Congratulations Kylie Hutson!

[SycamoreSage]

I realize that Kylie Hutson's pole vault blue ribbon triumph at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championships at College Station, Texas, Saturday has been addressed in another thread. However, her superb accomplishment should be recognized independently. After all, it is the most significant achievement by an ISU athlete during the 2008-09 school year.

As a result of Kylie's victory, Indiana State finished 22nd in the women's meet. The Sycamores were ranked 31st going into the meet.

Wichita State finished 35th in the meet, Southern Illinois was 41st, Indiana University finished 56th (thanks to Vera Neuenswande's 6th place in the pole vault) and Notre Dame tied for 60th place.

Congratulations also are in order for ISU's other NCAA meet qualifiers -- Erica Moore, Lauren Martin and Kelsie Hanley -- and ISU's Jeff Martin, who recently was recognized as the Great Lake Region Assistant Coach of the Year.

A special salute should be given to the coaching staff for Hutson's physical and mental meet preparation. As a general rule, only well-coached elite track and field athletes produce a career best in the national championships.

With the national recognition the track and cross country programs have brought, it sure would be nice to have an indoor facility so that ISU could host indoor meets without having to "borrow" Rose-Hulman's indoor track.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Well said Sage! Amazing to me that Indiana State has the best, the #1 Cross Country course in the nation and yet we have the worst indoor and outdoor track combo in the country! Makes absolutely no sense to me! Don't you think that national champion caliber athletes should have national caliber facilities to train in?

Indiana State come up with the money! It's time to recognize the opportunity to support a successful program! Stop poring money into under preforming programs that don't produce results on a national level

This story did not even get love in the Tribune Star, she was a national champion and got a small article that was not even done by a Tribune Star reporter. She was a national champion for god sakes! What else does she have to do? Shes a graduate of Terre Haute North a product of our community a 2 time McMillian Award winner. "Wake Up Terre Haute"!

 

[new sycamore fan]

I was looking for the other thread that addressed Kylie's accomplishment, and to my disappointment, there were only 2 comments? Am I looking in the wrong place? This is an outstanding accomplishment that brings great positive attention to the school! Congratulations to her and to the other national qualifiers, and best of luck in the outdoor season. As far as the facilities, I agree that this should be a priority, but it shouldn't detract from investing in the improvement of the revenue sports (I know, right now they are not "revenue sports", but that is the easiest and best way to improve ALL of the facilities).