TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State's 2025-26 track and field season got off to a strong start Friday and Saturday, as the Sycamores recorded multiple high-ranking marks at the John Gartland Invitational.
 
Indiana State claimed the top spot in 14 events over the course of the weekend, with meet and facility records being set by the Sycamores in both the men's and women's 60m. The Trees also had four program top-10 marks set over the course of the weekend, with a plethora of top-50 national rankings also being posted by the Blue and White.

 Event Winners

• Casey Hood Jr. – 60m (6.63, meet and facility record), 200m (21.87)
• Reneisha Andrews – 60m (7.40, meet and facility record, fourth in program history)
• Ivan Weaver – 400m (49.08, meet record)
• Collin Forrest – 60m hurdles (7.97, ninth in program history)
• Rachel Mehringer – 60m hurdles (8.52)
• Deangelo Hughey, Will Riley, Graham West, Ivan Weaver – 4x400m relay (3:27.95)
• Janiya Bowman, Jahnel Bowman, Lilly Gilbertson, Nevaeh Wren – 4x400m relay (3:58.58)
• Lincoln Hulsey – pole vault (4.95m/16-2.75)
• Kilan Macklin – long jump (7.15m/23-5.5)
• Janiya Bowman – long jump (5.80m/19-0.5)
• Justice Boston – triple jump (11.77m/38-7.5)
• Aliseonna Garnett – shot put (15.48m/50-9.5), weight throw (18.77m/61-7)

 
Top-Three Finishes

• Will Riley – 60m (third, 6.90)
• Michelle McDonald – 60m (second, 7.65)
• Kyarra DeGroote – 400m (second, 59.46)
• Noelle Dilosa – 800m (third, 2:30.07)
• Nick Burns – mile (third, 4:18.95)
• Ada Sabo – mile (third, 5:33.62)
• Parker Mimbela – 3000m (third, 9:03.16)
• Parker Doyle – 60m hurdles (second, 8.13)
• David Carnell – 60m hurdles (third, 8.15)
• Taylor Jackson – 60m hurdles (third, 9.13)
• Xavier Wills, Nick Burns, Caden Emmert, Will Larrison – 4x400m relay (second, 3:29.01)
• Noah Gilmore – high jump (second, 2.04m/6-8.25)
• Ethan Widenhoefer – high jump (third, 1.98m/6-6)
• Kayla Douglas – high jump (third, 1.60m/5-3)
• Essence Johnson – high jump (third, 1.60m/5-3)
• Landon Dobbs – pole vault (second, 4.95m/16-2.75)
• Campbell Roberts – pole vault (second, 3.86m/12-8, 10th in program history)
• Amy Luttrell – pole vault (third, 3.76m/12-4)
• Piere Hill – long jump (second, 7.07m/23-2.5)
• Jahnel Bowman – long jump (second, 5.68m/18-7.75)
• Aaron Massiah – triple jump (third, 14.23m/46-8.25)
• Taylor Smith – triple jump (second, 11.05m/36-3)
• Sloan Cox – shot put (second, 18.00m/59-0.75)
• Olivia Marshall – shot put (second, 14.46m/47-5.25)
• Cora Williams – weight throw (second, 18.67m/61-3)
• Emma Yoder – weight throw (third, 18.10m/59-4.75)
• Jake Ottersbach – heptathlon (third, 4936)
• Ellie Irwin – pentathlon (second, 3471, 10th in program history)
• Emma Martin – pentathlon (third, 3297)

 
Sprints/Hurdles
Indiana State's sprinters made an early statement on their home track, with Casey Hood Jr. and Reneisha Andrews posting top-10 national times in the 60m to pace the Blue and White. Hood Jr. clocked a 6.63 on the men's side, the third-fastest time in the nation this season, while Andrews' time of 7.40 on the women's side was the ninth-fastest time in the nation this season. Andrews also moved into the top five in program history in her Sycamore debut. Will Riley placed third on the men's side in his collegiate debut with a time of 6.90, while Michelle McDonald finished second on the women's side with a time of 7.65.
 
Hood Jr. also posted a high-ranking time in the 200m, with his 21.87 placing first at the meet and ranking in the top 15 nationally after track conversion. Nevaeh Wren had the top 200m time for the Sycamores on the women's side, clocking a 26.02 in her collegiate debut. Ivan Weaver added a first-place finish for the Blue and White in the 400m with a time of 49.04, a top-30 national mark after track conversion, while Kyarra DeGroote finished second on the women's side at 59.46.
 
Indiana State's strong tradition of excellence in the 60m hurdles was on full display, with Collin Forrest running a career-best 7.97 to crack the program top-10 charts. Kieran Barnewall clocked a time of 8.06 in prelims in his first collegiate meet, while Parker Doyle (8.13) and David Carnell (8.15) earned podium finishes in finals. Forrest and Barnewall both cracked the top 50 times in the nation. On the women's side, MVC record holder Rachel Mehringer cruised to a season-opening win with a time of 8.52, a top-40 time nationally. Taylor Jackson also earned a podium finish with a time of 9.13.
 
The Trees also tallied first-place finishes on both side in the 4x400m relay. Deangelo Hughey, Riley, Graham West and Weaver clocked a time of 3:27.95 on the men's side to edge the quartet of Xavier Wills, Nick Burns, Caden Emmert and Will Larrison (3:29.01). Weaver overcame a deficit down the stretch, passing Larrison inside the final 100 meters to secure the win. Janiya Bowman, Jahnel Bowman, Lilly Gilbertson and Wren teamed up to run a time of 3:58.58 to earn the first-place finish on the women's side.
 
Mid-Distance/Distance
Indiana State fielded few entries in the distance and mid-distance events, with the Sycamores' cross country season ending just one month ago. Nick Burns earned a podium finish in the mile with his time of 4:18.95, while Noelle Dilosa placed third in the 800m with her time of 2:30.07.
 
The two distance athletes who competed for the Blue and White both earned top-three finishes in their respective events. Ada Sabo placed third in the mile with a time of 5:33.62, while Parker Mimbela clocked a 3000m time of 9:03.16 to finish third in the event.
 
Jumps
Indiana State started its season in the right direction in the jumps events, with multiple career-best and high-ranking marks for the Blue and White. Lincoln Hulsey and Landon Dobbs both cleared 4.95m (16-2.75) in the pole vault, with the Sycamore duo occupying the top two spots in the event. Campbell Roberts cleared a career-best 3.86m (12-8) to finish second on the women's side, with all three ranking in the top 50 nationally after the season opener.
 
In a meet named after legendary Sycamore coach John Gartland, who works with the high jumpers, Indiana State's high jump crew put together a strong start to the season. Noah Gilmore cleared a career-best 2.04m (6-8.25), a top-50 mark in the nation this season, to place second, while Ethan Widenhoefer cleared 1.98m (6-6) to finish right behind in third. Kilan Macklin cleared both of his attempts, his last one coming at 1.95m (6-4.75). On the women's side, the trio of Kayla Douglas, Essence Johnson and Emily Ritenour all cleared 1.60m (5-3), with Douglas and Johnson tying for third on misses. The major women's high jump result for the Blue and White came during the pentathlon, as Ellie Irwin cleared 1.72m (5-7.75) to crack the top 30 in the nation this season.
 
Macklin also added a first-place finish in the long jump with a season-opening mark of 7.15m (23-5.5), a top-50 mark in the nation this season. Piere Hill was right behind in second with a top attempt of 7.07m (23-2.5), while Aaron Massiah rounded out a sweep of the podium for the Trees with a mark of 6.92m (22-8.5).The Sycamores also occupied the top two spots in the women's long jump, as Janiya Bowman placed first with a top mark of 5.80m (19-0.5) and Jahnel Bowman followed in second at 5.68m (18-7.75).
 
Indiana State also added an event win in the women's triple jump, courtesy of Justice Boston with a top mark of 11.77m (38-7.5). Taylor Smith finished second for the Trees with a mark of 11.05m (36-3), while Massiah also claimed a third-place finish on the men's side with a mark of 14.23m (46-8.25).
 
Throws
Aliseonna Garnett led a strong opening weekend for the Sycamore throwers with wins in both the shot put and weight throw. Garnett's shot put mark of 15.48m (50-9.5) ranked in the top 15 nationally, while her weight throw mark of 18.77m (61-7) also sits in the top 25 nationally. Cora Williams added a top-25 national mark in the weight throw in her collegiate debut at 18.67m (61-3), while Olivia Marshall tacked on a top-50 national mark in the shot put at 14.46m (47-5.25). Also recording a top-50 national mark in the early stages of the season was Emma Yoder, who registered a weight throw mark of 18.10m (59-4.75) as the Sycamores swept the podium in the event.
 
On the men's side, Sloan Cox opened his season with a second place finish in the shot put, with his mark of 18.00m (59-0.75) ranking in the top 25 nationally. Ben Brown added a top-five finish in the event in his collegiate debut with a throw of 16.67m (54-8.25), while fellow freshman Theo Thurman had the top throw for the Trees in the weight throw at 17.30m (56-9.25).
 
Multis
Each of Indiana State's seven athletes competing in the pentathlon or heptathlon earned top-five overall finishes over the weekend, with four of those seven currently ranking in the top 50. Ellie Irwin finished with a career-high 3471 points in the pentathlon, a top-50 score nationally, with her high jump mark (1.72m/5-7.75) ranking in the top 30 nationally and her hurdles time of 8.98 being a career best. Irwin also added career-best efforts in the long jump (5.24m/17-2.25) and 800m (2:39.19) to aid her score.
 
Emma Martin earned a third-place finish in the pentathlon in her collegiate debut with 3297 points, with top-three finishes in the 800m (2:26.16) and high jump (1.60m/5-3). Kathryn Ison placed fourth with 3265 points, with the second-best long jump mark (5.30m/17-4.75) in the field and a strong 60m hurdles time of 9.01. Sophie Hale finished fifth at 3256 points, with her 60m hurdles time of 8.77 and long jump mark of 5.30m (17-4.5) among the best in the field.
 
Jake Ottersbach led the Sycamore heptathletes with a third-place finish on 4936 points, bolstered by the top 60m hurdles time in the field at 8.34 and top-three marks in the 1000m (2:57.32) and high jump (1.86m/6-1.25). Ty Newsom finished fourth with 4739 points, aided by high marks in the 1000m (2:56.48) and shot put (11.64m/38-2.25). Zenon Rule placed fifth at 4707 points, finishing with the highest clearance in the pole vault (4.40m/14-5.25), with all three Sycamores currently in the top 50 in the national rankings.
 
Up Next
Indiana State returns to action after the calendar turns to 2026, as the Sycamores play host to longtime rival Illinois State for the Coughlan-Malloy Cup January 17 inside the Indoor Track and Field Facility.
 
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on the Sycamore Track & Field and Cross Country teams, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from the both the App Store and the Google Play Store.