KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
AMES, IOWA ? Indiana State senior Kylie Hutson set a new school record and may have the best vault of the season nationally after winning the event Friday night at the Iowa State Classic. Hutson cleared 14'-5.25” (4.40m) to better her mark of 14'-3.25” (4.35m) she set in winning the NCAA Indoor Championship a year ago.
The height tied the Harry Hoak Track record which was set by Kansas State's Breanna Eveland in 2006. It also broke Minnesota's Alicia Rue meet record set last year of 4.30m. It is also the sixth best all-time in NCAA history.
“I still feel the adrenaline rush,” Hutson said shortly after winning the event. “To clear that height and possibly lead the nation is just amazing. The competition was outstanding. It will take awhile for it to sink in.”
Hutson went head-to-head with Rue who had the best vault in the nation heading into the competition Friday at 14'-4.5” (4.38m).
“We both cleared at 4.35 meters (14'-3.5”) on our last tries and we both missed on our first two attempts at 4.40 meters,” Hutson said. “I cleared on my last jump and she missed. It was really something.”
The senior who made three good attempts at 14'-7.25” (4.45m) before calling it a night has now surpassed the automatic qualifying match in each of her last four meets.
“She came from behind again and took control in the last few vaults,” John Gartland, Indiana State women's track & field coach, said. “It was just amazing watching how calm she appeared against some very outstanding competition.”
Indiana State's Alicia Fritschi finished 12th in the competition with a vault of 11'-11.75” (5.65m).
Hutson's win was not the only bright spot for the Indiana State women's track & field team Friday as Kelsey Hanley and Felisha Johnson finished first and second, respectively, in the weight throw and both set new personal bests.
Hanley took first place with a throw of 66'-0.5” (20.13) which could move her into the top 10 of the national rankings. It is the second best throw in school history and just behind Carrie Meyers who had a throw of 67'-1.25” (20.45) in 2000.
Johnson took second with a personal best throw of 62'-11.25” (19.18m) which moves her into fifth place on the Sycamore all-time list.
“I was wondering how these two would fare against this level of competition and they both relished in it,” Gartland said.
Kasey Kahle finished 40th overall in the event with a throw of 49'-3.5” (15.02m).
Another positive finish for the Sycamores came from Lauren Martin who was fourth in the long jump at 18'-8.5” (5.70m) and Richelle Kimble who placed ninth in the unseeded pole vault at 10'-11.75” (3.35m).
On the track side, Indiana State's all-conference cross country runner Allison Malone competed in her first meet of the indoor season and finished ninth overall (the fifth collegian) in the 3,000 meters with a time of 10:07.12. That is the 12th best time in Sycamore history.
“This was her first meet of the season after leading us in cross country this past season,” Gartland said. “She ran really, really well.”
Kacie Klem was 26th overall (the 18th collegian) in the 3,000 meters with a time of 10:23.55 and Kylee Thacker placed 12th overall in her first 5,000 meters of the season with a time of 18:16.99.
All three of Indiana State's sprinters in the 200 meters set new personal bests in an event that featured 130 competitors and 21 heats. Jaquelle Spencer ran the 13th best time in school history at 25.33 in finishing 30th overall while Jasmyn Hudgins has the 18th best time in school history at 25.73 in finishing 57th overall. Macey Black also established a new personal best with a 90th place finish in 26.58.
On the men's side, Eric Schulz, Indiana State's national championship qualifier in cross country this past season, returned to action and finished third in the 5,000 meters with a personal best time of 14:50.17 which is also ninth best in Sycamore history. Brandon Query finished 28th in the event at 15:44.37.
“It was a pretty respectable time considering Schulz was coming back from an Achilles injury,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & field coach said.
The Sycamores had six competitors in the 200 meters which had a total of 140 running in 23 heats. Daryl Truitt topped the Indiana State sprinters in finishing 34th with a time of 22.22. Tra Wilson was 40th with a personal best time of 22.28, Michael Roberts 50th with a personal best time of 22.41, Steven Swinford 78th in 22.66, Justin Baxtron was 99th in 22.99, and Patrick Mendenhall finished 116th in 23.20.
Dexter Childress made a big move up in the final three events of the heptathlon which started today's competition. The freshman entered the day in 14th spot and finished the competition in 12th with 4,471 points which is fourth best in Sycamore history. Childress opened the day with an eighth place finish in the 60 meter hurdles in 8.79), had a personal best of 14'-3.25” (4.35m), and then had his best showing of the meet with a second place finish in the 1,000 meters with a time of 2:44.14.
Indiana State had all four of their throwers finish in the top 25 of the weight throw in the final event completed on Friday led by Josh Williams who finished seventh with a throw of 64'-10.5” (19.77m) which is a provisional qualifying effort. Brandon Pounds was 14th with a throw of 59'-11.25” (18.27m) while Lyle Nolcox finished 22nd with a throw of 56'-3” (17.14m), and Julius Smith was 25th with a throw of 55'-7” (16.94m).
The final day of competition will begin at 10 a.m. (ET) Saturday.
