Rachel Mehringer shattered Indiana State’s 60m hurdles record as part of a strong Crossroads of America Invitational for the Sycamores at the Fall Creek Pavilion.
Mehringer clocked a time of 8.19 in Friday’s prelims, breaking the previous program record by nine-hundredths of a second and becoming the second Sycamore to set a school record during the 2024-25 season.
Indiana State produced four program top-10 marks during their time in the capital city, headlined by Mehringer’s performance in the hurdles. The Sycamores also received program top-10 marks from Emma Gresham in the mile, Brittney Burak in the 5000m and Aliseonna Garnett in the shot put.
Top-Three Finishes
- Xavier Wills – 600m (third, 1:22.06)
- Emma Gresham – mile (third, 4:52.72, sixth in program history)
- Erica Barker – 5000m (third, 16:56.23)
- Rachel Mehringer – 60m hurdles (third, 8.30, school record time of 8.19 in prelims)
- Ryan York, Tahj Johnson, Caden Emmert, Jason Dworak – distance medley relay (third, 10:01.80)
- Morgan Dyer, Noelle Dilosa, Halle Miller, Emma Gresham – distance medley relay (third, 12:01.48)
- Will Staggs – pole vault (second, 5/39m/17-8.25)
- Noah Bolt – weight throw (third, 20.08m/65-10.5)
Other Notable Marks
- Brittney Burak – 5000m (17:07.83, sixth in program history)
- Aliseonna Garnett – shot put (15.52m/50-11, fifth in program history)
Sprints/Hurdles
In a weekend filled with season-best performances, Rachel Mehringer’s record showing was the standout. Mehringer broke the 60m hurdles record with a time of 8.19 in prelims and placed third in finals with a time of 8.30. In addition, she also ran career best 60m times of 7.62 in prelims and 7.66 in finals for a top-five finish. Mehringer wasn’t the only Sycamore hurdler with a career-best performance, as Parker Doyle advance from prelims with a career-best time of 8.17. Doyle clocked a time of 8.27 in finals to place sixth. In the 60m, Tahj Johnson also had career-best performances of 6.87 in prelims and 6.88 in finals to finish sixth.
Indiana State got strong performances in the 200m on the opening day of the meet, with Daunte Majors and Casey Hood Jr. separated by just one-hundredth of a second. Majors (21.42) and Hood Jr. (21.43) both placed in the top 10, while Janiya Bowman placed in the top 15 on the women’s side with a season-best time of 24.70. The Sycamores also had a top-10 performance in the 400m, as Ivan Weaver clocked a time of 48.90 to place ninth. Jahnel Bowman ran a time of 57.64 in her first 400 of the season.
Both Sycamore 4x400m relay teams earned top-10 finishes with season-best times to close out the weekend. Indiana State’s men’s 4x400m team of Johnson, Trent Jones, Deangelo Hughey and Weaver finished sixth in 3:16.16, while the women’s quartet of Janiya Bowman, Kamille Gaskin-Griffith, Noelle Dilosa and Jahnel Bowman ran a time of 3:54.49 to finish 10th.
Mid-Distance/Distance
Indiana State’s distance crew put together its strongest performance of the season at the state fairgrounds, including a pair of program top-10 marks. Emma Gresham continued her strong 2024-25 season, dating back to cross country, with a career-best time of 4:52.72 in the mile to finish third in the event. Gresham moved up to sixth in program history in the event, while Jason Dworak ran a season-best 4:09.73 to finish eighth.
The Blue and White had a pair of top-five finishes in the women’s 5000m, including Erica Barker’s podium finish in 16:56.23. Brittney Burak also finished in the top five with a career-best time of 17:07.83, moving up to sixth in program history in the event.
Indiana State also ran its first distance medley relay of the season, earning third-place finishes on both the men’s and women’s side. The men’s team of Ryan York, Tahj Johnson, Caden Emmert and Dworak ran a time of 10:01.80, while the women’s team of Morgan Dyer, Noelle Dilosa, Halle Miller and Gresham clocked a time of 12:01.48.
In addition to the top marks, the Trees also put together high-level performances in mid-distance events. Indiana State had three of the top 10 finishers in the men’s 600m, led by Xavier Wills with a time of 1:22.06. Nick Burns (1:23.04) and Zach Powell (1:23.97) were also in the top 10 for the Sycamores.
Jumps
Indiana State had multiple season-best performances in jumps events throughout the weekend. Will Staggs had the highest finish of any Sycamore over the weekend, clearing a season-best 5.39m (17-8.25) to place second in the pole vault. Parker Speth also cleared a career-best 5.04m (16-6.5), surpassing the five-meter mark for the first time in his career.
Also registering season-best performances for the Sycamores on the men’s side were Kilan Macklin in the long jump and Kevin Krutsch in the high jump. Macklin placed in the top 10 with a top mark of 7.23m (23-8.75), while Krutsch cleared 2.08m (6-9.75) to place fourth in the high jump.
The Sycamores had a pair of season-best marks in the women’s triple jump. Dominique Wood recorded a top mark of 11.82m (38-9.5), while Justice Boston had a career-best attempt of 11.78m (38-7.75). Ellie Irwin matched her career-best clearance of 1.69m (5-6.25) in the high jump, while Amy Luttrell cleared a career-best 3.79m (12-5.25) in the pole vault. Brooklyn Pfaff led the way for the Trees in the pole vault by clearing 3.94m (12-11), while Janiya Bowman had the top mark for the Trees in the long jump at 5.55m (18-2.5).
Throws
Indiana State’s throwers continued to put up high marks, including a program top-five mark in the shot put from Aliseonna Garnett. Garnett’s mark of 15.52m (50-11) moved her to fifth in program history in the event and was the Sycamores’ top mark in the event since 2019. Niesha Anderson also had another strong weekend in the weight throw with a season-best mark of 21.28m (69-9.75)
Sloan Cox continued his stellar sophomore season in the shot put, placing in the top five in the event with a top mark of 17.66m (57-11.25). Noah Bolt added a podium finish in the weight throw for the Sycamores with his top mark of 20.08m (65-10.5).
Up Next
Indiana State heads west for the Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational January 31-February 1 in Columbia, Missouri.
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