Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Jan. 30, 2007
IOWA CITY, IA – THIS WEEK — The University of Iowa women’s track team will compete in the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational, hosted by the University of Nebraska at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Indoor Track. The meet will begin Friday with the pentathlon at 12 p.m. and continue Saturday at 10 a.m.
COMPETING TEAMS — Abilene Christian, Allen County CC, Augustana, Cloud County CC, Colby CC, Concordia, Drake, East Carolina, Emporia State, Idaho, Johnson County, Kansas, Kansas City (Kan.) CC, Kansas State, Mary, Missouri State, Nebraska, Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota State, Oklahoma Baptist, Pratt CC, South Dakota, Tennessee, UTEP, Washington State, Wisconsin-Plattville and Wyoming.
LAST WEEK — The Hawkeyes won three events at the Carle/Health Alliance Invitational in Champaign, IL and provisionally qualified one athlete for the NCAA Championships.
Senior Peaches Roach and sophomore Renee White led the Hawkeyes to a second place finish by taking individual titles in the high jump (Roach) and the triple jump (White). Roach matched her season best with a jump of 5-10 and White set a career best with a leap of 40-0 3/4. The Hawkeyes also won the 1,600-meter relay with a season best time of 3:47.50 (Aditya Jones, Alexander, Tiffany Johnson and Sophia Ponce).
Junior Kineke Alexander took second place and also provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 200 meters with a time of 23.99. For the third week in a row, senior Becca Franklin improved her school record in the weight throw with a toss of 56-8. At the beginning of the season the record stood at 53-1/4.
NATIONALLY RANKED — The University of Iowa is projected to finish 14th in the nation as a team by trackwire.com. Four athletes are also ranked for the Hawkeyes. No. 1 in the 400 meters is Kineke Alexander, no. 1 in the high jump is Destinee Hooker from the University of Texas followed by Peaches Roach at no. 7, no. 1 in the 5000 meter is Sally Kipyego from Texas Tech followed by Diane Nukuri at no. 7 and in the mile Shannon Rowbury from Duke is ranked first followed by Meghan Armstrong who is ranked no. 8.
HAWKEYE COACHES — James Grant is in his 11th year at the helm of the women’s track and field program. The past four seasons have been outstanding for Grant and the Hawkeyes. Kineke Alexander became Grant’s first NCAA champion (400 meters) and only the fourth in school history. In his time at Iowa, the Hawkeyes have crowned 21 Big Ten champions, 60 regional qualifiers, 21 all-region selections, 28 NCAA qualifiers and 10 all-Americans, one NCAA champion (Alexander) and set 22 school records.
Assistant coach Layne Anderson is in his third season at Iowa. He works with the distance runners and is also the head women’s cross country coach.
Victor Houston is in his third season with the Hawkeyes. His main area of responsibility include field events and multi-event athletes.
NEXT COMPETITION — The Hawkeyes travel to Ames, IA to compete in the Cyclone Classic on Feb. 9-10.