KEVIN JENISON

GoSycamores.com

DES MOINES, IOWA ? Indiana State senior Kylie Hutson did not finish as strong as she wanted to while sophomore Major Clay did have a strong finish to his 2010 outdoor season as the USA Track & Field Outdoor National Championships came to a close on Sunday.

Hutson finished eighth in the women's pole vault after clearing 14'-1.25” (4.30 meters) on her second attempt but failing to clear 14'-5.25” (4.40 meters). She was the second collegian in the final standings just behind Arkansas' Katie Stripling who also cleared 14'-1.25” but had fewer misses.

Jenn Suhr (Adidas), the American indoor and outdoor record holder, won her fifth straight USATF Outdoor title by clearing 16'-0.5” (4.89 meters). Becky Holliday (unattached) was second at 15'-1” (4.60 meters) with Mary Saxer third at 14'-9” (4.50 meters).

“The wind was swirling during warmups and throughout the competition which made it pretty tough,” Jeff Martin, Indiana State assistant coach said. “Kylie cleared the opening height and the second on her second attempt. She looked good on both clearances but I think the long season finally caught up to her. The whole season of battling injuries really showed today and took its toll. She was tired and you could see it in her approaches.”

Clay went into the competition ranked 18th among the competitors but is coming home tying for ninth after clearing 7'-2.5” (2.20 meters) on his first attempt. He had several good attempts at 7'-3.75” (2.23 meters) which would have been a career best if cleared but was unable to successful clear the bar.

“I hurt my knee a couple of weeks before the NCAA's but I knew that I belonged here and if I got a chance, I would do well,” Clay said. “I felt good throughout the competition and I am really looking forward to next year.”

Jesse Williams (Nike), the 2008 Olympic Trials champion, won the title after clearing 7'-5” (2.26 meters). Tora Harris (Asics), the 2009 USATF champion, was second after also clearing 7'-5” but having more misses. Jamie Nieto (unattached) was third at 7'-3.75” (2.23 meters).

“Clay did a really great job against high level competition,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & field coach, said. “It was a great way for him to end the 2010 season and establish goals for the 2011 campaign.”

John Gartland, Indiana State women's track & field coach said that the showing by the Indiana State athletes, both those current athletes and former athletes, at this meet is something special.

“It was very satisfying to watch our athletes and former athletes compete at a high caliber meet such as this,” Gartland said. “We had four top 10 finishes in competition against the best in the United States today and, in some cases, against the best in the world. We cannot be more proud of these individuals, of our program, and of our school.”

On Saturday, a misstep early in the 400 meter hurdle semifinals cost Indiana State senior Erica Moore a chance to advance to the finals while freshman Stacia Weatherford finished seventh in the finals of the junior 400 hurdles.

Weatherford ran 1:03.28 in the finals today to finish seventh in the women's 400 meter hurdle junior. She advanced to the finals after running 1:02.31 to win her heat in the preliminaries on Friday. Evonne Britton of Penn State won the race in 57.99.

Weatherford also competed in the women's 100 meter hurdle juniors, which was held on Thursday. The Sycamore freshman placed 16th with a time of 14.58.

Moore's early problems in the semifinals of the women's 400 meter hurdles senior/open cost precious seconds to the Sycamore senior as she finished 15th overall in 59.58. She finished third in the third heat of the first round on Friday with a time of 57.26 to advance into the semifinals. Only five collegians were among the 16 semifinalist.

Former Sycamore All-American Jordan Fife competed in the men's 3000 meter steeplechase on Friday, finishing 17th overall with a time of 8:59.85. Fife, who now competes for Team Indiana Elite, missed the cut for the finals by just three seconds.

Another former Sycamore All-American was in competition on Saturday as Aubrey Herring in the men's 110 meter hurdles, placing 19th overall with a time of 13.96. Herring, competing unattached, was just 1.5 seconds off making the semifinals in the event.

On Thursday, Lauren Martin made a fine showing against a very strong field in her second USATF Outdoor Nationals. Martin finished 13th at the 2009 USATF Outdoor Nationals and improved on that performance this year with a leap of 42'-8.75” (13.02 meters) in finishing ninth overall and the fourth collegian. She was just three-quarters of an inch away from making the finals.