Iowa Opens Outdoor Season

March 15, 2004

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THIS WEEK — The Hawkeye men’s track team will open the 2004 outdoor season Saturday at the Clemson Relays in Clemson, SC. All events for the co-ed meet, that includes high school competitors, will be held at Rock Norman Track. Events are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. (CT).

LAST MEET — Senior Ken Kemeny led the Hawkeyes at the NCAA Last Chance Qualifier, March 8, in Ames, IA. Kemeny placed third in the shot put with a mark of 59-6 3/4. Junior Andy Banse also placed seventh in the shot put with a season-best 55-0. Senior Zach Digney placed eighth in the 200 meters (21.39) and ninth in the 60 meters (6.90).

MEN’S TEAM CAPTAINS CHOSEN — The Hawkeye men’s team has chosen seniors Brad Daufeldt, Bill Neumann and Russell Peterson as tri-captains for the 2004 season. Daufeldt led the team in the discus last season and was the only Hawkeye to qualify for the NCAA midwest regional in two individual events (discus and hammer). Neumann is a two-time all-American and Big Ten Champion in the javelin. He won that event in five of six meets in 2003, and is the school record holder in the javelin. Peterson is a four-time national qualifier – qualifying three times in the 1,600-meter relay and once in the 400-meter hurdles.

2003 OUTDOOR SEASON REVIEW — The Hawkeyes placed ninth at the Big Ten Championships and 19th at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. Bill Neumann led the Hawkeyes with his second consecutive outstanding season in the javelin. He earned his second all-America honor with his third-place finish at the NCAA Championships. The 2003 midwest regional javelin champion, Neumann also won his second consecutive Big Ten title. The Hawkeyes qualified 11 competitiors in seven events for the midwest regional championships.

HAWKEYE COACHES — Larry Wieczorek is in his eighth year as Iowa’s men’s head track coach. As a runner, Wieczorek was a six-time Big Ten champion for Iowa, winning four track and two cross country titles. He was also a four-time all-American. In 1998, Wieczorek was inducted into the National Iowa Varsity Club Hall of Fame. He is assisted by former Iowa all-American and world-class 400-meter hurdler Pat McGhee and three-time all-American and two-time Big Ten shot put champion Scott Cappos.

NEXT COMPETITION — Iowa will compete at the Stanford Invitational in Stanford, CA, March 26-27. All events will be held at Cobb Track and Angell Field. The co-ed meet will feature collegiate and high school competitiors.Events are scheduled to start at 12:15 p.m. (CT) Friday and 11 a.m. (CT) Saturday.