Stone Named Back-to-Back Champion, Mercier Runner-up in Pole Vault on Opening Day of Big Ten Championships

Friday, February 23

Geneva, Ohio

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Indiana University

Big Ten Championships

Stone Named Back-to-Back Champion, Mercier Runner-up in Pole Vault on Opening Day of Big Ten Championships

2/23/2024 10:30:00 PM | Track and Field

GENEVA, Ohio – Nathan Stone was crowned Pole Vault Champion with a height of 5.43m/17-9.75 while Jessica Mercier finished Runner-up the Pole Vault with a mark of 4.45m/14-7.25 on the opening day of the 2024 Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Stone is the first Hoosier to win five event titles in the Pole Vault. He owns three indoor titles and two outdoors and has scored a total of 68 points in the conference event.

Mercier shattered the school record for the second time this season as she earned the silver medal to score the Hoosiers eight points.

IU has won five of the last six Big Ten Indoor titles in the men's Pole Vault with Stone taking gold in 2021, 2023 and 2024. Tyler Carrel was third in the event and Riley Johnston tied for eighth giving the Hoosiers 16.33 points on the day.

Paola Fernandez-Sola finished fifth in the Long Jump with a mark of 6.11m/20-0.50, adding five points to the Hoosiers total.

Max Grangier and Garrett Messer sit in a good position in the men's Hepathlon after setting personal bests in the 60 meters, shot put and high jumps.

Skylar Stidam had a great performance in the men's 5000 meters finishing fourth in a tight race as he contributes five points to the Hoosiers scoring his first individual points.

The Hoosiers qualified four to the final round tomorrow with Aidan Lord earning a spot in the Mile, Cam Marshall finished second in his heat in a close race to advance to the 800-meter final.

Antonio Laidler advanced to both the 60- and 200-meter finals. Kenisha Phillips will have a shot in the 400 meters tomorrow as she continues to hold the second fastest time in the league.

Kenisha Phillips qualified for the 400-meter finals with a time of 52.95.

The Distance Medley Relay teams provided fourth (Men) and fifth (Women) place finishes respectively to end the opening day of competition.

After day one, IU is sitting second on the men's side with 26.33 points with 16.33 from the Pole Vault. The women are in seventh place with 16 points.

Tomorrow's action begins at 11:00 AM with Garrett Messer and Max Grangier in the men's Heptathlon 60 Meter Hurdles.

Big Ten Indoor Championships: February 23
Event	Athletes: Mark
Heptathlon	10. Garrett Messer: 2820 12. Max Grangier: 2624
Heptathlon: 60m	7. Garrett Messer: 7.19 \| Personal Best (816) 11. Max Grangier: 7.28 \| Personal Best (785)
Heptathlon: Shot Put	3. Garrett Messer: 14.92m/48-11.50 \| Personal Best 15. Max Grangier: 10.64m/34-11
Heptathlon: Long Jump	10. Max Grangier: 6.42m/21-0.75 12. Garrett Messer: 6.33m/412/20-9.25
Heptathlon: High Jump	12. Max Grangier: 1.81m/5-11.75 \| Personal Best 13. Garrett Messer: 1.72m/5-7.75
Pole Vault (M)	1. Nathan Stone: 5.43m/17-9.75 3. Tyler Carrel: 5.23m/17-1.25 T-8. Riley Johnston: 5.03m/16-6
Mile (W): Trials	19. Lily Myers: 4:52.80 24. Katelyn Winton: 5:02.38
Long Jump (M)	14. Alex Smith: 7.21m/23-8
400 Meters (M): Trials	18. Micah Camble: 47.87 \| Season Best
400 Meters (W): Trials	4. Kenisha Phillips: 52.95 \| Advances to Finals (q) 17. Morgan Snow: 55.38
60 Meters (W): Trials	21. Serena Bolden: 7.61 23. Kristina Vincic: 7.71 \| Personal Best 26. Symone Adams: 7.77 \| Personal Best
800 Meters (M): Trials	9. Camden Marshall: 1:49.38 \| Advances to Finals (Q)
60mH (W): Trials	12. Olivia Gee: 8.44 \| Personal Best
60mH (M): Trials	14. John Colquitt: 8.14
Pole Vault (W)	2. Jessica Mercier: 4.45m/14-7.25 \| No. 1 in School History, School Record
Weight Throw (M)	23. Hunter Smith: 17.92m/58-9.50
Weight Throw (W)	15. Makayla Hunter: 19.32/63-4.75
600 Meters (M): Trials	17. Keelan Grant: 1:21.23
600 Meters (W): Trials	12. Maddie Russin: 1:31.70 \| Personal Best 17. Ryann Parrish: 1:35.53
200 Meters (M): Trials	8. Antonio Laidler: 21.24 \| Advances to Finals (q)
200 Meters (W): Trials	22. Kristina Vincic: 24.96 24. Symone Adams: 25.06
Long Jump (W)	5. Paola Fernandez-Sola: 6.11m/20-0.5 12. Serena Bolden: 5.94m/19-6
5000 Meters (M)	4. Skylar Stidam: 14:01.17 18. Brayden Henkle: 14:43.94
5000 Meters (W)	25. Tori Schmidt: 17:24.02 28. Phoebe Bates: 17:48.99
DMR (M)	4. Indiana: 9:41.61 - Martin Segurola, Micah Camble, Parker Raymond, Austin Haskett
DMR (W)	5. Indiana: 11:19.52 - Lily Myers, Morgan Snow, Maddie Russin, Mariah Wehrle

Advanced to Finals:
Men
• Aidan Lord (Mile)
• Antonio Laidler (60m, 200m)
• Camden Marshall (800m)

Women
• Kenisha Phillips (400m)

Point Scorers (Day 1):
Men
• Nathan Stone: Pole Vault (10)
• Tyler Carrel: Pole Vault (6)
• Riley Johnston: Pole Vault (.33)
• Skylar Stidam: 5000 meters (5)
• Distance Medley Relay (5)

Women
• Jessica Mercier: Pole Vault (8)
• Paola Fernandez-Sola (4)
• Distance Medley Relay (4)

Team Standings (Men): 5 of 18 Events Completed
1. Wisconsin (40)
2. Nebraska (32)
3. Indiana (26.33)
3. Rutgers (21)
4. Michigan (19)
5. Illinois (17.5)

Team Standings (Women)
1. Penn State (38)
1. Wisconsin (28)
3. Illinois (30)
4. Rutgers (26)
5. Minnesota (24)
6. Michigan State (20)
7. Indiana (16)

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