Jan. 10, 2006
THIS WEEK — The Iowa men and women’s track teams will host the 2006 Hawkeye Open this Saturday at the University of Iowa Recreation Building in Iowa City. Field events start at 10:30 a.m. with running events slated to begin at noon. Admission to the event is $3 and Iowa students are free.
2006 MEN’S SEASON PREVIEW — The Hawkeyes return all-American Adam Hamilton and Big Ten discus champion Tim Brodersen in the throws, as well as seven of the top eight runners from the 2004 Hawkeye cross country team that recorded its highest Big Ten (3rd) and NCAA (13th) placing in Head Coach Larry Wieczorek’s 18 years as head coach. The Hawkeyes will look to several newcomers to make immediate contributions. The 2006 squad consists of four redshirt freshmen and 21 true freshmen.
2006 WOMEN’S SEASON PREVIEW — Iowa returns seven of the 10 student-athletes who qualified for the 2005 regional track meet, and 21 of the 26 letterwinners. The young squad has only have two seniors – distance runners Nikki Chapple and Katie Donlon. Juniors Peaches Roach and Tiffany Johnson, and sophomore Kineke Alexander led the Hawkeye track team in 2005. Each qualified for the NCAA Midwest Regional in three events. Roach snagged her third Big Ten high jump title during the indoor season and her first all-America honor in that event, outdoors. She also set the school indoor high jump record of 6-0 3/4. Johnson set school records in the indoor and outdoor triple jump and the 100-meter hurdles. Alexander earned all-America honors in the indoor and outdoor 400 meters in her first season, setting the outdoor school record.
HAWKEYE COACHES — Head Coaches Larry Wieczorek and James Grant are in their ninth and tenth seasons at the helm of the Iowa men and women’s track teams, respectively.
During his career at Iowa, Wieczorek has coached 23 all-Americans and 36 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 past three seasons have been outstanding for Grant and the Hawkeyes. Iowa placed third at the 2004 Big Ten Indoor Championships in Iowa City and sixth at the 2003 conference outdoor meet. Both were Iowa’s highest placings during Grant’s tenure. The third-place indoor finish tied the team’s highest conference finish in school history. In the last three seasons, the Hawkeyes crowned 11 Big Ten champions, 38 regional qualifiers, 15 all-region selections, 24 NCAA qualifiers and three all-Americans, and set 17 school records.
HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING —Excitement followed the Hawkeye Intrasquad meet held December 6 and 7. Men’s coach Larry Wieczorek and women’s coach James Grant were both pleased following their teams’ performances during the two-day event.
Had this been an official meet, several names would have been added to the Top 10 Indoor Performers list…..
Freshman David Chaplin ran a 6.89 in the 60-meter dash, which would have tied him for fifth. In the same race, sophomores Lee Elbert (6.91) and Max Milder (6.96) would have been seventh and eighth on the list, respectively.
Sophomore Matty Gorman’s 7.12 meters (23-4.5 ft.) leap would have been ninth in the long jump and his jump of 2.06 (6-9 ft.) meters in the high jump would have tied him for eighth on that list.
Sophomore Ryan Jordan had a 16.31 meter (53-1.25 ft.) toss in the weight throw which would have been tenth on that list. Fellow sophomore Shane Maier’s shot put distance of 17.62 meters (57-9.75 ft.) would have 4:54.16 which would have been good enough for ninth in that category.
Renee White, also a freshman, jumped 5.82 meters (19-1.25 ft.) in the long jump which would have put her in third place.
Juniors Becca Franklin and Erin O’Hern both had excellent nights in the weight throw. Franklin’s toss of 16.86 meters (55-3.75 ft.) would been eighth in the Top Ten list.
Lastly, sophomore Jeff Raymond would have pole vaulted himself into the eighth spot when he cleared 4.67 meters (15-3.75 ft.).
Sophomore Erin Fogarty ran and jumped to a time of 8.78 in the 60-meter hurdles, which would have been ninth. Fellow Sophomore Kineke Alexander would have been third in the 600-meter run with 1:32.15.
Freshman Krista Anderson ran a sub-five minute mile with a time of have put her at the top of the list and O’Hern’s 15.53 meter mark would have made her second.
Freshman Amanda Chandler would have been tenth in the shot put following her throw of 13.25 meters (43-5.75 ft.).
Sophomore Jenni Elbert’s standing in the high jump category would have improved to a tie for the seventh spot had her jump of 1.72 meters (5-7.75 ft.) been official. As it is, Elbert is in the number eight slot with a jump of 1.70 meters (5-7 ft.).
HAWKEYE OPEN INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD MEET JANUARY 14, 2006 Field Events 10:30 a.m. Long Jump -- Men/Women Weight Throw -- Women/Men Pole Vault -- Women/Men 12:15 p.m. High Jump -- Women Triple Jump -- Women/Men Shot Put -- Women/Men 1:45 p.m. High Jump -- Men
Running Events (Rolling time beginning at 1 p.m.) Noon National Anthem 12:05 3000 Meters -- Women 12:20 60 Meter Hurdles -- Women/Men 12:35 60 Meters -- Women/Men 1:00 Mile -- Women/Men 1:15 60 Meter Hurdles Final -- Men/Women 1:25 400 Meters -- Women/Men 1:45 600 Meters -- Women/Men 2:00 60 Meter Final -- Women/Men 2:10 800 Meters -- Women/Men 2:25 200 Meters -- Women/Men 2:40 200 Meters -- Master's Race 2:45 3000 Meters -- Men 3:00 4x400 Meter Relay -- Women/Men