Indiana University Athletics
Walther Claims Seventh, Four Alums Nab Top 10 Finishes
6/25/2017 9:17:00 AM | Track and Field
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Grace Walther was the lone Hoosier runner to race at the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships. Four Indiana Alums competed in the Senior Outdoor Championships. For the third consecutive competition day, on the campus of Sacramento State, temperatures soared into the triple digits. The high heat provided another challenge for the distance groups.
Grace Walther took seventh in the 1,500m run. She was within striking distance of the leader through the first 700m of the race, racing in fifth after the first lap. She fell to sixth by the end of the second lap, but stayed within a half of a second of the leader. The race began to thin out during the third lap, and the freshman fell to seventh, just over a second behind the leader. The Fort Wayne Native crossed in 4:34.61, good for a seventh place finish.
In the men's pole vault, former IU greats Scott Houston and Jeff Coover notched a pair of top 10 finishes. Houston, a 2013 All-American, had no problem clearing the first two heights of the afternoon. His first stumble came at 5.60m (18-4.5), but he would pass his final two attempts at the height and clear 5.65m (18-6.5) on his first attempt. He would not clear another bar and finished fifth in the competition. Coover, a four-time All-American, missed his opening attempt of the contest. On his second attempt at 5.40m (17-8.5) he was successful. He easily cleared 5.50m (18-0.5) on his first attempt, but would not clear another bar. He took ninth place.
Monique Riddick nabbed fourth place in the women's shot put. Her opening throw of 18.00m (59-0.75) put her in fifth place heading into the finals. Her first throw in the finals traveled 18.32m (60-1.75), but she remained in the fifth spot. Her next throw bested her previous mark by one centimeter. On her final throw of the competition, the 2011 All-American, unleashed a throw of 18.89m (61-11.75) to finish in fourth.
Current volunteer assistant coach Sarah Pease took seventh in the 3,000m steeplechase. Pease, who holds the school record in the event, is the only Hoosier woman to run sub-10 minutes in the steeplechase. The two-time All-American ran near the back of the pack for the first few laps before making her move. During the fifth lap she was able to move from 10th to eighth on the strength of a 1:18.07 lap. Her sixth lap was nearly an identical split as she was able to reel in one more runner. Finally, the bell lap saw Pease run her fastest lap, clocking a 1:15.20 to secure seventh place with a time of 9:47.41.
The final day from the USATF Outdoor Championships will include Sydney Clute and Willie Morrison. Clute, who will be competing in her final event as a Hoosier, will start vaulting at 3:00 p.m. EST. Morrison, and the rest of the men's shot put field, will begin at 2:55 p.m. EST.
#GoIU
Women's 1,500m Run
7. Grace Walther – 4:34.61
Women's 3,000m Steeplechase
7. Sarah Pease – 9:47.41
Women's Shot Put
4. Monique Riddick – 18.89m (61-11.75)
Men's Pole Vault
5. Scott Houston – 5.65m (18-6.5)
9. Jeff Coover – 5.50m (18-0.5)
Grace Walther took seventh in the 1,500m run. She was within striking distance of the leader through the first 700m of the race, racing in fifth after the first lap. She fell to sixth by the end of the second lap, but stayed within a half of a second of the leader. The race began to thin out during the third lap, and the freshman fell to seventh, just over a second behind the leader. The Fort Wayne Native crossed in 4:34.61, good for a seventh place finish.
In the men's pole vault, former IU greats Scott Houston and Jeff Coover notched a pair of top 10 finishes. Houston, a 2013 All-American, had no problem clearing the first two heights of the afternoon. His first stumble came at 5.60m (18-4.5), but he would pass his final two attempts at the height and clear 5.65m (18-6.5) on his first attempt. He would not clear another bar and finished fifth in the competition. Coover, a four-time All-American, missed his opening attempt of the contest. On his second attempt at 5.40m (17-8.5) he was successful. He easily cleared 5.50m (18-0.5) on his first attempt, but would not clear another bar. He took ninth place.
Monique Riddick nabbed fourth place in the women's shot put. Her opening throw of 18.00m (59-0.75) put her in fifth place heading into the finals. Her first throw in the finals traveled 18.32m (60-1.75), but she remained in the fifth spot. Her next throw bested her previous mark by one centimeter. On her final throw of the competition, the 2011 All-American, unleashed a throw of 18.89m (61-11.75) to finish in fourth.
Current volunteer assistant coach Sarah Pease took seventh in the 3,000m steeplechase. Pease, who holds the school record in the event, is the only Hoosier woman to run sub-10 minutes in the steeplechase. The two-time All-American ran near the back of the pack for the first few laps before making her move. During the fifth lap she was able to move from 10th to eighth on the strength of a 1:18.07 lap. Her sixth lap was nearly an identical split as she was able to reel in one more runner. Finally, the bell lap saw Pease run her fastest lap, clocking a 1:15.20 to secure seventh place with a time of 9:47.41.
The final day from the USATF Outdoor Championships will include Sydney Clute and Willie Morrison. Clute, who will be competing in her final event as a Hoosier, will start vaulting at 3:00 p.m. EST. Morrison, and the rest of the men's shot put field, will begin at 2:55 p.m. EST.
#GoIU
Women's 1,500m Run
7. Grace Walther – 4:34.61
Women's 3,000m Steeplechase
7. Sarah Pease – 9:47.41
Women's Shot Put
4. Monique Riddick – 18.89m (61-11.75)
Men's Pole Vault
5. Scott Houston – 5.65m (18-6.5)
9. Jeff Coover – 5.50m (18-0.5)
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
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