Track Triumphs
The University of Indianapolis men’s and women’s track and field team competed at the Dave Rankin Invitational at Purdue University on April 15-16 in its second-to-last meet before the GLVC Conference tournament.
Cold weather, wind and rainy conditions hindered the Greyhound runners, but team members in the field portion of the meet posted several NCAA provisional marks.
For the women, freshmen discus throwers Katy Watson and Isabelle May both made NCAA provisional marks with throws of 44.79 and 44.40, respectively.
Senior Matt Royer held up the men’s side by winning the hammer throw with a mark of 59.50.
Standouts in the women’s track competition included the 4×100-meter relay team of senior Angelique McNeal, juniors Delta Martin and Kierra Allen and sophomore Haley Miller’s first-place finish.
Sophomores Robert Gardner and Jermel Kindred took first and second-place in the 400-meter dash with times of 48.58 and 48.89, respectively.
On April 9, the team traveled to Marion, Ind. to compete in the Indiana Intercollegiate meet. The men’s team took first place, while the women’s team placed third.
“I feel wins like these meets are important because they help prepare us for the big meets like conference and nationals,” said junior sprinter Jerel Flournoy.
At the meet, Flournoy took first place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.32 and first place in the 400-meter dash with a time of 47.13. Both times were NCAA provisional marks.
“It means a lot to me to put down NCAA provisional marks, individual or relay, because it gives my team and I a chance to compete with the best in the nation,” Flournoy said. “Being able to compete against the best is what drives us most. We like to take on challenges and we love to compete.”
A series of additional first-place wins brought the men’s team to its overall first place-finish above the meet’s 16 other teams.
Kindred won the 400-meter hurdles and made an NCAA provisional mark with a time of 52.20.
For the relay teams, the 4×100-meter relay team of senior Carl Smith, Flournoy, Gardner and Kindred placed first with a time of 41.95, while the 4×400-meter relay team of Flournoy, Gardner, Kindred and senior Nick Brattain took first with a time of 3:12.25, another NCAA provisional mark.
In the field, freshman Blaze Hurley won the pole vault while junior Randall Hudi took the long jump.
“I am fully confident that our men have what it takes to continue our win streak, regardless of the injuries we have sustained this season,” said senior captain Kevin Keene.
Highlights of the women’s team’s third-place finish included a series of NCAA provisional marks. McNeal’s third-place finish in the 100-meter dash and Miller’s 400-meter dash time of 56.2 seconds both earned marks, while Watson’s third place throw in the discus earned her recognition.
The Stan Lyons Open on April 30 is the team’s last meet before the GLVC Outdoor Championships to be held May 6-7.
“This week is a chance to improve on marks we have or try to put some down,” Flournoy said. “Every chance we get to run is important because the season is quickly coming to the end.”
The men’s team has won for three years straight both indoor and outdoor championships and is looking to defend its title this year.
According to Flournoy, he not only expects the men’s team to win the conference title, but the women as well.
“My expectations include conference title wins on the men’s and women’s sides, a number of men and women qualifying for Nationals, a number of men and women earning All-American statuses and hopefully becoming National Champions in the 4×400 [meter relay],” Flournoy said.
