Feb. 14, 2005
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THIS WEEK — The men and women’s track teams will host the co-ed Iowa Open Friday at the University of Iowa Recreation Building. Field events start at 5 p.m. and running events 5:30 p.m. Competing teams include Grinnell, Coe, Wartburg and Missouri Baptist University. Admission is free.
LAST WEEK — The men’s and women’s teams competed at the Iowa State Classic in Ames. The women recorded five top-10 finishers, including one champion. The men’s recorded four top-10 placers. Freshman Kineke Alexander led the women, winning the 400 meters with a collegiate-best and provisional qualifying mark of 53.11. Iowa’s distance medley relay of freshman Meghan Armstrong, Alexander and sophomores Shannon Stanley and Nikki Chapple placed second in 11:39.29. Chapple and sophomore Peaches Roach placed third in the 3,000 meters (9:38.99) and high jump (5-7), respectively. Armstrong also placed seventh in the mile (4:53.38). For the men’s squad, sophomore Shane Maier placed sixth in the shot put with a provisional qualifying mark of 58-6 1/2. Senior Ken Kemeny placed seventh in that event with a throw of 58-1. Junior Adam Hamilton placed seventh in the weight throw, bettering his collegiate-best by over 10 inches and improving his NCAA provisional rank with a throw of 65-11 3/4. Junior Dan Haut also placed seventh in the 3,000 meters with a collegiate-best 8:11.36.
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 February 26-27 at the 2005 Big Ten Indoor Championships. The men’s meet will be held in West Lafayette, IN, while the women’s meet will be held in Ann Arbor, MI.