The IU indoor track and field teams are reaping the rewards from its impressive season-opening performance on Dec. 8 at the Hoosier Open.
The Hoosiers had three competitors named Big Ten Athlete of the Week after IU broke multiple records in their first meet of the year at Gladstein Fieldhouse.
IU swept the awards for the week on the men’s side. Freshman Ben Veatch was named the top athlete for men’s track after dominating in his first indoor track appearance.
Veatch won the 5K with a time of 13:57.27. That time was good enough to set a new USATF American Junior Indoor record and ranks him as the top competitor in the event in the nation so far in the 2017 season.
Meanwhile on the field side, freshman Jyles Etienne was also stellar in his first collegiate event. He managed to set a new Hoosier Open record in the high jump with a top jump of 2.21m (7’3”). Etienne’s performance also gives him some national recognition as his top mark puts him at number two in the country.
The women’s team also got a Big Ten Athlete of the Week award in the field events. Sophomore Khayla Dawson joined Veatch and Etienne after finishing third at the Hoosier Open in the shot put.
Despite finishing behind two of her opponents, her throw of 16.61m (54’6”) was still good enough for the third best mark in the country.
The Hoosiers' next meet will be their dual meet with Tennessee on Jan. 6 in Bloomington with the starting time to-be-announced.
Murphy Wheeler
