Jan. 31, 2005
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THIS WEEK — The Iowa men’s team will be one of nine teams to compete in the co-ed Panther Classic Saturday, at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. Field events will start at 9 a.m. and running events at 11 a.m. The Hawkeye women’s team will compete at the Sevigne Husker Invitational, Friday and Saturday in Lincoln, NE. Events start at 1 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday. Nineteen teams will compete in the co-ed meet at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
LAST WEEK — The men’s team competed at the Carle Health Alliance Classic in Champaign, IL, while the women’s team competed at the Panther Classic in Cedar Falls, IA.
Senior Andy Banse won the shot put for the men’s team with a collegiate-best throw of 60-2. He had previously qualified for the NCAA Championships in this event, but this mark improved his rank among other provisional qualifiers. Senior Zach Digney (200 meters), juniors Adam Hamilton (Weight Throw) and Dan Haut (3,000 meters), and freshman Matty Gorman (triple jump) placed second in their events.
The women’s team sent 16 competitors and recorded 12 top-10 finishes at the Panther Classic. The 1,600-meter relay team placed fifth and redshirt freshman Allison Billhardt placed sixth in the mile.
MEN’S TEAM CAPTAINS CHOSEN — Seniors Ken Kemeny, Juan Coleman and Bill Neumann are tri-captains for the 2005 season. Kemeny is a five-time NCAA qualifier in the shot put, the 2004 Drake Relays champion in that event and has led the team in the shot put each of the last three years. Coleman is a four-time NCAA qualifier in the 1,600-meter relay, and ran the lead leg on the 2001 Big Ten Outdoor Champion 400-meter relay. 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.
2005 SIGNINGS — The Hawkeyes inked four recruits during the early signing period in November. The men’s team signed sprinter David Chaplin of Stone Mountain, GA, and thrower A.J. Curtis of Brodhead, WI. The women’s team signed Jamaican sprinters Jodyann Powell and Annabella Reid.
Chaplin is a National Elite Youth All-American and was one of Georgia’s nominees for the Wendy’s High School Heisman Trophy. He helped his Redan High School team to the 2004 state title. His best times are 10.42 in the 100 meters and 21.25 in the 200 meters. Curtis won the Division II state discus title for Brodhead High School with a personal-best 180-7, which ranks sixth among returning prep discus throwers in the nation. He was also state runner-up in the shot put with a throw of 59-7, which ranks 11th among returning prep shot putters in the nation. Powell, from Mandeville, Jamaica, will join the team as a sophomore. Her personal bests include 11.52 in the 100 meters and 24.20 in the 200 meters Reid is enrolled at Whitefish Bay High School in Milwaukee, WI, this year and will join the Hawkeyes as a freshman. Her best 400-meter time is 53.56. She will also run the 200 meters at Iowa.
HAWKEYE COACHES — Head Coaches Larry Wiezcorek and James Grant are in their ninth seasons at the helm of the Iowa men and women’s track, respectively.
During his career at Iowa, Wieczorek has coached 23 all-Americans and 35 Big Ten Champions. Iowa’s highest conference meet finishes during his tenure is second at the 1999 outdoor meet and fourth at the 1997 indoor meet. 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.
The Hawkeyes crowned two individual champions and recorded their highest placing under Grant (third) and their highest team point total (89) in school history at the 2004 Big Ten indoor championships. During his career at Iowa, Grant has coached nine all-Americans and 18 Big Ten Champions. As a runner, Grant captained Eastern Michigan University’s 1970 and 1971 track teams. He earned all-America honors while specializing in the 400-meter dash, 400-meter hurdles and the mile relay.
NEXT COMPETITION — The men and women’s teams will compete at the 14th annual Iowa State Track and Field Classic, February 11-12, in Ames. All events will be held at Lied Recreation Athletic Center. Friday’s events will start at 3:30 p.m. with Saturday’s starting at 10:15 a.m. The meet is known for its oversized Harry Hoak Track and the number of NCAA qualifiers it annually produces.