IUTF Event Preview: Pole Vault

SEASON PREVIEW

The Pole Vault has been one of the most historically successful events for Indiana Track and Field, dating back to its first Big Ten event title when Bryce Beecher won the conferences' indoor title in 1932.

Since 2010, the Hoosiers have combined to win 12 Big Ten event titles in the Pole Vault on the men's and women's sides.

This year will see six athletes compete in the Pole Vault including three-time Big Ten Champion Nathan Stone who claimed the conference's outdoor crown in 2022 after sweeping the titles in 2021.

Pole Vault coach Jake Wiseman has coached 14 of IU's 33 Big Ten Champions in the event. He was the 2005 Big Ten runner-up in the Decathlon and went on to earn a bid to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the same season.

ATHLETES

Jessica Mercier | Gr. | White Lake, Mich.

A transfer from Michigan, Mercier will use her final year of eligibility for the Hoosiers this season. While with the Wolverines, she was the 2021 Big Ten Indoor Champion in the Pole Vault and went on to finish second during the outdoor season.

She owns an indoor personal best of 4.36m/14-3.5 and has cleared 4.25m/13-11.25 outdoors as well. IU's last Big Ten Champion in the Pole Vault on the women's side came in 2017 when Sydney Clute finished off a string of three titles in two years.

Taylor Jarosinski | So. | Greenwood, Ind.

During her freshman campaign in 2022, she competed in six meets with all of them coming during the indoor season. She cleared a personal best of 3.72m/12-2.5 at the Big Ten Indoor Championships.

Nathan Stone | Sr. | Indianapolis, Ind.

One of the best vaulters in program history, Stone returns to Bloomington for his fourth season. Already a three-time Big Ten Champion, he swept the titles in 2021 and won the outdoor crown in 2022.

He finished just shy of earning First Team All-American honors in the 2021 Indoor Season with a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships

Stone has competed at three of the four contested national meets since his arrival to college and has finished fifth or better at all five contested Big Ten meets.

He will once again be among the biggest contenders in the Big Ten this season and will look to move up the program's all-time lists.

Tyler Sierks | Jr. | Fort Wayne, Ind.

Entering his third season in Bloomington, Sierks has twice competed at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships. He owns an indoor personal best of 5.05m/16-6.75 and has cleared 5.00m/16'4.75 outdoors.

Riley Johnston | So. | Hobart, Ind.

Competed at two meets during his freshman season. Owns a personal best of 4.95m/16-2.75.

Tyler Carrel | So. | Urbana, Ill.

Carrel made a splash during his freshman campaign, competing mostly during the outdoor season. He was fourth at the Big Ten Championships and was just three spots away from earning a bid to the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

His personal best sits at 5.37m/17-7.25 during the outdoor season which ranks No. 9 in program history.

Indiana University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Tyler Carrel

Taylor Jarosinski

Riley Johnston

Jessica Mercier

Tyler Sierks

Nathan Stone

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