Big Ten Track and Field Breakdown: January 24

1/24/2023 11:00:00 AM | Track and Field

BIG TEN WEEKEND RECAP
The Indoor Track and Field season is in full swing. After putting on a strong performance at the Commodore Challenge, the Hoosiers returned home for the Gladstein Invitational.

Across the Big Ten, Michigan provided a solid weekend in the distance and hurdles before running a memorable women's 4x400 relay. Purdue, Michigan State and Ohio State all competed in the meet in Ann Arbor.

The throws continue to be one of the hottest events of the conference with athletes exchanging the top spot in events on a weekly basis.

Indiana's early Big Ten leaders include Nathan Stone in the Pole Vault and Jenna Barker in the Mile.

Bloomington will provide a plethora of competitive events this weekend at the Indiana Relays, especially on the distance sides.

Many of the Hoosiers top runners are expected to compete including the return of Cross Country national qualifiers Gabriel Sanchez and Sarah Schmitt.

IU will run its first Distance Medley Relay of the season with the likes of Michigan State and Wisconsin expected to be in attendance.

IU ATHLETES AND WEEKEND RECAP
• The Hoosiers returned home for the Gladstein Invitational in Gladstein Fieldhouse.

• Nathan Stone and Jessica Mercier took titles in the Pole Vault with the latter moving into 7th all-time in program history.

• Serena Bolden swept the Long Jump and Triple Jump with winning marks of 5.97m/19-7 and 12.21m/40-0.75. Her mark in the Triple Jump moved her into No. 9 in program history.

• Antonio Laidler swept the 60 meters and 200 meters with times of 6.74 and 21.56. He also ran second leg on IU's winning 4x400 team.

• Jenna Barker led a 1-2 finish in the 800 meters with a personal best time of 2:08.91. She's now recorded PR's in the 800, Mile and 3K across the opening three meets of the year.

• Parker Raymond made his season debut in the 600 meters with a time of 1:19.35 before splitting 48.70 on third leg duties in the 4x400 relay.

• Grayson Rolen matched his personal best in the High Jump at 2.05m/6-8.75 while Taylor Schoonveld better her personal best at 1.69m/5-6.5.

• John Colquitt won the 60-meter hurdles, lowering his personal best down to 8.22 in the process.

• Noah Koch was once again out over 20 meters in the Weight Throw while Dustin Horter picked up his first victory in the 800 meters.

BIG TEN EVENTS TO WATCH
Men's Long Jump
• The top five athletes in the conference have all been out to 25'10.75" in the early stages of the season including IU's Robert Blue. The Hoosiers top jumpers will head to Texas Tech this weekend in hopes of improving on their best marks.

Women's Pole Vault
• IU's Jessica Mercier is one of five athletes to clear 4.13m/13-6.5 or better in the early season. Spots two through five in the conference are separated by four inches.

Men's Mile
• Four athletes have run under four minutes including IU's Jake Gebhardt and Camden Marshall. The top four runners are separated by just .29 seconds.

IU ATHLETES IN THE TOP 8 OF THEIR EVENT
Men:
• Antonio Laidler (5th), 60m
• Antonio Laidler (6th), 200m
• Trelee Banks (8th), 200m
• Jake Gebhardt (3rd), 800m
• Keelan Grant (4th), 800m
• Dustin Horter (5th), 800m
• Jake Gebhardt (2nd), Mile
• Camden Marshall (4th), Mile
• Austin Haskett (7th), Mile
• Dustin Horter (8th), Mile
• Jake Gebhardt (4th), 3000m
• Grayson Rolen (8th), High Jump
• Nathan Stone (1st), Pole Vault
• Tyler Carrel (5th), Pole Vault
• Robert Blue (3rd), Long Jump
• Alex Smith (6th), Long Jumop
• Noah Koch (8th), Weight Throw

Women:
• Jenna Barker (5th), 800m
• Jenna Barker (1st), Mile
• Maddie Dalton (2nd), Mile
• Jenna Barker (7th), 3000m
• 4x400 Relay (8th)
• Mahogany Jenkins (6th), High Jump
• Jessica Mercier (5th), Pole Vault
• Serena Bolden (5th), Long Jump
• Paola Fernandez-Sola (6th), Long Jump
• Mahogany Jenkins (3rd), Triple Jump
• Jayden Ulrich (3rd), Shot Put
• Makayla Hunter (8th), Shot Put