March 15, 2006
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THIS WEEK — The Iowa women’s track and field team travels to Conway, S.C., to compete in the Shamrock Invitational March 17-18. The Hawkeye men next compete in the Springtime Invitational in El Paso, TX, on April 1.
2006 NCAA Indoor Championships — The University of Iowa women’s track team has its first national champion in over a decade when Kineke Alexander earned gold in the 400 meters last weekend. Meghan Armstrong and Peaches Roach also competed in the national meet hosted by the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR.
Alexander became just the fourth NCAA champion in Iowa history with her win in the 400 meter dash. The sophomore entered the finals with the fourth-fastest time (52.63) and won the race in a time 52.16. That time is Alexander’s second-fastest time this season; her time of 52.01 at the 2006 Big Ten Championships set a new school record and smashed the previous Big Ten mark. With her win, Alexander becomes the first Iowa sprinter to win a national title. Iowa’s previous NCAA champs were Tracy Dahl in the 5,000 meters (1992, 1993) and Nan Doak 10,000 meters (1985).
Junior Peaches Roach and sophomore Meghan Armstrong also earned all-American honors. Roach competed in the high jump for the third consecutive year at nationals. She finished in a tie for sixth place when she cleared 5-10.75. In her first national meet appearance, Armstrong placed ninth in the mile with a time of 4:46.65.
Iowa finished 20th in the team standings with 12.5 points; Texas won the title with 51 points. This year’s Iowa team became the first in school history to be ranked nationally. The Hawkeyes were ranked 25th heading into the championships and finished the indoor season ranked 12th in the National Power Rankings.
2006 NCAA Indoor Championship Results Name Event Mark PlaceKineke Alexander 400 Meters 52.01 1stMeghan Armstrong Mile 4:40.59 9thPeaches Roach High Jump 6-0 T-6th="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/pre%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERECORDS%20FALLING%20--%3C/strong%3E%20The%20Hawkeyes%20have%20rewritten%20the%20record%20books%20this%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20season.%20Four%20individuals%20now%20hold%20the%20top%20marks%20in%20their%20events%20and%20one%20relay%20team%20also%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20owns%20the%20fastest%20time%20in%20Iowa%20history.%3C/p%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href="/roster.aspx?rp_id=5203" class="imported_story_link" oldlink="/sports/w-track/mtt/alexander_kineke00.html">Kineke Alexander ran a 52.01 in the 400 meters to take over the previous top time of 52.65 and also now holds the fastest time in the 200 meters (23.49). Junior Tiffany Johnson broke the 60-meter hurdle record when she crossed the line in 8.33 and reset her own school record in the triple jump with a mark of 40-10.25. Becca Franklin threw the weight throw 53-0.25 to own the number-one spot. Lindsey McCalla, Ashley Granger, Alexander and Johnson ran 3:40.52 in the 1,600-meter relay to break the previous record by almost four seconds.
Sophomore Eric MacTaggart owns the best indoor 3,000 meter time after crossing the finish line in 8:00.81 at the Meyo Invitational.
TOP TEN INDOOR PERFORMERS — Several student-athletes have made it onto Top Ten indoor performance lists for the first time this season or have improved their standings. For a complete list of athletes who cracked the top ten, please see the PDF release.