Six event wins and 20 top-three finishes highlighted Indiana State track and field’s busy Saturday at the DePaul Alumni Classic.
Casey Hood Jr. (60m), Janiya Bowman (200m), Trent Jones (400m), Rachel Mehringer (60m hurdles), Will Staggs (pole vault) and Brooklyn Pfaff (pole vault) all took home event wins, with Hood Jr. and Mehringer taking first-place finishes for a second straight weekend.
Indiana State also produced top-three finishes in 12 different events, including podium sweeps in the men’s and women’s pole vault. Emma Gresham also cracked the top five in program history in the mile, with Hood Jr. and Pfaff’s winning marks in their events also moving them up the program top-10 charts.
Event Winners
· Casey Hood Jr. – 60m (6.61, third in program history)
· Janiya Bowman – 200m (24.51)
· Trent Jones – 400 (48.94)
· Rachel Mehringer – 60m hurdles (8.35)
· Will Staggs – pole vault (5.29m/17-4.25)
· Brooklyn Pfaff – pole vault (4.01m/13-1.75, sixth in program history)
Top-Three Finishes
· Michelle McDonald – 60m (second, 7.61)
· Tahj Johnson – 200m (second, 21.67)
· Parker Doyle – 60m hurdles (third, 8.12)
· Kamille Gaskin-Griffith – 60m hurdles (second, 8.85)
· Trent Jones, Ivan Weaver, Deangelo Hughey, Tahj Johnson – 4x400m relay (second, 3:16.79)
· Janiya Bowman, Kamille Gaskin-Griffith, Jahnel Bowman, Noelle Dilosa – 4x400m relay (second, 3:54.77)
· Ethan Widenhoefer – high jump (second, 2.01m/6-7)
· Ellie Irwin – high jump (second, 1.68m/5-6)
· Elijah McCauley – long jump (third, 6.74m/22-1.5)
· Janiya Bowman – long jump (second, 5.65m/18-6.5)
· Parker Speth – pole vault (second, 4.84m/15-10.5)
· Lincoln Hulsey – pole vault (third, 4.69m/15-4.5)
· Amy Luttrell – pole vault (second, 3.81m/12-6)
· Campbell Roberts – pole vault (third, 3.81m/12-6)
Other Notable Marks
· Emma Gresham – mile (4:48.87, fourth in program history)
Sprints/Hurdles
Four of Indiana State’s six event wins on the weekend came from the sprints and hurdles events, including a pair of repeat winners in Casey Hood Jr. and Rachel Mehringer. Hood Jr. ran a 60m time of 6.61 for the second straight weekend, while Mehringer’s impressive season continued with a 60m hurdles time of 8.35. The Sycamores also got strong results from Michelle McDonald in the 60m (7.61) and Parker Doyle in the 60m hurdles (8.12), with David Carnell adding a season-best 8.25 in the latter event. The Trees went 1-2 in the women’s 60m hurdles, with Kamille Gaskin-Griffith clocking a time of 8.85 to go alongside Mehringer’s win.
Indiana State also picked up wins in the women’s 200m and men’s 400m, courtesy of Janiya Bowman and Trent Jones. Bowman clocked her second-best 200m time of the season at 24.51, while Jones ran a 400m time of 48.94 the only sub-49 time in the field. Tahj Johnson also added a 200m time of 21.67 which ranks in the top 10 in the conference.
Indiana State’s 4x400m relay teams picked up a pair of second-place finishes Saturday. The Sycamores’ men’s team of Jones, Ivan Weaver, Deangelo Hughey and Johnson ran a time of 3:16.79, with the women’s quartet of Janiya Bowman, Gaskin-Griffith, Jahnel Bowman and Noelle Dilosa running a time of 3:54.77
Mid-Distance/Distance
Emma Gresham continued her attack on the Sycamore top-10 charts, moving up to fourth in program history in the mile with her time of 4:48.87. Brittney Burak added a top-10 finish in the event with her time of 5:00.31, while Jason Dworak (4:08.24) and Ryan York (4:15.19) both ran career-best mile times on the men’s side.
Indiana State also got multiple strong performances in the 3000m, with Jcim Grant (8:45.61) and Brandon Mueller (8:49.28) both placing in the top 10 on the men’s side. Mueller’s time was a season best, with Grant’s being within two-tenths of a second off his season best. Peyton Smith led the way in the women’s 3000m with a time of 10:05.36, while Hadley Gradolf ran a career-best 10:06.24.
The Sycamore mid-distance group also had career-best outings in the 800m, led by Caden Emmert’s career-best time of 1:53.65 to earn a top-five finish. Nick Burns also ran a career-best time of 1:54.27 to place in the top 10, while Emersyn Bland clocked a time of 2:24.79 in her indoor season debut.
Jumps
Indiana State’s pole vault sweep headlined the results for the Sycamore jumps group, with Will Staggs and Brooklyn Pfaff leading the way. Staggs cleared 5.29m (17-4.25) to place first on the men’s side, while Pfaff cleared an indoor-best 4.01m (13-1.75) to move into sixth in program history on the women’s side. Parker Speth (4.84m/15-10.5) and Lincoln Hulsey (4.69m/15-4.5) completed the podium sweep on the men’s side, with Amy Luttrell and Campbell Roberts both clearing a career-best 3.81m (12-6) to place second and third on the women’s side.
The Sycamores also got a strong day from their high jumpers, led by Ethan Widenhoefer matching his career-best clearance of 2.01m (6-7). Amare Draughn and Noah Gilmore both cleared 1.98m (6-6), setting or matching career-best efforts, while Ellie Irwin cleared 1.68m (5-6) to place second on the women’s side.
Indiana State also picked up multiple top-five finishes in the long jump, with Elijah McCauley recording a career-best mark of 6.74m (22-1.5) to finish third and Jake Ottersbach recording a mark of 6.48m (21-3.25) to place fourth. On the women’s side, Janiya Bowman finished second with a mark of 5.65m (18-6.5), while Aaliyah Thurman placed fourth with her top mark of 5.53m (18-1.75).
Ali Ilupeju made his 2024-25 season debut Saturday in the triple jump, recording a top-five finish with a mark of 13.58m (44-6.75). Taylor Smith placed sixth in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 10.77m (35-4).
Throws
In a weekend where many of the Sycamores’ top throwers did not compete, Indiana State still put together strong marks. Olivia Marshall had a career-best mark of 16.44m (53-11.25) in the weight throw and also had a mark of 14.06m (46-1.5) in the shot put, finishing in the top eight in both events. Emma Yoder also added a top-10 finish in the shot put with a career-best mark of 12.69m (41-7.75).
Sloan Cox added to his strong sophomore season in the shot put with a top mark of 17.24m (56-6.75) to finish sixth, while Mitchel Myers also placed in the top 10 with a career-best mark of 14.44m (47-4.5). Myers also had a career-best mark of 16.73m (54-10.75) in the weight throw to earn another top-10 finish.
Up Next
Indiana State plays host to its first of two home meets during the indoor season February 15 when it welcomes athletes to the Indoor Track and Field Facility for the Blue-White Classic.
The Sycamores will also have a contingent of athletes at both the GVSU Big Meet in Allendale, Michigan, and the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with those meets taking place February 14-15.
