INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana State's depth was on full display Friday at the Fall Creek Pavilion, as the Sycamores claimed eight first-place finishes at the Marian Indoor Invitational.
 
Six of those eight event wins came on the women's side, including season-best performances in the 60m from Michelle McDonald (7.70) and in the 400m from Alysha Bradford (57.78). The Sycamores' two men's event wins came from Parker Doyle in the 60m hurdles and Lawrence Mitchell in the high jump, with the former clocking a season-best 8.22 and the latter winning in his first meet back since the season opener.
 
As a whole, Indiana State racked up 31 top-five finishes at the state fairgrounds, with every event group represented by multiple top-five finishes on the day.
 
Event Winners

• Michelle McDonald – 60m (7.70)
• Alysha Bradford – 400m (57.78)
• Parker Doyle – 60m hurdles (8.22)
• Alysha Bradford, Janiya Bowman, Emily Lowe, Iyanla Hunter – 4x400m relay (3:56.23)
• Lawrence Mitchell – high jump (2.02m/6-07.50)
• Janiya Bowman – long jump (5.81m/19-00.75)
• Dominique Wood – triple jump (11.58m/38-00.00)
• Aliseonna Garnett – shot put (13.33m/43-08.75)

 
Top-Three Finishes

• Angel Thomas – 60m (second, 7.76)
• Iyanla Hunter – 200m (second, 24.84)
• Cameron Stevens – 400m (second, 49.90)
• Napoleon Hernandez – 800m (second, 1:54.28)
• Brooklyn Giertz-Pfaff – pole vault (second, 3.87m/12-08.25)
• Ali Ilupeju – triple jump (second, 14.28m/46-10.25)
• Sophie Yovanovich – 200m (third, 25.32)
• Tahj Johnson, Napoleon Hernandez, Zach Powell, Xavier Wills – 4x400m relay (third, 3:23.67)
• Grace Quinlan – high jump (third, 1.61m/5-03.25)
• Selene Weaver – pole vault (third, 3.87m/12-08.25)

 
Sprints/Hurdles
Indiana State's sprinters and hurdlers put together a strong day, with four of the Sycamores' eight event wins of the day coming from the group. Michelle McDonald (7.70) and Angel Thomas (7.76) went 1-2 in the 60m, while Iyanla Hunter ran an indoor-best 24.84 to place second in the 200m. The Sycamores' also got a win from Alysha Bradford in the 400m with a season-best time of 57.78, while Janiya Bowman, Bradford, Emily Lowe and Hunter led the Trees' 4x400m relay team to a first-place finish in 3:56.23.
 
The Trees also got a strong showing on the men's side, led by Parker Doyle's season-best time of 8.22 in the 60m hurdles. Top-five finishes from Tahj Johnson in the 200m (22.07) and Cameron Stevens in the 400m (49.90) added to a strong day for the Blue and White, while the 4x400m relay team of Johnson, Napoleon Hernandez, Zach Powell and Xavier Wills placed third with a time of 3:23.67.
 
Distance
Indiana State had multiple positive results from the distance crew at the Marian Indoor Invitational, despite the majority of the Sycamores' distance runners competing at Grand Valley State. The men's 800m was one of the Sycamores' best events of the day, as Hernandez led a quartet of Sycamores in the top six with a time of 1:54.28. Ryan Handy (1:55.66) and Nick Burns (1:55.80) also earned top-five finishes in the event.
 
Kyra Young added a top-five finish for the Sycamore women in the mile, running a career-best 5:12.97 in the event. The Trees also got a career-best performance in the 800m from Halle Miller at 2:21.31. Cami Farmer clocked a time of 11:16.92 in the 3000m, while Isaac Bryant (8:58.90) ran a career-best time in the men's 3000m.
 
Jumps/Pole Vault
Indiana State picked up a trio of wins in the jumps events, including one from Lawrence Mitchell in his first meet back since the season opener. Mitchell cleared 2.02m (6-07.50) to place first in the men's high jump, while Grace Quinlan cleared 1.61m (5-03.25) to earn a top-three finish on the women's side.
 
Janiya Bowman tied her season-best of 5.81m (19-00.75) to win the women's long jump, with Faith Frye (5.53m/18-01.75) also placing in the top five in the event. Jake Ottersbach picked up a top-five finish on the men's side with a career-best mark of 6.90m (22-07.75). The Sycamores also picked up a first-place finish in the women's triple jump, as Dominique Wood recorded a season-best attempt of 11.58m (38-00.00). Ali Ilupeju finished second in the men's triple jump with a mark of 14.28m (46-10.25).
 
The Sycamores also finished with three of the top four women's pole vaulters Friday. Brooklyn Giertz-Pfaff and Selene Weaver both cleared 3.87m (12-08.25), while Kennedy Merrell cleared a career-best 3.77m (12-04.50). On the men's side, Dan O'Laughlin placed fifth after clearing 4.45m (14-07.25)
 
Throws
Aliseonna Garnett earned top-five finishes in both throws events Friday, including a first-place result in the shot put. Garnett's top shot put mark came in at 13.33m (43-08.75), while her top weight throw mark of 15.25m (50-00.50) placed her fifth.
 
Gavin Connelly represented the Sycamores in the men's throws events, also earning top-five finishes in both. Connelly placed fourth in the shot put with a mark of 15.40m (50-06.25) and fifth in the weight throw with a mark of 15.59m (51-01.75).
 
Up Next
Indiana State returns home for its final meet before the MVC Indoor Championships, playing host to the ISU Open the afternoon of February 17.
 
Follow the Sycamores
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