The IU women's track and field team has raced in three meets so far this season, enabling the runners to become comfortable in their respective events.
However, this weekend should prove to be interesting as IU Coach RonHelmer has changed his line-up for the Gladstein invitational.
“I’m running something that I’m not used to running so it will be a challenge to experience something so new,” sophomore Joely Pinkston said. “I’m excited and nervous because even in high school, I never ran the mile. I’ve never raced more than 800 meters.”
Running alongside Pinkston in the event will be freshmen Lexa Barrott, Claire Hamilton and Josey Korte.
This will be the trio’s first time competing in the mile at IU, as well as Korte and Hamilton’s college race debuts. However, Korte and Hamilton will be running unattached in this race.
“Also, all the mid-distance girls will be running the 600-meter this weekend, and normally we run the 800-meter,” Pinkston offered. “I think that will be special, to be able to race with the women I normally race with, yet in a different event. I think we truly have the potential to do well.”
Additionally, also competing at that distance will be sophomore Anevay Hiehle and junior Riley Egbula, as well as sophomore Mallory Mulzer.
As for the long distance runners, there will be a different group out on the track for the 3000-meter run.
“We have a really good 3k field," freshman Hannah Stoffel said. "I’m excited to run with the top girls on our team and all achieve some success together. As a team, we just came off a really good meet at Kentucky so we just need to continue to keep our eyes up, and not look back at our past successes. We need to try to keep pushing forward and build off of those successes instead of just being satisfied with what we’ve achieved so far.”
In this 3000, there will be many top tier competitors. Junior Katherine Receveur will head the squad, as she holds the all-time school record with a time of 9:03.71. Alongside her will be senior Brenna Calder, as well as juniors Haley Harris, Kelsey Harris and Maggie Allen.
This race will provide a solid opportunity to witness IU’s competitive side within themselves. All five women competing in this race have been key players for the Hoosiers throughout the season. Stoffel explained that since it is still early, these individual wins give the women a chance to prove to themselves what they can do. However, overall, there is a sense of excitement going into this weekend.
“I think that with all the teams coming, we really have set ourselves up to be successful all across the board,” said Stoffel. “I know there is a bunch of very good competition coming, and within our team we have a lot of strong competition. We have really stacked some events to be getting some PRs. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone tough it out and compete as hard as they can.”
