Indiana University Athletics
Whitman Captures USATF Junior Championship
6/30/2015 4:59:00 PM | Track and Field
Freshman Jill Whitman has now qualified for the Pan American Junior Championships.
EUGENE, Ore. – Freshman Jill Whitman added to a memorable first year as part of the Indiana Track and Field team as she sprinted to the finish to claim the USATF Junior Championship in the 3,000m run on Saturday at Hayward Field.
Whitman, who narrowly missed out on a trip to Eugene for the NCAA Championships by one second at the NCAA East Preliminary in the 5,000m, came to Hayward Field and created a memorable moment as she took the 3,000m title in 9:36.62, just eight tenths of a second ahead of the second-place finisher.
Whitman scored for the Hoosiers at the Big Ten Indoor and Outdoor Championships and her 16:14.98 5K in Jacksonville, Fla., for the NCAA East Preliminary Round ranks as the third best time in IU school history.
With the victory tonight, Whitman has qualified for the Pan American Junior Championships, June 31-August 2 in Edmonton, Canada.
Also in action, freshman Brenna Calder finished in fifth-place in the 1,500m run.
IU alum Sarah Pease took 10th place in the 3,000m steeplechase final and Hoosier alum Jeff Coover finished in 12th place in the pole vault. Former Hoosiers and current volunteer assistant coach Scott Houston also competed in the pole vault.
Tomorrow IU alums Molly Ludlow (800m) and Andy Bayer (3,000m steeplechase) will compete in the finals of their respective events and IU alum Rex Parker will compete in the triple jump.
