Big time IU relays on day two at Penn
April 29, 2011
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Indiana track and field got into the spirit of the Penn Relay Carnival on day two, posting outstanding showings in relays throughout the day. The men's sprinters advanced to Championship of America finals in the 4x100m relay and 4x200m relay, and the women's sprinters finished dangerously close to advancing in the women's 4x200m relay. The Hoosiers also posted a valiant effort in the Distance Medley Relay Championship of America.
Tyler Sult, Kind Butler, Chris Vaughn and Devin Pipkin ran both relays in that order. The group clocked a time of 39.93 for fourth in the prelims, advancing into the eight team race for all the marbles. The quartet also advanced to the eight team field in the 4x200, clocking a time of 1:23.58 for seventh. The Hoosiers are the only team from the north in either final
The Hoosiers led the distance medley with 1,700 meters to go, riding big legs from De'Sean Turner (1,200m in 2:56.53) and Vaughn (400m in 47.46). Both Hoosiers handed off the baton with the lead. Danny Stockberger and Ben Hubers both finished their legs right with the lead runners, with Hubers crossing the line just 1.31 seconds out of first with a time of 9:39.24. The time is the eighth-fastest outdoors in IU history.
The women's 4x200 group of Ann-Marie Clarke, Aireonna Bailey, Fabrina Espinoza and Portia Bailey clocked a time of 1:38.77, just missing out on advancing to the college final. Places 9-16 in the prelims advance to the college final on Friday. The Hoosiers took 17th, finishing just .01 behind St. John's. The Hoosiers won their heat by more than a second.
Butler advanced to the Saturday final in the 100m dash as well, clocking the seventh-best time in the prelims. He finished in 10.58 seconds.
Paul Haas posted a huge throw for second-place in the college men's discus. He launched a heave of 54.23m (177-11) to improve his career mark by 1' 8". The mark is the ninth-best in school history.
Indiana took sixth in the women's sprint medley relay Championship of America. The Hoosiers took second in the second of three heats, clocking a time of 3:56.41. They got an anchor 800m-leg of 2:10.24 from Ruth Christopher.
The Hoosiers continue action at the Penn Relays on Saturday.