GENEVA, Ohio –
Alex Carlson wrapped up an impressive weekend, leading Rutgers track and field with two gold medals on the final day of competition at the 2024 Big Ten Indoor Championships. Her pair of medals gave the Scarlet Knights seven total over the two-day meet and helped the women's squad earn its program-record highest team finish and point total at the indoor conference championships.
Rutgers secured 15 podium finishes and 21 performances that ranked on the school's top-10 all-time list.
"I'm so proud of this team," said
Bobby Farrell, director of track & field and cross country. The women stepped up huge. They are a special group that keeps getting better and better. The men's team is very young and talented but inexperienced. The indoor season was critical in their learning process and they'll be ready for a big outdoor. Forty four of the 48 student-athletes who competed this weekend come back next year."
Carlson entered the day as the reigning 3,000-meter champion and she didn't disappoint. Carlson successfully defended her title, running a time of 9:16.47 to become a back-to-back gold medalist in the event. Earlier in the day, she captured her first gold medal of the weekend, winning the mile run with a time of 4:34.01.
Sincere Robinson captured his second podium finish of the weekend as he finished tied for fourth in the high jump, recording a height of 2.15m (7' 0.5") at the Big Ten Championships. He was joined by
Micah Wood who also secured scoring for the men's squad on day two with his sixth-place finish in the 600-meter. Wood ran a time of 1:17.85 to earn a spot on the podium.
The women's squad received contributions from all around the track, including
Shelby Whetstone who finished fourth in the 600-meter with time of 1:29.93.
Sydney Hawkins also placed fourth, giving the Scarlet Knights a podium finish in the 60-meter with a personal-best time of 7.33. Rutgers also received a PR from
Faith Bethea as she placed eighth in the triple jump with a leap of 12.71m (41' 8.5").
The 4x400 relay team of
Alexandria Yarbrough,
Cynthia Boakye,
Shelby Whetstone and
Celine-Jada Brown closed out the day with a podium finish to help the women secure their record-breaking point total. The group ran a time of 3:40.30 to finish fifth at the Big Ten Championships.
The women's team collected 61 team points, finishing seventh out of 13 schools. It marked the highest point total and team finish, topping the previous program record which was set a year ago at the 2023 indoor championships. The men's team finished ninth out of 11 teams with 28.5 points.
For their efforts, Carlson, Brown and
Chloe Timberg earned First Team All-Big Ten honors to go along with their individual Big Ten Championships. On the men's side, Robinson and pole vaulter
Kevin O'Sullivan were named Second Team All-Big Ten.
Rutgers will await selections for the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championships which will be announced on Tuesday, Feb. 27. The championships will be held on Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9 at the Track at New balance in Boston.
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS - Day Two
Men's Results
High Jump
T4.
Sincere Robinson 2.15m (7' 0.5")
600M
6.
Micah Wood 1:17.65 – No. 2 all-time
Women's Results
Mile
1.
Alex Carlson 4:34.01
3,000M
1.
Alex Carlson 9:16.47
600M
4.
Shelby Whetstone 1:29.93 – No. 2 all-time
60M
4.
Sydney Hawkins 7.33
4x400M Relay
5.
Alexandria Yarbrough,
Cynthia Boakye,
Shelby Whetstone,
Celine-Jada Brown 3:40.30 – No. 3 all-time
Triple Jump
8.
Faith Bethea 12.71m (41' 8.5") – No. 2 all-time
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS - Day One
Men's Results
Long Jump
2.
Sincere Robinson 7.88m (25' 10.25")
Pole Vault
2.
Kevin O'Sullivan 5.23m (17' 1.75") – No. 4 all-time
6.
Brian O'Sullivan 5.13m (16' 10")
Distance Medley Relay
7.
Gavin Richards,
Gabriel Rodriguez
Alec Snell and
Brian Pedretti 9:48.95 – No. 3 all-time
Women's Results
Pole Vault
1.
Chloe Timberg 4.55m (14' 11") –
MEET AND SCHOOL RECORD
Long Jump
1.
Celine-Jada Brown 6.37m (20' 10.75") – No. 2 all-time
3.
Kristina Tossas 6.22m (20' 5")
