Hoosiers claim wins, records at SPIRE NCAA DI Invitational, Hoosier Hills Invitational

The IU men’s and women’s track squads took another step in preparation for the Big Ten Indoor Championships by splitting up for two meets during the weekend.

Sprinters and field event athletes traveled to the SPIRE NCAA DI Invitational in Geneva, Ohio, while the distance runners remained in Bloomington for the Hoosier Hills Invitational.

Highlighting the weekend for the Hoosiers was the men’s distance medley relay, which set the world’s fifth-fastest indoor time ever. Seniors De’Sean Turner and Daniel Stockberger and juniors Chris Vaughn and Andrew Bayer combined for first in the event with a time of 9:29.12.

Vaughn said despite having accomplished such a feat, the quartet didn’t run its best race.

“I was talking to De’Sean after the race, and he said, ‘I definitely could have run two or three seconds faster,’ so I think there’s a lot of room for improvement,” Vaughn said. “I think we can, ultimately, do something really big.”

Also setting a notable mark for the Hoosiers’ distance squad was senior Ben Hubers.

The Marietta, Ga., native earned a first-place finish in the 3,000 meters, crossing the finish line at 7:52.02. The time automatically qualified Hubers for the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Hubers said it felt relieving to have qualified at this meet because he’ll have an extra week of rest before the Big Ten Indoor Championships on Feb. 24 and 25.

“I think it’s pretty important that I have a full week of rest and an opportunity to get some really good training in,” Hubers said. “I wouldn’t be fresh for Big Tens if I didn’t have that week of rest. It was critical, and I’m just glad I got it done.”

Having Bayer as the pace-setter in the 3,000 meters was an important factor in Hubers’ automatic qualifying time, Hubers said.

“Andy was supposed to go through in 4:14, which he did exactly,” Hubers said. “Having Andy in there as the rabbit was absolutely critical.”

At the SPIRE NCAA DI meet, senior sprinter Kind Butler was victorious in the 200 meters, posting a time of 20.85 seconds, which is a meet record. The mark also places Butler second in Division I in the event this season.

Butler also took first in the 60 meters with a time of 6.68 seconds, which is good for tops in the Big Ten Conference in the event this season.

Freshman Nick Stoner finished ninth in the 60 meters with a time 6.88 seconds, which moves him into ninth all-time in school history in the event.

Also racking up some astounding figures was senior Ryan Hindes, who finished seventh in the 800 meters with a time of 1:49.59. The time ties Hindes for second all-time in school history in the event.

IU Coach Ron Helmer said he was pleased with the athletes, but that his team is on a mission.

“We think there’s more there,” Helmer said. “We have the responsibility of reaching our potential, and that’s our challenge.”