The Indiana Invitational was held at the Robert C. Haugh Complex. This was Indiana’s first outdoor meet, and 21 schools from the Midwest were welcomed to the Hoosiers.
Ron Helmer, the head coach of Indiana, said that he wanted his athletes take advantage the home environment and improve their times after Indiana’s success at the Louisville Invitational. He acknowledged that there was still much growth to be made, but that there are still many things to do.
Helmer stated that we had some very impressive individual performances. (But) as many people showed up to compete as possible, there were also some who couldn’t.
Helmer stated that he won’t be content with his team until all of them compete at their best.
I won’t be satisfied until we have at least 100 percent of our people available to compete and take advantage. Helmer said.
Friday night saw the Hoosiers start the competition with the 200-meter dash for women. Morgan Snow and Olivia Gee were both sophomores competing in the event. Snow finished sixth with a time in 24.02 seconds, 0.04 seconds shy her personal record of 23.98. Gee placed 20th with a time in 25.11 seconds.
Next up for the Hoosiers, the women’s 400 meter hurdles. Maria Anderson, a sophomore, finished first in heat one. Her time of 1:01.53 was a new personal best. Anderson was fourth in the combined results of all heats. Anderson was competing in this event for the second time.
Four Hoosiers were among the top ten finishers in the women’s 1500-meter run. Bailey Hertenstein, a senior, was the leader of the team and finished second with a time 4:4.19, a season record. According to the The Hertenstein Race Time, Hertenstein now holds the tenth-best time in the country with a time of 4:14.19. TFRRS outdoor qualifying lists.
Senior Hannah Stoffel was fifth in the 1500-meter run. Her time was 4:17.23, a personal record, and the fifth fastest time in program history. Senior Sarah Schmitt, a Hoosier, was eighth in the 1500-meter run with a time 4:19.03 which was a personal best. Senior Jenna Barker was in the top ten with a tenth-place finish and a time 4:21.52.
Saturday’s all-field events saw Indiana have a lot of success.
Junior Paola Fernandez Sola won the field events by taking first place in long jump. Her personal record was 6.61 meters, which is a significant improvement on her previous personal best of 6.33 metres. Fernandez-Sola also established a Robert C. Haugh Complex facility and program record.
Fernandez Sola said that I like to take things one at a time. I knew I was going jump far, but not this far.
Fernandez Sola also stated that she continues to look forward to the future and see what she can do there.
Fernandez Sola said that the first three are regionals, then nationals and finally the world championships outside.
Jayden Ulrich and Madison Pollard, both seniors, finished in the first and second places in the women’s shot put. Pollard threw 17.26 meters, a season-best, while Ulrich threw 17.07 meters, a new personal record.
Ulrich was first in the women’s discus throwing. Her throw of 57.21m was a school-record.
Sophomore Mahogany Jerkins kept Indiana’s momentum going, finishing fourth in the women’s high jump at 1.69 meters. Jenkins also competed with the triple jump and placed fourth with a mark at 12.63 meters.
Snow set a new personal record in the women’s 400-meter dash, clocking 53.49 seconds. She took home second place.
Senior Kelly Mindak took third place in the 800-meter women’s run with a time 2:17.28. Freshman Elizabeth Stanhope was fifth with a 2:07.87 time, and sophomore ShynaeDeas was 11th with a 2:11.37 time.
Indiana ran one relay in women’s 4x400m run. The relay team of Snow, Anderson and Deas finished second with a time 3:44.44.
Next, Indiana will compete in the Penn Relays in Philadelphia from April 28-30.
