riddick will be relied upon to maintain their consistency in the throws.

Yet, if there’s one performance where all eyes will be focused Saturday, it’s Bayer’s running of the 3,000-meter race.

“I don’t know if it’s really an attempt at a collegiate record,” Bayer said. “We’re just trying to run fast.”