Indiana University Athletics
Friday, February 24
Geneva, Ohio
ALL DAY
Indiana University
vs
Big Ten Indoor Championships
Purcell Wins Pentathlon, Stone Victorious in Pole Vault on Opening Day of Big Ten Championships
2/24/2023 11:00:00 PM | Track and Field
GENEVA, Ohio - A day for the ages from Hope Purcell and an incredible battle won by Nathan Stone sparked a tremendous effort from the Hoosiers on the opening day of the 2023 Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Purcell, competing in her first Pentathlon in two years, used a brilliant all-around performance including marks of 8.55 (60mH), 1.70m (High Jump), 11.10m (Shot Put), 5.92m (Long Jump) and 2:20.19 (800m) to win the Big Ten title.
She became the first Hoosier since 1990 (DeDee Nathan) to win the Pentathlon title at the Big Ten Championships and just the third athlete in program history to accomplish the feat. Her personal best, which she set by 200+ points, now sits No. 2 in the school's history.
The Lancaster, Ohio native closed the Pentathlon with an 11-second personal best in the 800 meters to finish off her title in the event before jumping back to the runway to finish 7th in the open Long Jump, adding 12 points in total to the team effort on Friday evening.
Stone engaged in a back-and-forth affair with the Big Ten leader from Michigan State, Tyler Stephenson. The Spartan beat him at the beginning of February but was bested Friday afternoon as Stone picked up the fourth Big Ten title of his career.
The Indianapolis, Ind. native made consecutive attempts at 5.25m, 5.35m and 5.45. After missing his opening try at 5.45m, Stephenson pushed the bar to 5.55m. Neither athlete could clear at the new bar, rewarding the title back to Stone for clearing at 5.35m.
IU has won four of the last five Big Ten Indoor titles in the Men's Pole Vault with Stone taking gold in 2021 and 2023. Tyler Carrel was fifth in the event, providing the Hoosiers with 14 team points to open the day.
The Hoosiers qualified three through to the finals of the Mile with Dustin Horter and Austin Haskett earning big Q's for the men and Maddie Dalton winning her heat for the women.
Antonio Laidler earned spots in the finals of both the 60 meters and 200 meters. Christopher Grant will join him in the blocks of the 60 meters after running a season's best of 6.72 in Friday's prelims. Grant's time also moves him into a tie for fourth in program history.
Alyssa Robinson earned the final lane in tomorrow's final of the 200 meters, lowering her personal best and No. 3 time in program history to 23.82.
IU had to dig for everything it could in the 800 meters with both the men and women running in extremely-competitive heats.
Camden Marshall (1:47.47) and Keefer Soehngen (1:48.53) both ran personal bests and the No. 3 and No. 5 times respectively in school history to qualify out of the first heat. Nick Couyoumjian (1:50.67) was the first man out of the final in the half-mile.
Maddie Russin needed a four-second personal best and the No. 3 mark in school history (2:05.97) to earn her spot in the finals of the 800 meters tomorrow.
Jessica Mercier earned hardware in the Pole Vault, clearing a season's best 4.19m/13-9 to win Bronze and score the Hoosiers six points.
Sean Mockler picked up fifth place in the Weight Throw with a toss of 21.50m/70-6.5.
Jake Gebhardt (14:08.65) and Sarah Schmitt (16:08.70) used strong closes to earn runner-up finishes at 5000 meters.
Schmitt was beaten out by Penn State's Faith DeMars by just over a second with Gebhardt finishing just behind Jackson Sharp of Wisconsin.
The Hoosiers scored big in the Women's Long Jump with 14 points produced by three athletes. Hope Purcell, following five events in the Pentathlon, came back to jump 5.96m/19-6.75 for seventh. Paola Fernandez-Sola jumped 6.26m/20-6.5 on her final attempt to leave with silver while Serena Bolden earned fifth through a mark of 5.98m/19-7.5.
IU's Distance Medley Relay teams provided fifth (Men) and sixth (Women) place finishes respectively to end the opening day of competition.
Behind 14 points in the Long Jump, 10 points in the Pentathlon, eight points in the 5K, six points in the Pole Vault and three in the DMR, IU's women lead the team race after six events.
The Hoosiers sit second on the men's side with 30 points including 14 from the Pole Vault. IU is scheduled to have 16 point-scoring opportunities for the women with 17 scheduled for the men on Saturday afternoon.
IU hasn't won a Big Ten Indoor Championship on the women's side since 2000. The men last won in 2020.
Tomorrow's action begins at 11:30 AM with Grayson Rolen in the High Jump.
Advanced to Finals:
Men
• Dustin Horter (Mile)
• Austin Haskett (Mile)
• Christopher Grant (60m)
• Antonio Laidler (60m)
• Antonio Laidler (200m)
• Parker Raymond (600m)
• Keefer Soehngen (800m)
• Camden Marshall (800m)
Women
• Alyssa Robinson (200m)
• Maddie Russin (800m)
• Maddie Dalton (Mile)
Point Scorers (Day 1):
Men
• Nathan Stone: Pole Vault (10)
• Jake Gebhardt: 5000m (8)
• Sean Mockler: Weight Throw (4)
• Distance Medley Relay (4)
• Tyler Carrel: Pole Vault (4)
Women
• Hope Purcell: Pentathlon (10)
• Serena Bolden: Long Jump (8)
• Sarah Schmitt: 5000m (8)
• Jessica Mercier: Pole Vault (6)
• Serena Bolden: Long Jump (4)
• Distance Medley Relay (3)
• Hope Purcell: Long Jump (2)
Team Standings (Men): 6 of 18 Events Completed
1. Wisconsin (45)
2. Indiana (30)
3. Michigan State (20)
4. Iowa (19)
5. Nebraska (16.5)
Team Standings (Women)
1. Indiana (41)
2. Wisconsin (34)
3. Iowa (22)
3. Michigan (22)
5. Penn State (21.5)
Purcell, competing in her first Pentathlon in two years, used a brilliant all-around performance including marks of 8.55 (60mH), 1.70m (High Jump), 11.10m (Shot Put), 5.92m (Long Jump) and 2:20.19 (800m) to win the Big Ten title.
She became the first Hoosier since 1990 (DeDee Nathan) to win the Pentathlon title at the Big Ten Championships and just the third athlete in program history to accomplish the feat. Her personal best, which she set by 200+ points, now sits No. 2 in the school's history.
The Lancaster, Ohio native closed the Pentathlon with an 11-second personal best in the 800 meters to finish off her title in the event before jumping back to the runway to finish 7th in the open Long Jump, adding 12 points in total to the team effort on Friday evening.
Stone engaged in a back-and-forth affair with the Big Ten leader from Michigan State, Tyler Stephenson. The Spartan beat him at the beginning of February but was bested Friday afternoon as Stone picked up the fourth Big Ten title of his career.
The Indianapolis, Ind. native made consecutive attempts at 5.25m, 5.35m and 5.45. After missing his opening try at 5.45m, Stephenson pushed the bar to 5.55m. Neither athlete could clear at the new bar, rewarding the title back to Stone for clearing at 5.35m.
IU has won four of the last five Big Ten Indoor titles in the Men's Pole Vault with Stone taking gold in 2021 and 2023. Tyler Carrel was fifth in the event, providing the Hoosiers with 14 team points to open the day.
The Hoosiers qualified three through to the finals of the Mile with Dustin Horter and Austin Haskett earning big Q's for the men and Maddie Dalton winning her heat for the women.
Antonio Laidler earned spots in the finals of both the 60 meters and 200 meters. Christopher Grant will join him in the blocks of the 60 meters after running a season's best of 6.72 in Friday's prelims. Grant's time also moves him into a tie for fourth in program history.
Alyssa Robinson earned the final lane in tomorrow's final of the 200 meters, lowering her personal best and No. 3 time in program history to 23.82.
IU had to dig for everything it could in the 800 meters with both the men and women running in extremely-competitive heats.
Camden Marshall (1:47.47) and Keefer Soehngen (1:48.53) both ran personal bests and the No. 3 and No. 5 times respectively in school history to qualify out of the first heat. Nick Couyoumjian (1:50.67) was the first man out of the final in the half-mile.
Maddie Russin needed a four-second personal best and the No. 3 mark in school history (2:05.97) to earn her spot in the finals of the 800 meters tomorrow.
Jessica Mercier earned hardware in the Pole Vault, clearing a season's best 4.19m/13-9 to win Bronze and score the Hoosiers six points.
Sean Mockler picked up fifth place in the Weight Throw with a toss of 21.50m/70-6.5.
Jake Gebhardt (14:08.65) and Sarah Schmitt (16:08.70) used strong closes to earn runner-up finishes at 5000 meters.
Schmitt was beaten out by Penn State's Faith DeMars by just over a second with Gebhardt finishing just behind Jackson Sharp of Wisconsin.
The Hoosiers scored big in the Women's Long Jump with 14 points produced by three athletes. Hope Purcell, following five events in the Pentathlon, came back to jump 5.96m/19-6.75 for seventh. Paola Fernandez-Sola jumped 6.26m/20-6.5 on her final attempt to leave with silver while Serena Bolden earned fifth through a mark of 5.98m/19-7.5.
IU's Distance Medley Relay teams provided fifth (Men) and sixth (Women) place finishes respectively to end the opening day of competition.
Behind 14 points in the Long Jump, 10 points in the Pentathlon, eight points in the 5K, six points in the Pole Vault and three in the DMR, IU's women lead the team race after six events.
The Hoosiers sit second on the men's side with 30 points including 14 from the Pole Vault. IU is scheduled to have 16 point-scoring opportunities for the women with 17 scheduled for the men on Saturday afternoon.
IU hasn't won a Big Ten Indoor Championship on the women's side since 2000. The men last won in 2020.
Tomorrow's action begins at 11:30 AM with Grayson Rolen in the High Jump.
| Big Ten Indoor Championships: February 24 | |
| Event | Athletes: Mark |
| Pentathlon | 1. Hope Purcell: 4109 | Personal Best, No. 2 School History |
| Pentathlon: 60mH | 2. Hope Purcell: 8.55 (1006) |
| Pentathlon: High Jump | 4. Hope Purcell: 1.70m/5-7 (855) |
| Pentathlon: Shot Put | 8. Hope Purcell: 11.10m/36-5 (602) |
| Pentathlon: Long Jump | 2. Hope Purcell: 5.92m/19-5.25 (825) |
| Pentathlon: 800 Meters | 10. Hope Purcell: 2:20.19 (821) | Personal Best |
| Pole Vault (M) | 1. Nathan Stone: 5.45m/17-10.5 | Personal Best, No. 6 School History 5. Tyler Carrel: 5.15m/16-10.75 10. Riley Johnston: 5.05m/16-6.75 |
| Mile (M): Trials | 4. Dustin Horter: 4:04.93 | Advances to Finals (Q) 14. Austin Haskett: 4:13.41 | Advances to Finals (Q) |
| Long Jump (M) | 12. Robert Blue: 7.09m/23-3.25 14. Alex Smith: 7.05m/23-1.75 |
| Mile (W): Trials | 7. Katelyn Winton: 4:48.28 | Personal Best 12. Maddie Dalton: 4:52.59 | Advances to Finals (Q) |
| 400 Meters (M): Trials | 16. Shaton Vaughn: 47.87 DNF. Micah Camble |
| 400 Meters (W): Trials | 23. Kaylee Lane: 57.52 |
| 60 Meters (M): Trials | 3. Christopher Grant: 6.72 | Advances to Finals (Q), Tied No. 4 in School History 8, Antonio Laidler: 6.75 | Advances to Finals (q) |
| 800 Meters (M): Trials | 2. Camden Marshall: 1:47.47 | Personal Best, No. 3 School History, Advances to Finals (Q) 4. Keefer Soehngen: 1:48.53 | Personal Best, No. 5 School History, Advances to Finals (q) 9. Nick Couyoumjian: 1:50.67 |
| 800 Meters (W): Trials | 6. Maddie Russin: 2:05.97 | Personal Best, No. 3 School History |
| 60mH (M): Trials | 16. John Colquitt: 8.39 |
| Pole Vault (W) | 3. Jessica Mercier: 4.19m/13-9 | No. 6 School History |
| Weight Throw (M) | 5. Sean Mockler: 21.50m/70-6.5 10. Noah Koch: 20.10m/65-11.5 |
| 600 Meters (M): Trials | 7. Parker Raymond: 1:17.40 | Personal Best, No. 3 School History, Advances to Finals (Q) 14. Nico Colchico: 1:20.03 |
| 600 Meters (W): Trials | 10. Elizabeth Stanhope: 1:31.74 |
| 200 Meters (M): Trials | 8. Antonio Laidler: 21.24 | Advances to Finals (q) |
| 200 Meters (W): Trials | 8. Alyssa Robinson: 23.82 | Personal Best, No. 3 School History, Advance to Finals (q) |
| Long Jump (W) | 2. Paola Fernandez-Sola: 6.26m/20-6.5 5. Serena Bolden: 5.98m/19-7.5 7. Hope Purcell: 5.96m/19-6.75 |
| 5000 Meters (M) | 2. Jake Gebhardt: 14:08.65 15. Skylar Stidam: 14:39.39 |
| Weight Throw (W) | 17. Makayla Hunter: 17.32m/56-10 |
| 5000 Meters (W) | 2. Sarah Schmitt: 16:08.70 | Personal Best, No. 5 School History |
| DMR (M) | 5. Indiana: 9:41.06 - Dustin Horter, Shaton Vaughn, Nick Couyoumjian, Austin Haskett |
| DMR (W) | 6. Indiana: 11:19.04 - Maddie Dalton, Kaylee Lane, Elizabeth Stanhope, Jenna Barker |
Advanced to Finals:
Men
• Dustin Horter (Mile)
• Austin Haskett (Mile)
• Christopher Grant (60m)
• Antonio Laidler (60m)
• Antonio Laidler (200m)
• Parker Raymond (600m)
• Keefer Soehngen (800m)
• Camden Marshall (800m)
Women
• Alyssa Robinson (200m)
• Maddie Russin (800m)
• Maddie Dalton (Mile)
Point Scorers (Day 1):
Men
• Nathan Stone: Pole Vault (10)
• Jake Gebhardt: 5000m (8)
• Sean Mockler: Weight Throw (4)
• Distance Medley Relay (4)
• Tyler Carrel: Pole Vault (4)
Women
• Hope Purcell: Pentathlon (10)
• Serena Bolden: Long Jump (8)
• Sarah Schmitt: 5000m (8)
• Jessica Mercier: Pole Vault (6)
• Serena Bolden: Long Jump (4)
• Distance Medley Relay (3)
• Hope Purcell: Long Jump (2)
Team Standings (Men): 6 of 18 Events Completed
1. Wisconsin (45)
2. Indiana (30)
3. Michigan State (20)
4. Iowa (19)
5. Nebraska (16.5)
Team Standings (Women)
1. Indiana (41)
2. Wisconsin (34)
3. Iowa (22)
3. Michigan (22)
5. Penn State (21.5)
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