Indiana University Athletics
Sydney Clute earned two top-10 finishes at NCAA meets in the 2015-16 year.
Track & Field Receives All-American Honors
6/11/2016 1:53:00 PM | Track and Field
Indiana leaves TrackTown USA with four All-American selections, including two underclassmen
EUGENE, Ore. – The Hoosiers return to Bloomington with a quartet of accolades after a successful NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field. Four Indiana athletes – Sydney Clute (pole vault), Daniel Kuhn (800m), Nakel McClinton (hammer throw), and Willie Morrison (shot put) – achieved All-American status with their outstanding finishes in their respective events.
"All five athletes represented IU with extreme class and pride," said Indiana track & field head coach Ron Helmer. "I couldn't be more proud of them."
Leading the way for Indiana were Clute and McClinton, who garnered first team All-American accolades on the second day of events. Clute earned a fourth-place finish in the women's pole vault final, and McClinton's mark in the women's hammer throw final yielded a seventh-place podium finish.
"We had four outstanding performances this weekend, led by veterans Sydney and Nakel," said Helmer. "Both had solid performances, and when outstanding athletes are solid, good things always happen."
Clute achieved her best-ever finish at an NCAA meet by taking fourth-place in the women's pole vault final. On a rain-soaked afternoon in the infield of Historic Hayward Field, Clute pulled into the top ten after her second-attempt clearance at 4.20m. The Greenwood, Indiana native sealed her final ranking with a clearance at 4.30m on her first attempt.
McClinton also notched the best NCAA finish of her career in the women's hammer throw final, earning seventh-place. The junior steadily increased her distance over her three attempts in the preliminary round, ending with a best throw of 62.91m. The mark pushed McClinton into the final round, and the distance held for the seventh-furthest in the field. The All-American finish in this event is fitting for McClinton, as she holds the Indiana University record in the hammer throw (65.12m).
Indiana found promising success from a pair of underclassmen in the men's events from Kuhn and Morrison. After qualifying for their first NCAA Championships in Jacksonville two weeks prior, both received second team All-American honors in their respective events.
"Daniel and Willie performed well enough in their first NCAA Championship meet to earn second team All-American honors, and both are committed to coming back and making their mark in the future," Helmer said, optimistic in his first-year thrower and his second-year middle distance runner. "Both are young guys with many opportunities to perform at this level.
Kuhn kicked off Indiana's week in Eugene, Oregon in the first heat of the 800m semifinals. The sophomore kept pace, and ended 0.3 seconds away from his career best, to take a fifth-place finish in his heat. Kuhn just missed the cut for the national finals, posting the ninth-fastest time in the field at 1:47.20.
Morrison, a true freshman, capped a sensational first year with an All-American finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He continued his career-best success from the NCAA East Regionals with a 16th-place finish in Wednesday's men's shot put final. The Leavenworth, Kansas native made the most of his first throw attempt, reaching a distance of 18.69m. It was the third-highest finish by any freshman in the men's side of the event.
"All five athletes represented IU with extreme class and pride," said Indiana track & field head coach Ron Helmer. "I couldn't be more proud of them."
Leading the way for Indiana were Clute and McClinton, who garnered first team All-American accolades on the second day of events. Clute earned a fourth-place finish in the women's pole vault final, and McClinton's mark in the women's hammer throw final yielded a seventh-place podium finish.
"We had four outstanding performances this weekend, led by veterans Sydney and Nakel," said Helmer. "Both had solid performances, and when outstanding athletes are solid, good things always happen."
Clute achieved her best-ever finish at an NCAA meet by taking fourth-place in the women's pole vault final. On a rain-soaked afternoon in the infield of Historic Hayward Field, Clute pulled into the top ten after her second-attempt clearance at 4.20m. The Greenwood, Indiana native sealed her final ranking with a clearance at 4.30m on her first attempt.
McClinton also notched the best NCAA finish of her career in the women's hammer throw final, earning seventh-place. The junior steadily increased her distance over her three attempts in the preliminary round, ending with a best throw of 62.91m. The mark pushed McClinton into the final round, and the distance held for the seventh-furthest in the field. The All-American finish in this event is fitting for McClinton, as she holds the Indiana University record in the hammer throw (65.12m).
Indiana found promising success from a pair of underclassmen in the men's events from Kuhn and Morrison. After qualifying for their first NCAA Championships in Jacksonville two weeks prior, both received second team All-American honors in their respective events.
"Daniel and Willie performed well enough in their first NCAA Championship meet to earn second team All-American honors, and both are committed to coming back and making their mark in the future," Helmer said, optimistic in his first-year thrower and his second-year middle distance runner. "Both are young guys with many opportunities to perform at this level.
Kuhn kicked off Indiana's week in Eugene, Oregon in the first heat of the 800m semifinals. The sophomore kept pace, and ended 0.3 seconds away from his career best, to take a fifth-place finish in his heat. Kuhn just missed the cut for the national finals, posting the ninth-fastest time in the field at 1:47.20.
Morrison, a true freshman, capped a sensational first year with an All-American finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He continued his career-best success from the NCAA East Regionals with a 16th-place finish in Wednesday's men's shot put final. The Leavenworth, Kansas native made the most of his first throw attempt, reaching a distance of 18.69m. It was the third-highest finish by any freshman in the men's side of the event.
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Middle Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and FieldFB: Nico Radicic - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Spring Practice - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
Thursday, April 16