IU had its best overall result of the season this weekend at the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. Both the men’s and women’s teams finished in second out of six teams in Louisville.
Eighteen Hoosiers set marks that placed them in the top 48 in the East, which would qualify them for the Eastern Regionals.
The men’s and women’s hammer throw were Friday, and all of the other events were Saturday. Senior thrower Laura Schroeder won the women’s hammer throw, although she didn’t take the school record back from junior thrower Nakel McClinton like she had hoped. McClinton finished third Friday.
Senior pole vaulters Sydney Clute and Sophie Gutermuth placed first and second, respectively, in the women’s pole vault. Clute’s 4.21 meter vault put her at ninth on the East qualifying list, and Gutermuth’s 4.11 meter vault put her at 18th.
The duo had struggled in their first few meets, with Gutermuth failing to clear a height in both meets and Clute failing to clear a height in one of the meets. Clute said it was a relief for them to finally turn it around.
“Hitting that mark wasn’t so much of a worry,” Clute said. “We knew that it was going to happen. But heading in the right direction and being more consistent here in the next couple meets is definitely going to be a focus.”
Sophomore jumper Paul Galas won the men’s high jump for the second time this season. Galas set a season best with his 2.10 meter jump, a mark that put him in qualifying range. Freshman jumper Treyton Harris tied for second with a season-best 2.05 meter jump.
Galas said it was reassuring for him to get the qualifying mark out of the way in knowing that what they’ve been doing so far this season has been working.
“I was more focused this week than anything else,” Galas said. “I didn’t really have the performance I wanted last week at Auburn, so I think that really motivated me to jump higher this weekend.”
Senior distance runner Rorey Hunter won the men’s 1,500 meter run in a race the Hoosiers dominated. IU swept the top four spots, and took five of the top six finishes.
Junior Matt Schwartzer finished second, senior Owen Skeete finished third, sophomore Joe Murphy finished fourth, and junior Jason Crist finished sixth. All except Hunter set season bests with their times, and all are in qualifying range.
Sophomore distance runner Brenna Calder won the women’s 1,500 meter in 4:21.59, a career best and sixth in school history. That time put her at 15th on the East qualifying list.
Senior multi-athlete Dylan Anderson finished second in the men’s pole vault. He vaulted a season high 5.11 meters, which put him in qualifying range.
Senior middle distance runner Josh Roche finished second in the men’s 3,000 meter steeplechase in 8:55.32, which put him in ninth on the East qualifying list. Sophomore middle distance runner Eric Claxton finished in third and also got into qualifying range.
Junior jumper Ari Nelson placed second in the women’s long jump. She jumped a season-best 5.97 meters, and she put herself in qualifying range.
Freshman thrower Willie Morrison finished second in the men’s shot put with a 17.40 meter throw.
The relay teams saw similar success this weekend. The women’s 4x400 meter relay team won in a season-best 3:42.08. The men’s team finished third, but also set a season best with their 3:11.25 time.
Galas felt an extra level of focus in the team this weekend. He was glad to see so many teammates putting up solid numbers.
“It’s starting to become decision time as to if you’ll be competing at the Big Ten Championships in a few weeks,” Galas said. “It’s almost time where we’re supposed to start to perform, start to show some better fitness. It was just a matter of time for it to happen.”
