Indiana University Athletics
Track and Field Primer | Penn Relays and Texas Invitational
4/26/2023 8:00:00 AM | Track and Field
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – One of the nation's most historic track and field meets will play host to the Indiana programs this weekend in Philadelphia.
An event founded in 1895, the Penn Relays regularly welcomes some of the nation's best high school, college and professional talent to the University of Pennsylvania campus for the three-day meet at the end of April.
Each winner of a relay at the historic event takes home a wheel trophy, symbolizing a victory in one of the many relay events.
IU has won relay wheels at consecutive contested meets in 2019 (Women's 4x800) and 2022 (Men's Sprint Medley Relay). The meets in 2020 and 2021 were not contested.
The Hoosiers are scheduled to contest eight relay events across the two genders this weekend along with a myriad of individual events. A select group will also compete in Austin at the Texas Invitational.
IU's first scheduled relays on the track will be Friday afternoon with the men's 4x100 relay and women's Distance Medley Relay.
THE MEET
Location: Philadelphia, Pa. (Penn Relays) and Austin, Texas (Texas Invitational)
Dates: April 27th-29th
Start: 5:20 PM (Thursday), 12:00 PM (Friday), 9:30 AM (Saturday)
Live Results (Penn Relays): Penn Relays Website
Live Results (Texas Invitational): Primetime Timing
PENN RELAYS HISTORY
The Hoosiers have won 15 relay wheels at the Penn Relays including two under head coach Ron Helmer.
Collegiate Men:
4x200: 1937 (1:27.2)
4x400: 1934 (3:18.7), 1941 (3:16.4)
4x800: 1934 (7:46.3) 1941 (7:41.1)
4xMile: 1937 (17:16.1), 1938 (17:26.8), 1942 (17:35.5), 1954 (17:32.8)
SMR: 1934 (3:38.7), 2022 (3:17.39)
DMR: 1937 (10:04.7), 1942 (10:05.3)
SHR: 1947 (1:01.4)
Collegiate Women:
4x800: 2019 (8:33.47)
NEWS AND NOTES
The Hoosiers have eight top-five marks among the women's field events including Ulrich (shot put and discus), Serena Bolden (long jump), Paola Fernandez-Sola (long jump), Mahogany Jenkins (triple jump and high jump), Makayla Hunter (javelin) and Jessica Mercier (pole vault)
Camden Marshall was named the Big Ten Men's Track Athlete of the Week on April 5th for his then NCAA-leading 3:39.51 in the 1500 meters at the Pepsi Florida Relays.
Ulrich was named Big Ten Women's Field Athlete of the Week on April 12th after throwing a then-Big Ten lead in the discus and then-No. 2 mark in the Big Ten in the shot put at the Triton Invitational.
Antonio Laidler became the second athlete to match or improve upon a school record during the outdoor season. He clocked a 10.20 to match Rikkoi Brathwaite's school record in the 100 meters. However, Laidler's time is the fastest by a Hoosier run within the collegiate season.
Alyssa Robinson has become one of the most versatile sprinters in program history. She is the only woman to record top-8 program marks outdoors in all three sprint events (100 meters, 200 meters and 400 meters).
Jake Gebhardt is the only IU runner with two top-five Big Ten marks this year, having run 8:59.77 (3000-meter steeplechase) and 13:37.70 (5000 meters) in the opening stages of the outdoor season.
The next program record to fall might come from Jenkins who keeps inching closer to becoming IU's second-ever six-foot high jumper. She attempted three tries at 1.83m/6-0.5 at the Indiana Invitational which would've broken the school record set by Emma Kimoto in 2013.
Noah Koch now owns four top-six marks in program history in just four months of competition for the Hoosiers. He threw 18.36m/60-3 (shot put) and 56.10m/184-1 (discus) at the Indiana Invitational to highlight a strong weekend.
While also studying for law schools, Serena Bolden has come to life for the Hoosiers over the last two weeks. She ran 11.72 across 100 meters to move into a tie for tenth in program history. She also has top-10 all-conditions marks in the long jump and triple jump.
THE HOOSIER LINEUP
IU will head to the historic Penn Relays in Philadelphia for the final time under head coach Ron Helmer.
Known for competitive fields and variety of relays, the Penn Relays are often a fan and athlete favorite.
IU's men are scheduled to run six relays this weekend including the 4x100, 4x400, 4x800, 4xMile, Sprint Medley Relay and Distance Medley Relay.
The Hoosiers are the defending champions in the SMR after Antonio Laidler, Rikkoi Brathwaite, Kenny Benton and Camden Marshall captured the title in 2022.
IU's women will field two relay teams including a 4x1500 and DMR. IU's 4x1500 relay team is expected to include a strong quartet of Jenna Barker, Maddie Dalton, Phoebe Bates and Sarah Schmitt.
Jayden Ulrich, Noah Koch and Makayla Hunter will compete in the throws this weekend. All three will be double entered in their primary events.
Alyssa Skorge and Austin Haskett are expected to compete in the steeplechase on Thursday night. The likes of Skylar Stidam (5000m), Claire Overfelt (10,000m) and Shaton Vaughn (400mH) will compete in individual events as well.
Mahogany Jenkins (triple jump), Grayson Rolen (high jump) and Robert Blue (long jump and triple jump) headline the jumps crew in Philadelphia.
A contingent of Hoosiers will head to Austin this weekend as well. Riley Johnston, Nathan Stone, Tyler Carrel and Jessica Mercier will contest the pole vault while Paola Fernandez-Sola enters the long jump.
IU has won 15 relay titles at the Penn Relays, dating back to 1931. The women won their first, the 4x800, in 2019.
INDIANA INVITATIONAL RECAP
The Hoosiers hosted their first home meet of the season with the Indiana Invitational.
Noah Koch had an outstanding weekend, producing a season's best in the discus and a personal best in the shot put. After throwing 18.36m/60-3 (No. 6 school history) in the shot put, Koch came back and threw the discus 56.10m/184-1 (No. 5 school history).
Serena Bolden proved she was more than just a jumper, throwing down a wind-legal 11.72 in the 100 meters to move into a tie for 10th in program history.
Jessica Mercier vaulted a big season's best of 4.14m/13-7 to move into 4th in the Big Ten and No. 7 all-time in school history.
On the men's side, Nathan Stone cleared a giant season's best of 5.49m/18-0, taking a victory over Big Ten leader Trevor Stephenson of Michigan State.
Mahogany Jenkins matched her personal best in the high jump at 1.81m/5-11.75. She went for three attempts at a would-be school record of 1.84m/6-0.5 but missed on all tries.
Freshmen Abe Eckman (14:19.79) and Tori Schmidt (17:21.04) both ran big personal bests in the 5000 meters on Friday night.
2023 OUTDOOR PRIMER
There are 21 events contested at the Big Ten and NCAA levels during the outdoor campaign. Outdoor-specific events include the 4x100 relay, the 1500 meters, the Steeplechase, the 10,000 meters, the 400-meter hurdles, the Discus, the Hammer and the Javelin. The Heptathlon (W)/Decathlon (M) also introduce new events to increase the workload.
A number of events will transition from indoor-specific distances to the standard outdoor distance. For example, the 60 meters indoors becomes 100 meters outdoors.
Despite losing the DMR in the transition to outdoors, the Hoosiers add a number of key pieces to its lineup this time of year.
Jayden Ulrich (Discus), Sean Mockler (Hammer) and Noah Koch (Discus) all add their strongest event. Ulrich was the 2022 Big Ten Champion as a freshman and she and Mockler both hold school records in their respective events.
The 1500 meters and Steeplechase have both been kind to the Hoosiers over the years. After a strong indoor season, Jake Gebhardt will steeple outdoors where he looks to score big points for the team.
Shaton Vaughn and David Olowookere have both been strong 400-meter hurdlers during their career and have the chance to run their primary event outdoors.
An event founded in 1895, the Penn Relays regularly welcomes some of the nation's best high school, college and professional talent to the University of Pennsylvania campus for the three-day meet at the end of April.
Each winner of a relay at the historic event takes home a wheel trophy, symbolizing a victory in one of the many relay events.
IU has won relay wheels at consecutive contested meets in 2019 (Women's 4x800) and 2022 (Men's Sprint Medley Relay). The meets in 2020 and 2021 were not contested.
The Hoosiers are scheduled to contest eight relay events across the two genders this weekend along with a myriad of individual events. A select group will also compete in Austin at the Texas Invitational.
IU's first scheduled relays on the track will be Friday afternoon with the men's 4x100 relay and women's Distance Medley Relay.
THE MEET
Location: Philadelphia, Pa. (Penn Relays) and Austin, Texas (Texas Invitational)
Dates: April 27th-29th
Start: 5:20 PM (Thursday), 12:00 PM (Friday), 9:30 AM (Saturday)
Live Results (Penn Relays): Penn Relays Website
Live Results (Texas Invitational): Primetime Timing
PENN RELAYS HISTORY
The Hoosiers have won 15 relay wheels at the Penn Relays including two under head coach Ron Helmer.
Collegiate Men:
4x200: 1937 (1:27.2)
4x400: 1934 (3:18.7), 1941 (3:16.4)
4x800: 1934 (7:46.3) 1941 (7:41.1)
4xMile: 1937 (17:16.1), 1938 (17:26.8), 1942 (17:35.5), 1954 (17:32.8)
SMR: 1934 (3:38.7), 2022 (3:17.39)
DMR: 1937 (10:04.7), 1942 (10:05.3)
SHR: 1947 (1:01.4)
Collegiate Women:
4x800: 2019 (8:33.47)
NEWS AND NOTES
The Hoosiers have eight top-five marks among the women's field events including Ulrich (shot put and discus), Serena Bolden (long jump), Paola Fernandez-Sola (long jump), Mahogany Jenkins (triple jump and high jump), Makayla Hunter (javelin) and Jessica Mercier (pole vault)
Camden Marshall was named the Big Ten Men's Track Athlete of the Week on April 5th for his then NCAA-leading 3:39.51 in the 1500 meters at the Pepsi Florida Relays.
Ulrich was named Big Ten Women's Field Athlete of the Week on April 12th after throwing a then-Big Ten lead in the discus and then-No. 2 mark in the Big Ten in the shot put at the Triton Invitational.
Antonio Laidler became the second athlete to match or improve upon a school record during the outdoor season. He clocked a 10.20 to match Rikkoi Brathwaite's school record in the 100 meters. However, Laidler's time is the fastest by a Hoosier run within the collegiate season.
Alyssa Robinson has become one of the most versatile sprinters in program history. She is the only woman to record top-8 program marks outdoors in all three sprint events (100 meters, 200 meters and 400 meters).
Jake Gebhardt is the only IU runner with two top-five Big Ten marks this year, having run 8:59.77 (3000-meter steeplechase) and 13:37.70 (5000 meters) in the opening stages of the outdoor season.
The next program record to fall might come from Jenkins who keeps inching closer to becoming IU's second-ever six-foot high jumper. She attempted three tries at 1.83m/6-0.5 at the Indiana Invitational which would've broken the school record set by Emma Kimoto in 2013.
Noah Koch now owns four top-six marks in program history in just four months of competition for the Hoosiers. He threw 18.36m/60-3 (shot put) and 56.10m/184-1 (discus) at the Indiana Invitational to highlight a strong weekend.
While also studying for law schools, Serena Bolden has come to life for the Hoosiers over the last two weeks. She ran 11.72 across 100 meters to move into a tie for tenth in program history. She also has top-10 all-conditions marks in the long jump and triple jump.
THE HOOSIER LINEUP
IU will head to the historic Penn Relays in Philadelphia for the final time under head coach Ron Helmer.
Known for competitive fields and variety of relays, the Penn Relays are often a fan and athlete favorite.
IU's men are scheduled to run six relays this weekend including the 4x100, 4x400, 4x800, 4xMile, Sprint Medley Relay and Distance Medley Relay.
The Hoosiers are the defending champions in the SMR after Antonio Laidler, Rikkoi Brathwaite, Kenny Benton and Camden Marshall captured the title in 2022.
IU's women will field two relay teams including a 4x1500 and DMR. IU's 4x1500 relay team is expected to include a strong quartet of Jenna Barker, Maddie Dalton, Phoebe Bates and Sarah Schmitt.
Jayden Ulrich, Noah Koch and Makayla Hunter will compete in the throws this weekend. All three will be double entered in their primary events.
Alyssa Skorge and Austin Haskett are expected to compete in the steeplechase on Thursday night. The likes of Skylar Stidam (5000m), Claire Overfelt (10,000m) and Shaton Vaughn (400mH) will compete in individual events as well.
Mahogany Jenkins (triple jump), Grayson Rolen (high jump) and Robert Blue (long jump and triple jump) headline the jumps crew in Philadelphia.
A contingent of Hoosiers will head to Austin this weekend as well. Riley Johnston, Nathan Stone, Tyler Carrel and Jessica Mercier will contest the pole vault while Paola Fernandez-Sola enters the long jump.
IU has won 15 relay titles at the Penn Relays, dating back to 1931. The women won their first, the 4x800, in 2019.
INDIANA INVITATIONAL RECAP
The Hoosiers hosted their first home meet of the season with the Indiana Invitational.
Noah Koch had an outstanding weekend, producing a season's best in the discus and a personal best in the shot put. After throwing 18.36m/60-3 (No. 6 school history) in the shot put, Koch came back and threw the discus 56.10m/184-1 (No. 5 school history).
Serena Bolden proved she was more than just a jumper, throwing down a wind-legal 11.72 in the 100 meters to move into a tie for 10th in program history.
Jessica Mercier vaulted a big season's best of 4.14m/13-7 to move into 4th in the Big Ten and No. 7 all-time in school history.
On the men's side, Nathan Stone cleared a giant season's best of 5.49m/18-0, taking a victory over Big Ten leader Trevor Stephenson of Michigan State.
Mahogany Jenkins matched her personal best in the high jump at 1.81m/5-11.75. She went for three attempts at a would-be school record of 1.84m/6-0.5 but missed on all tries.
Freshmen Abe Eckman (14:19.79) and Tori Schmidt (17:21.04) both ran big personal bests in the 5000 meters on Friday night.
2023 OUTDOOR PRIMER
There are 21 events contested at the Big Ten and NCAA levels during the outdoor campaign. Outdoor-specific events include the 4x100 relay, the 1500 meters, the Steeplechase, the 10,000 meters, the 400-meter hurdles, the Discus, the Hammer and the Javelin. The Heptathlon (W)/Decathlon (M) also introduce new events to increase the workload.
A number of events will transition from indoor-specific distances to the standard outdoor distance. For example, the 60 meters indoors becomes 100 meters outdoors.
Despite losing the DMR in the transition to outdoors, the Hoosiers add a number of key pieces to its lineup this time of year.
Jayden Ulrich (Discus), Sean Mockler (Hammer) and Noah Koch (Discus) all add their strongest event. Ulrich was the 2022 Big Ten Champion as a freshman and she and Mockler both hold school records in their respective events.
The 1500 meters and Steeplechase have both been kind to the Hoosiers over the years. After a strong indoor season, Jake Gebhardt will steeple outdoors where he looks to score big points for the team.
Shaton Vaughn and David Olowookere have both been strong 400-meter hurdlers during their career and have the chance to run their primary event outdoors.
| Penn Relays: April 27th | |
| Time (EDT) | Event: Athletes |
| 5:20 PM | Men's 400 Hurdles: David Olowookere, Shaton Vaughn |
| 6:20 PM | Women's 3000 Steeplechase: Alyssa Skorge |
| 6:50 PM | Men's 3000 Steeplechase: Austin Haskett |
| 8:15 PM | Men's 5000 Meters: Tristan Forsythe, Skylar Stidam |
| 9:05 PM | Women's 10,000 Meters: Claire Overfelt |
| Penn Relays: April 28th | |
| Time (EDT) | Event: Athletes |
| 12:00 PM | Men's Long Jump (College): Alex Smith, Kynton Grays |
| 12:00 PM | Women's Long Jump (College): Hope Purcell |
| 1:15 PM | Men's 4x100 Relay: - John Colquitt, Antonio Laidler, Trelee Banks, Christopher Grant |
| 1:50 PM | Women's Distance Medley Relay: - Jenna Barker, Alyssa Robinson, Maddie Russin, Sarah Schmitt |
| 2:05 PM | Men's Distance Medley Relay: - Camden Marshall, Micah Camble, Parker Raymond, Jake Gebhardt |
| 3:20 PM | Men's 100 Meters: Antonio Laidler, Christopher Grant |
| 4:00 PM | Women's High Jump: Taylor Schoonveld |
| 4:00 PM | Women's Triple Jump: Kelly Moran |
| 4:00 PM | Men's 4x400 Relay: - Shaton Vaughn, Micah Camble, David Olowookere, John Colquitt |
| 5:15 PM | Women's Javelin (College): Shanna Esters |
| 6:25 PM | Men's Sprint Medley Relay: - Antonio Laidler, Christopher Grant, Shaton Vaughn, Keefer Soehngen |
| Texas Invitational: April 28th | |
| Time (EDT) | Event: Athletes |
| 7:00 PM | Women's Long Jump: Paola Fernandez-Sola |
| Penn Relays: April 29th | |
| Time (EDT) | Event: Athletes |
| 9:30 AM | Women's Discus: Jayden Ulrich |
| 11:30 AM | Men's Discus: Noah Koch |
| 12:00 PM | Men's Long Jump (Championship): Robert Blue |
| 12:30 PM | Women's Shot Put (Championship): Jayden Ulrich, Makayla Hunter |
| 12:40 PM | Women's 4x1500 Relay: - Jenna Barker, Phoebe Bates, Maddie Dalton, Sarah Schmitt |
| 1:20 PM | Men's 4xMile Relay: - Jake Gebhardt, Gabriel Sanchez, Dustin Horter, Austin Haskett |
| 1:30 PM | Women's Javelin (Championship): Makayla Hunter |
| 2:30 PM | Men's High Jump (Championship): Grayson Rolen |
| 2:30 PM | Men's Triple Jump (Championship): Robert Blue |
| 2:30 PM | Men's Shot Put (Championship): Noah Koch |
| 2:30 PM | Women's Triple Jump (Championship): Mahogany Jenkins |
| 3:07 PM | Men's 4x800 Relay: - Parker Raymond, Keefer Soehngen, Camden Marshall, Nick Couyoumjian |
| Texas Invitational: April 29th | |
| Time (EDT) | Event: Athletes |
| 12:30 PM | Women's Pole Vault: Jessica Mercier |
| 3:30 PM | Men's Pole Vault: Nathan Stone, Tyler Carrel, Riley Johnston |
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