Track and Field hosts challenge
The University of Indianapolis men’s and women’s track and field teams hosted the Tom Hathaway Challenge on Feb. 2, claiming 13 NCAA provisional marks.
For the men, senior Jerel Flournoy posted provisional marks in both the 400-meter race and long jump. Flournoy won both events, with a time of 49.49 in the 400-meter and a leap of 7.15 meters in the long jump. Both marks were good enough for national rankings of 24th and 14th, respectively. Senior Jermel Kindred also added to the provisional mark total, winning the 200-meter and 60-meter hurdles with a time of 21.79 and 8.22, respectively.
In the 60-meter race, freshman Quinntyn Qualls finished with a time of 6.86, which proved to be the 19th fastest in the NCAA Division II. Qualls also earned a provisional mark in the 200-meter, with a time of 22.24.
Also on the track for the Greyhounds, sophomore Alex Cushman set a UIndy record in the men’s 5,000-meter with a time of 14:53.04. The record time was also good enough for a provisional mark and 14th fastest time in the NCAA Division II. Junior Zach Little improved upon his provisional mark, winning the high jump with a leap of 2.06 meters, which proved to be the 13th best in the nation.
In the shot put and weight throw, senior Ryan Smith earned his provisional marks throwing 17.89 meters and 19.65 meters, respectively. Smith won the shot put for the Greyhounds, while finishing second in the weight throw.
For the women, sophomore Carlynn Carter also won in the shot put, throwing 13.60 meters, which was qualified for 24th in the NCAA Division II. In the women’s long jump, sophomore Camille Edwards won the event with a leap of 5.55 meters. The leap was good enough for 30th best in the NCAA Division II.
In the women’s 400-meter race, sophomore LaTisha Martin earned a provisional time that is currently 40th in the NCAA Division II, finishing the event in a time of 58.19. Martin finished the event in the runner-up position for the Greyhounds.
The weekend before, the Greyhounds competed at the Indiana Wesleyan Open on Jan. 26, earning three NCAA provisional marks and two improved marks.
Highlighting the open for the Greyhounds were senior Robert Gardner and Kindred, who both improved their marks in the 400-meter dash. Kindred claimed first in the event with a time of 48.45, while Gardner finished a close second with a time of 48.65. The improved marks for the student-athletes qualified current rankings of 15th and 19th, respectively, in the NCAA Division II.
Earlier that week, Kindred explained the importance of the team’s chemistry and its ultimate goal at that point in the season.
“We just have to get ready for nationals,” Kindred said. “It’s just about keeping everybody healthy and keeping everybody on the same page.”
Three Greyhounds also earned NCAA provisional marks at the open. Freshman Joshua Bass finished second in the long jump with a leap of 7.34 meters, which allowed him to qualify in the field and gave him a tie for seventh-best in the nation. Flournoy and Qualls also earned their marks in the men’s 200-meter dash, finishing first and second, respectively. Flournoy came in at 21.81, and Qualls finished at 21.84. Both times were good enough to rank Flournoy and Qualls at 20th and 22nd, respectively, in the NCAA Division II.
Prior to the Indiana Wesleyan Open, the men’s and women’s track and field teams were represented by a group of distance runners at the Indiana University Relays on Jan. 25. Junior Ben McMillan set a program record while at the relays in the men’s 3,000-meter run with a time of 8:36.71.
Senior Valorie Parker said that she was impressed with the team’s season thus far and the improvements being made.
“We’re off to a good start,” Parker said. “Being in the new facility, being together as a team and being able to work on specific events, rather than just running and weight training, has really helped us improve.”
Parker also said that in order to continue being successful, team chemistry is a must.
“As a team we have to help one another along, and meets give us a chance to cheer for each other,” Parker said.
Head Track and Field Coach Scott Fangman said that for now, nothing seems out of the ordinary for his team and its season.
“The season is going normal,” Fangman said. “We start out slow, and then we crescendo. Our schedule gets tougher and tougher and so we train them [track and field student-athletes] up so that they can do better and better.”
Fangman also praised the student-athletes on his team for their hard work this season.
“I am not unsatisfied with anything,” Fangman said. “The kids have a good and competitive attitude.”
The Greyhounds will return to action Feb. 9-10 at the Hoosier Hills Invitational in Bloomington, Ind.
