IU runs over competition for individual, team wins

The IU men’s and women’s track and field teams rang in the new year by winning a combined 10 events at Saturday’s Indiana Open.

Claiming victories for the Hoosiers were junior Kelsey Duerksen, sophomore Robbie Nierman and seniors Dan Galos and De’Sean Turner.

Nierman represented the Hoosiers’ distance team in winning fashion, placing first in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:17.89, which was good for tops in the NCAA so far during the early stages of the indoor season. Nierman’s winning time also shattered his personal record of 8:48.86 by nearly 31 seconds.

Also bringing home a first-place finish for the men’s distance team was Turner, who won the 1,000 meters at a clip of 2:23.51.

Galos, a thrower, also earned a first-place spot. He won the men’s weight throw, recording a distance of 18.83 meters, which is also a personal record for the redshirt senior.

Saturday’s meet was also a distinctive one, as four IU alumni (Aarik Wilson, Vera Neuenswander, Jeff Coover and Abbie Norton) left Harry Gladstein Fieldhouse victorious.

Wilson covered 16.02 meters in the triple jump, which proved long enough for a victory in the event.

Neuenswander and Coover were individual winners in the women’s and men’s pole vault, respectively, while Norton took home first place in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.98 seconds.

The Hoosiers’ sprint squad again took care of business.

Sophomore Tyler Sult won the 60 meters in 7.04 seconds, while senior Ryan Hindes took second place in the 500 meters with a time of 1:04.10.

Chris Vaughn won his heat of the 500 meters with a time of 1:04.97 — third place overall.

The meet itself was yet another opportunity for the Hoosiers to prepare for their looming showdown next Saturday with in-state rival Purdue University.

Following the meet against Purdue on Jan. 14, the Hoosiers will be hosts to three more indoor events — the Gladstein Invitational, Indiana Relays and Hoosier Hills — before the Big Ten Indoor Championships on Feb. 24-25 at the University of Nebraska.