Hawkeyes Win 13 Events at Musco Twilight XVIII

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By JACK ROSSI   
hawkeyesports.com

Complete results (without javelin)

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa track and field team claimed 13 event titles at the 18th annual Musco Twilight meet at Cretzmeyer Track on Saturday.

In front of 1,925 fans, the Hawkeyes competed under the lights with Creighton, Drake, Dubuque, Iowa Central CC, Loyola, Northern Iowa, Iowa State, Simpson College, Wartburg, and Western Illinois. Iowa swept the field with the men scoring 237.5 points and women tallying 203 points.

“Overall it was fun to have different events rise to the top and we just need to keep plugging away and we’ll have a good shot to make a big run at the Big Ten meet,” UI director of track and field Joey Woody said. “It sets us up really well for the Drake Relays. Our number one goal is to go out and win a bunch of relays, but we have individual events too.”
 

Before the meet, Iowa honored 20 seniors who were competing in their final home meet of their careers.

This is bittersweet,” senior Avery Meyers said. “I remember my first Musco like it was yesterday, so to finish on a high note like this is really exciting and a accumulation of a lot of hard work.”
 
Senior Aaron Mallett won the 110-meter hurdles, posting a time of 13.56 seconds to place fourth in the NCAA and win his fourth straight Musco Twilight title.

“I only had one good workout coming into this race, so I really just wanted to finish the race without doing anything detrimental to myself, just get a good race in,” Mallett said. “I’m used to this crowd giving me the energy to be a four-time Musco champ. I think it’s a big deal to win it as a freshman and continue to win it in front of the people.”
 
Meyers and sophomore Reno Tuufuli dominated the throwing competitions. The duo finished in the top two in the shot put and discus throw with Meyers winning the shot put competition with a season’s best throw of 18.30 meters and Tuufuli winning the discus throw with a mark of 56.58 meters.

“I had a good day,” Meyers said. “The shot put went well. It was probably my best outdoor series. I fouled a PR but it was really positive. Discus was a little bit tougher. I had some good practices but it didn’t show up this week. I’ll get back to work and show up for a good competition at Drake.”

 Junior Jahisha Thomas set a Musco Twilight meet record in the women’s triple jump. Thomas won the competition with a mark of 12.86m. She is now second in the conference.

“I’m happy because the last time I triple jumped was Florida and it wasn’t smooth,” Thomas said. “It wasn’t good and it’s not what I can do. Today was a touch on what I believe I can do and what my coach believes I can do. Hopefully it sets me up for Big Tens.”

The Hawkeyes head to the Drake Relays next week, April 26-29, in Des Moines, Iowa.
 
Other Notables
Women’s Shot Put:  Nia Britt, Event title (14.49m)
Men’s Pole Vault: Andy Jatis, Event title (4.71m)
Women’s Pole Vault: Amy Smith, Event title (3.65m), tied personal best
Women’s Discus:  Laulauga Tausaga, Event Title (52.47m)
Women’s 3000m Steeplechase: Kelly Breen, runner-up (10:59.99, 7th all time)
100m hurdles: Jenny Kimbro, Personal best (13.81)
Women’s 100 meters: Alexis Hernandez, Personal best (11.92)
Men’s 100m: Thompson, Personal best (10.57)
Men’s 400m: Mar’yea Harris, Event title (46.33)
Women’s 200m: Jenny Kimbro, Personal best (25.16), Alexis Hernandez, Event title (24.29)
Men’s 200m: Chris Thompson, Personal best (21.28), Collin Hofacker, Personal Best (20.95)
Women’s 1500m: Julie Hollensbe, Personal best (4:37.98)
Men’s 1500m: Adam Jones, Event title, Personal best (3:45.48)
Men’s 3,000m: Ian Eklin, event title, personal best, meet record, facility record (8:23.41)

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