Indiana University Athletics

Hoosiers Post Strong Performance in Day One of Commodore Challenge
1/12/2024 11:00:00 PM | Track and Field
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Indiana finished day one of the Commodore Challenge on site at the David Williams II Recreation Center Vanderbilt's campus. The Hoosiers ended with two event wins, 11 personal bests and a strong performance from the field.
Nathan Stone picked up Indiana's first event win of the day in the men's pole vault clearing a height of 5.13m/16-10.
Grayson Rolen earned a top-10 finish in the High Jump after clearing a height of 2.00m/6-6.75 to take seventh place. Eli Crouch and Deepak Laungauni were over the bar at 1.90m/6-2.75 to round out the first event of the weekend.
Paola Fernandez-Sola finished fifth in the Long Jump with a season-best mark of 5.97m/19-7.00. Teammate Serena Bolden finished sixth with the same mark.
Alex Smith led the Hoosiers in the men's Long Jump with a fourth-place finish after he advanced to the final round. Smith jumped 7.29m/23-11.0 in his final attempt.
The throwers wrapped up the field events with a combined three personal bests and two top-10 finishes in the weight throw.
Makayla Hunter earned a Top-10 finish and a new personal best with a mark of 20.26m/66-5.75. This one meant a lot to Hunter after overcoming personal loss and illness.
"I surprised myself just with all the challenges I have had the last month and a half," Hunter said. "Not being able to practice this week, I needed to let go of the fear of disappointing myself or anyone. I went in and surprised myself."
Bridget Beyer also posted a strong performance in her first weight throw competition and her collegiate debut. She ended the day with a 12th place finish throwing a distance of 16.14m/52-11.5.
"I was really excited to be able to compete with the team today, after I broke my pinky earlier in the season," Beyer said. "My goal was to hit over 15 meters and I accomplished that [with a mark over] 16 meters. This was my first time ever throwing weight in a competition setting so I am glad that it went well."
On the men's side, Sean Mockler placed in the top-five earning a fourth-place finish in his first meet of the season.
"It was a strange meet for me today, and I wasn't in the best of form," Mockler said. "I fouled my first two, and I was a bit shaky. Towards the end, I thankfully found a better one. It wasn't where I wanted to be, but it was good to get back out there. I'm not worried."
Mockler advanced to the finals after a couple of faults and threw a distance of 20.30m/66-7.25 in his final attempt that was just shy of his personal best.
Hunter Smith advanced to finals finishing eighth in the event with a final mark of 17.44m/57-2.75 while Tyler Reyna tied his personal best of 16.26m/53-4.25 in his first attempt.
I thought it was a great way to get back in the groove of things and picking up where I left off last year," Reyna said. "This was a great start as I looke to prepare for the rest of the indoor season."
"I thought today went okay for me, but there were things that I could have done better," Smith said. "I felt I was competitive, but it was a good place to start in 2024 and improve on throughout indoor."
On the track side, Maddie Russin won her only event of the day in the 600 meters with a time of 1:32.13.
Indiana earned three more top-10 finishes in the men's 600 meter race with Parker Raymond (3., 1:18.36), Nico Colchico who earned a personal best time (5., 1:19.44) and Keefer Soehngen (9., 1:20.53).
John Colquitt closed out the evening with a personal best in the 300 meters posting a time of 35:30, shaving 0.30 seconds off his previous time.
For complete coverage of everything Indiana track and field and cross country, make sure to follow the teams via X, Facebook and Instagram.
#GoIU
Nathan Stone picked up Indiana's first event win of the day in the men's pole vault clearing a height of 5.13m/16-10.
Grayson Rolen earned a top-10 finish in the High Jump after clearing a height of 2.00m/6-6.75 to take seventh place. Eli Crouch and Deepak Laungauni were over the bar at 1.90m/6-2.75 to round out the first event of the weekend.
Paola Fernandez-Sola finished fifth in the Long Jump with a season-best mark of 5.97m/19-7.00. Teammate Serena Bolden finished sixth with the same mark.
Alex Smith led the Hoosiers in the men's Long Jump with a fourth-place finish after he advanced to the final round. Smith jumped 7.29m/23-11.0 in his final attempt.
The throwers wrapped up the field events with a combined three personal bests and two top-10 finishes in the weight throw.
Makayla Hunter earned a Top-10 finish and a new personal best with a mark of 20.26m/66-5.75. This one meant a lot to Hunter after overcoming personal loss and illness.
"I surprised myself just with all the challenges I have had the last month and a half," Hunter said. "Not being able to practice this week, I needed to let go of the fear of disappointing myself or anyone. I went in and surprised myself."
Bridget Beyer also posted a strong performance in her first weight throw competition and her collegiate debut. She ended the day with a 12th place finish throwing a distance of 16.14m/52-11.5.
"I was really excited to be able to compete with the team today, after I broke my pinky earlier in the season," Beyer said. "My goal was to hit over 15 meters and I accomplished that [with a mark over] 16 meters. This was my first time ever throwing weight in a competition setting so I am glad that it went well."
On the men's side, Sean Mockler placed in the top-five earning a fourth-place finish in his first meet of the season.
"It was a strange meet for me today, and I wasn't in the best of form," Mockler said. "I fouled my first two, and I was a bit shaky. Towards the end, I thankfully found a better one. It wasn't where I wanted to be, but it was good to get back out there. I'm not worried."
Mockler advanced to the finals after a couple of faults and threw a distance of 20.30m/66-7.25 in his final attempt that was just shy of his personal best.
Hunter Smith advanced to finals finishing eighth in the event with a final mark of 17.44m/57-2.75 while Tyler Reyna tied his personal best of 16.26m/53-4.25 in his first attempt.
I thought it was a great way to get back in the groove of things and picking up where I left off last year," Reyna said. "This was a great start as I looke to prepare for the rest of the indoor season."
"I thought today went okay for me, but there were things that I could have done better," Smith said. "I felt I was competitive, but it was a good place to start in 2024 and improve on throughout indoor."
On the track side, Maddie Russin won her only event of the day in the 600 meters with a time of 1:32.13.
Indiana earned three more top-10 finishes in the men's 600 meter race with Parker Raymond (3., 1:18.36), Nico Colchico who earned a personal best time (5., 1:19.44) and Keefer Soehngen (9., 1:20.53).
John Colquitt closed out the evening with a personal best in the 300 meters posting a time of 35:30, shaving 0.30 seconds off his previous time.
| Commodore Challenge Day 1 Results: January 12th | |
| Time | Event: Athletes |
| High Jump (M) |
7. Grayson Rolen: 2.00m/6-6.75 10. Deepak Laungani: 1.90m/6-2.75 13. Eli Crouch: 1.90m/6-2.75 |
| Long Jump (W) | 5. Paola Fernandez-Sola: 5.97m/19-7.00 6. Serena Bolden: 5.97m/19-7.00 |
| High Jump (W) | 7. Taylor Schoonveld: 1.66m/5-5.25 |
| Pole Vault (M) | 1. Nathan Stone: 4.98m/16-4.00 5. Tyler Carrel: 4.98m/16-4.00 T-7. Tyler Sierks: 4.68m/15-4.25 9. Riley Johnston: 4.68m/15-4.25 |
| Weight Throw (M) | 4. Sean Mockler: 20.30m/66-7.25 8. Hunter Smith: 17.44m/57-2.75 13. Tyler Reyna: 16.26m/53-5.25 | Tied Personal Best |
| Weight Throw (W) | 6. Makayla Hunter: 20.26m/66-5.75| Personal Best 12. Bridget Beyer: 16.14m/52-11.50 | Personal Best |
| 200 Meters (W): | 13. Olivia Gee: 25.54| Personal Best (I) 14. Kristina Vincic: 25.57 | Personal Best |
| 200 Meters (M): | 13. Otto De St Jeor: 22.48 14. Gage Pratt: 22.63 |
| 1000 Meters (M) | 2. Nico Colchico: 1:19.81 | Personal Best 3. Keelan Grant: 1:20.90 | Personal Best 4. Jaylen Castillo: 1:21.98 |
| Long Jump (M) | 4. Alex Smith: 7.29m/23-11.0 21. Max Grangier: 6.49m/21-3.50 |
| 600 Meters (W) | 1. Maddie Russin: 1:32.13 9. Ryann Parrish: 1:36.78 |
| 600 Meters (M) | 3. Parker Raymond: 1:18.36 5. Nico Colchico: 1:19.44 | Personal Best 9. Keefer Soehngen: 1:20.53 |
| 300 Meters (W) | 16. Symone Adams: 40.84 | Personal Best 23. Cambell Wamsley: 41.95 | Personal Best 34. Amelia Dodds: 43.31 | Personal Best |
| 300 Meters (M) | 8. John Colquitt: 35:30 | Personal Best |
For complete coverage of everything Indiana track and field and cross country, make sure to follow the teams via X, Facebook and Instagram.
#GoIU
Players Mentioned
IUWBB Higlights vs. Oregon
Sunday, February 22
IUBB Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, February 21
IUBB Pregame Press Conference
Thursday, February 19
IUWBB Postgame at USC
Friday, February 13



































