Indiana
Indiana track and field finds individual success at Commodore Challenge
Indiana track and field continued their indoor season with their first meet of 2024 on Jan. 12 and 13 at the Commodore Challenge hosted by Vanderbilt University. The Hoosiers competed against 19 other teams in Nashville, Tennessee.
Between the two days, Indiana tallied 25 personal bests and three individual event winners. In their first time in action since they hosted the Indiana Early Bird Meet on Dec. 8, the Hoosiers had 57 athletes competing across 18 events.
Graduate student Kenisha Phillips broke her second school record this season, placing first in the women’s 400-meter dash with a time of 52.37 seconds.
The Hoosiers won two more events with graduate student Nathan Stone taking the men’s pole vault, clearing a height of 5.13 meters, while senior Maddie Russin placed first in the women’s 600-meter dash with a time of 1:32.13.
Indiana had a strong showing in the field events on Friday to kick off the two-day invitational. Sophomore Alex Smith led the Hoosiers in long jump, placing fourth for the men with a distance of 2.29 meters. Graduate students Paola Fernandez-Sola and Serena Bolden placed fifth and sixth respectively in the women’s long jump, each jumping 5.97 meters.
In addition to Stone, the Hoosiers had three men place in the top-10 for pole vault, all clearing at least 4.68 meters. Junior Tyler Carrel finished fifth, senior Tyler Sierks tied for seventh and junior Riley Johnston placed ninth.
On Saturday, Indiana rounded out its performance in the finals of the running events. In the 60-meter hurdles, sophomore John Colquitt finished second in 8.17 seconds and freshman Garrett Messer seventh in 8.44 seconds — a new personal best. Bolden also placed seventh for the women with a time of 7.63 seconds.
In the 60-meter dash, graduate student Antonio Laidler placed second in 6.72 seconds and Bolden seventh in 7.63 seconds.
Indiana had multiple men place in the 400-meter dash with graduate student Micah Camble placing fifth in 48.89 seconds and sophomore Novo Onovwerosuoke finishing ninth in 49.75 seconds.
In the 800-meter run, four Hoosiers placed in the men’s race. Sophomore Nico Colchico finished second in 1:49.96 — a new personal best — followed by graduate student Parker Raymond in 1:50.60, earning him third. Junior Jaylen Castillo also ran a personal best time of 1:53.82 to finish sixth, just ahead of senior Keelan Grant who placed seventh in 1:54.53. Russin placed fourth for the women in 2:11.32.
In the 3000-meter run, freshman Brayden Henkle finished in 8:19.94 and sophomore Garrett Hicks in 8:24.31 to both earn personal bests and finish second and fifth place, respectively.
The Hoosiers are next in action Jan. 19 to host the two-day Indiana Invitational where they’ll welcome regional competition.
Follow reporter Edie Schwarb (@edieschwarb) for updates throughout the Indiana track and field season.
Indiana
‘Foul play’ suspected in death investigation on Indiana-Ohio state line, Wayne County officials say
WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — Police are investigating the death of a person who died in the emergency department of Reid Health in Richmond.
Wayne County Coroner Brent Meadows was notified of the death Wednesday evening, according to a media release. Evidence has reportedly indicated that foul play is involved.
Officials believe the incident may have occurred in the area of the Petro Travel Center in New Paris, Ohio, just across the Indiana-Ohio state line.
The coroner’s office said the deceased person has been transported to the Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio, for a forensic autopsy and identification.
The office is still working the locate and identify the victim’s family.
This remains an active investigation.
News 8’s Michaela Springer contributed to this report.
Braden Smith spent four seasons with Purdue basketball proving all the power conference programs who overlooked him missed out.
Now the former Boilermaker point guard has a chance to do the same in the NBA.
Smith, a Westfield native, is headed to the Pacers after Indiana traded for him when the Chicago Bulls selected him with the 38th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, a source confirmed to IndyStar.
Smith is Purdue’s third draft pick in five years, joining lottery picks Jaden Ivey and Zach Edey among a group of now 11 NBA draft selections to play at Purdue under Matt Painter.
Here’s a look at Smith’s Purdue career and what he brings to the Pacers.
Before capping a career that includes two Big Ten regular season and two Big Ten Tournament championships, along with helping Purdue end a 44-year Final Four drought, Smith broke former Duke guard Bobby Hurley’s all-time NCAA assists record.
Along the way, Smith took home the 2025 Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard in a season where he also was the Big Ten Player of the Year. A two-time consensus first-team All-American, Smith finished his Purdue career eighth in career points (1,932), third in steals (249) and has the top three assist seasons in school history that helped add to his NCAA record total of 1,103.
Smith’s knock is his 5-foot-10 1/2 height measurement, but that didn’t deter him from being one of college basketball’s top players.
What Smith lacked in height, he made up for in basketball IQ. He’s lethal with a midrange jump shot and showcased an unblockable fadeaway that allowed him to shoot over lengthier defenders. He mastered manipulating defenses while playing with marquee big men the last four seasons.
His role in the NBA likely will be not require him to be the team’s primary playmaker immediately. Smith’s awareness of that fact pushed a more defensive-minded approach in preparation for the next level. At the NBA Draft Combine in May, Smith showed he’s capable of defending elite guards.
Smith is an elite competitor who never showed to shy away from the dirty work, which is something that can help him earn NBA minutes as a rookie while trying to find his footing in an unfamiliar backup role.
Nathan Baird and Sam King have the best Purdue sports coverage, and sign up for IndyStar’s Boilermakers newsletter.
The body of a 13-year-old boy was recovered from Lake Michigan during a multiple-day search near a beach in Michigan City, Indiana.
Officials did not provide further details.
A search has been underway since Monday night after witnesses reported seeing a child wearing red shorts enter the water.
Michigan City police said officers responded to a possible drowning just before 5:40 p.m. on Monday near Washington Park Beach.
Police said the child disappeared underwater just south of the lighthouse and did not resurface.
A search was initiated with dive efforts, a fishing boat, drone technology, and a medical helicopter deployed.
The Michigan City Fire Department said three divers suffered minor injuries during the search and are being treated at Franciscan Health. Fire officials said divers encountered “challenging water conditions” before the search was suspended.
Officials have not identified the body recovered.
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