DES MOINES, Iowa ? Thursday was a bit of a day off for the Indiana State track & field contingent at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship, but the action heated up on the track once again on Friday as Kylie Hutson secured a top-10 finish in the pole vault while Steve Daniel and Lauren Martin competed in the men's and women's triple jump respectively at Drake Stadium.
After qualifying for the finals of the pole vault with a strong performance in Wednesday's prelims, Hutson battled the best vaulters in the country on Friday. The sophomore from Terre Haute, Ind., native struggled a bit out of the gate and need all three jumps to clear the initial qualifying height, but needed just one to clear the second mark at 13'01.50” (4.00 meters). However, she could not clear the next height of the competition and ended up tying for ninth place overall with Andrea Smith of Minnesota.
“I thought Kylie represented herself and Indiana State very well this weekend,” said women's head coach John Gartland. “She had a strong effort in the prelims and I thought that momentum might carry with her into the finals. But, she struggled a bit today and just couldn't clear that third mark. I know she's a bit disappointed with the result and her goals were set a bit higher, but she's just a sophomore and her best days are ahead of her.”
Elsewhere on the women's side, sophomore Lauren Martin competed in the prelims of the women's triple jump. The Arlington Heights, Ill., native held her own against the best jumpers in the country and leaped 40'08.75” (12.41 meters), which unfortunately kept her out of Saturdays' finals in the event but placed her 23rd place overall in the event.
“Lauren would have needed to set a new personal best to advance to the finals,” said Gartland. “She didn't have her best performance today and in this type of field you can't afford to have a bad day. I thought she was very composed out there and I think that she will be able to learn from this experience. I have no doubts that Lauren will continue to improve in the next couple of years and that she will be back in an NCAA meet.”
On the men's side, senior Steve Daniel participated in the final event of his career when he competed in the men's triple jump against the best in the country. The senior from Decatur, Ill., leaped an even 50 feet (15.24 meters) to place 21st overall, but that mark was not enough to advance to the finals on Saturday. Daniel had been battling a leg injury since the NCAA Mideast Regional, but still competed despite the less than favorable circumstances.
“Steve's leg was still a bit sore and I think it affected him today,” said men's head coach John McNichols. “Our trainer (Brad Yeargin) did a great job with him over the last week or so to get him healthy enough to jump, but I still think he felt that pain a bit. The bar was set pretty high to advance the finals and Steve would have needed to set a new personal best to advance, so I think he represented himself well in front of the extremely large crowds here today.”
