GENEVA, Ohio – Rutgers track and field turned in a banner day during the Saturday finals at the 2023 Big Ten Indoor Championships. The Scarlet Knights earned a combined eight medals as
Nadale Buntin (200-meter) and
Alex Carlson (3,000-meter) were crowned Big Ten Champions, bringing the gold medal total to five. In addition to the medal count, the Scarlet Knights also posted school records in a combined six events over the weekend.
Buntin was recognized with First Team All-Big Ten honors on the men's side, while Carlson,
Chloe Timberg and
Kristina Tossas were the recipients of First Team All-Big Ten honors for the women.
"I'm very proud of our team," said
Bobby Farrell. "We had a lot of athletes step up. It was the best indoor Big Ten we've ever had with the most medals, podium finishes and school records. But this was just the next step, we're capable of far more. The coaches know it and the student-athletes know it. I'm excited for this upcoming outdoor season because we have high expectations for what these teams can do."
The women's squad posted its best finish in program history, including scoring its highest point total with 45 points to finish ninth in the team standings. The men's team collected 34.5 points to place 10th overall.
After crowning three Big Ten Champions on day one of competition, the Scarlet Knights returned with a pair of gold medals. Buntin captured the title in the 200-meter, running a school record time of 20.73. He also claimed sole possession of the Rutgers record in the 60-meter dash after tying the mark on Friday during the first round. In the Saturday final, he posted a podium finish as he placed fifth in 6.72.
Carlson gave the women their third Big Ten Champion of the weekend as she captured the title in the 3,000-meter. The school record holder in the event, Carlson led the entire field from start to finish, clocking a time of 9:17.18. She also finished runner up in the mile, adding to her individual medal count. Carlson placed second with a time of 4:36.75.
The Scarlet Knights received a pair of third-place finishes on each the men's and women's squads to total eight medals on the weekend.
Chris Serrao broke the school record in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.74 as he earned bronze in his freshman campaign.
Kassidy Johnson, the reigning school record holder in the 800-meter, also captured bronze in that event. She improved on her record pace, establishing a new time as she ran a time of 2:04.36 to place third.
In addition to the five medals collected on Saturday, the Scarlet Knights also received points from four podium finishes.
Sincere Robinson, the Big Ten Champion in the long jump, claimed a spot on the podium in the high jump as he placed in a tie for sixth, clearing a height of 2.06m (6' 9").
Justin Cornetta also finished sixth in the mile, clocking a time of 4:15.30. Butin added to the point total with his fifth-place finish in the 60-meter dash.
Dennisha Page contributed on the women's side with eighth-place finish in the 60-meter, running a time of 7.42.
Rutgers records were broken in six events over the course of the two-day championship. Buntin posted school records in the 60 and 200-meter, Serrao recorded the fastest time in the 60-meter hurdles, and
Adam Hunt set the mark in the weight throw on the men's side.
For the women's squad,
Chloe Timberg set both a school and Big Ten Championship record in the pole vault, while Johnson ran the fastest Rutgers time in the 800-meter.
Men's Results
200M
1.
Nadale Buntin 20.73 –
SCHOOL RECORD
60M
5.
Nadale Buntin 6.72 –
SCHOOL RECORD
60M Hurdles
3.
Chris Serrao 7.74 –
SCHOOL RECORD
High Jump
T6.
Sincere Robinson 2.06m (6' 9")
Mile
6.
Justin Cornetta 4:15.30
Women's Results
3,000M
1.
Alex Carlson 9:17.18
Mile
2.
Alex Carlson 4:36.75
800M
3.
Kassidy Johnson 2:04.36 –
SCHOOL RECORD
60M
8.
Dennisha Page 7.42
