INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana State's return to the Fall Creek Pavilion Friday and Saturday proved to be a success, as the Sycamores racked up six event wins and 18 top-three finishes at the Fairgrounds Invitational.
 
Ivan Weaver, Collin Forrest, Rachel Mehringer, Amy Luttrell, Jaden Smith and the men's 4x400m relay team all claimed event wins over the course of the two-day meet. Forrest (60m hurdles), Trent Jones (400m), Hadley Gradolf (3000m), Luttrell (pole vault) and Campbell Roberts (pole vault) all set program top-10 marks during the weekend.

 Event Winners

• Ivan Weaver – 400m (48.07)
• Collin Forrest – 60m hurdles (7.93, eighth in program history)
• Rachel Mehringer – 60m hurdles (8.33)
• David Carnell, Trent Jones, Parker Doyle, Ivan Weaver – 4x400m relay (3:16.19)
• Amy Luttrell – pole vault (3.89m/12-9, 10th in program history)
• Jaden Smith – triple jump (14.58m/47-10)

 
Top-Three Finishes

• Trent Jones – 400m (second, 48.10, seventh in program history)
• Ryan York – mile (third, 4:15.57)
• Hadley Gradolf – 3000m (second, 9:48.90, ninth in program history)
• David Carnell – 60m hurdles (third, 8.04)
• Aubrey Runyon – 60m hurdles (third, 8.71)
• Nevaeh Wren, Kyarra DeGroote, Lilly Gilbertson, Jahnel Bowman – 4x400m relay (third, 3:49.10)
• Ellie Irwin – high jump (second, 1.72m/5-7.75)
• Dan O'Laughlin – pole vault (third, 4.97m/16-3.5)
• Campbell Roberts – pole vault (second, 3.89m/12-9, 10th in program history)
• Aaron Massiah – triple jump (third, 14.28m/46-10.25)
• Jahnel Bowman – triple jump (second, 12.45m/40-10.25)
• Niesha Anderson – weight throw (second, 19.56m/64-2.25)

 
Sprints/Hurdles
Indiana State had four of its event winners come in sprints and hurdles events, including a sweep of the 60m hurdles. Collin Forrest continued his strong season with a career-best 7.93, moving up to eighth in program history in the event, while David Carnell (8.04) and Kieran Barnewall (8.09) both placed in the top five. Rachel Mehringer completed the sweep with a time of 8.33 on the women's side, and was joined in the top five by Aubrey Runyon (8.71) and Sophie Hale (8.80). Hale also clocked a career-best 8.74 in prelims.
 
The Sycamores also took the top two spots in the men's 400m, with Ivan Weaver placing first at 48.07 and Trent Jones right behind at 48.10. Jones' time moved him up to seventh in program history in the event. Indiana State also had a trio of 400m athletes on the women's side run under 58 seconds in Nevaeh Wren (57.50), Lilly Gilbertson (57.56) and Kyarra DeGroote (57.91).
 
Wren, DeGroote, Gilbertson and Jahnel Bowman also delivered the Sycamores' best 4x400m showing of the season at 3:49.10. Carnell, Jones and Weaver teamed up with Parker Doyle to deliver a win in the men's 4x400m at 3:16.19.
 
Michelle McDonald also carded top-10 finishes in both short sprints events, placing sixth in the 200m (24.72) and seventh in the 60m (7.65). McDonald clocked a time of 7.56 in 60m prelims. Casey Hood Jr. had the top 60m prelims time on the men's side at 6.70, while Will Riley placed fifth in finals at 6.92.
 
Mid-Distance/Distance
Indiana State produced a program top-10 mark for the second straight week, as Hadley Gradolf climbed the charts for the Blue and White with her 3000m time of 9:48.90. Gradolf moved up to ninth in program history and became the second Sycamore with a program top-10 mark in the 3000m this season. Emerson Fayman had the top result for the Trees in the men's 3000m with a career-best 8:22.63.
 
Ryan York also added a podium finish in the mile for the Trees with a season-best mile time of 4:15.57 to finish third. Alex Alvarez also placed in the top five with a season-best 4:16.35, while Brittney Burak placed fifth on the women's side with her mile time of 5:01.97.
 
Halle Miller and Hallie Mimbela both clocked top-10 finishes in the 800m with times of 2:15.39 and 2:19.09, respectively. Jocqael Thorpe placed eighth in the 800m on the men's side with a time of 1:54.21.
 
Jumps
Indiana State's pole vaulters had a banner weekend to highlight a strong showing. Amy Luttrell and Campbell Roberts both cleared an indoor career-best 3.89m (12-9) to take the top two spots on the women's side, moving into a tie for 10th in the event program history in the process. Dan O'Laughlin also cleared a career-best 4.97m (16-3.5) to place third on the women's side, with additional top-five placings from Landon Dobbs (4.77m/15-7.75) on the men's side and Kennedy Merrell (3.64m/11-11.25) on the women's side.
 
Ellie Irwin also matched her career-best high jump mark to earn a podium finish for the Blue and White. Irwin cleared 1.72m (5-7.75) to place second and finishing as the top collegiate athlete, only missing out on top spot on misses. Noah Gilmore placed fourth on the men's side with a clearance at 1.98m (6-6).
 
Jaden Smith and Aaron Massiah both placed in the top three in the triple jump, with Smith taking top spot in the event at 14.58m (47-10). Massiah finished third at 14.28m (46-10.25) and also placed fourth in the long jump at 6.93m (22-9). Jahnel Bowman placed second in the triple jump on the women's side at 12.45m (40-10.25).
 
Throws
Indiana State had just one participant in the throws events during the weekend, as Niesha Anderson earned a second-place finish in the weight throw as the top mark among collegiate athletes. Anderson's mark of 19.56m (64-2.25) was the best by an MVC athlete this season.
 
Up Next
Indiana State travels back to the Indiana State Fairgrounds Feb. 6-7 for the Fairgrounds Invitational at the Fall Creek Pavilion.
 
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