Hawkeyes Head To Cyclone Classic

Feb. 5, 2007

IOWA CITY, IA –

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THIS WEEK — The Iowa men’s track team will compete at the Cyclone Classic Friday-Saturday in Ames, IA. All events will be held at the Lied Recreation-Athletic Facility on the Iowa State campus. The facilities’ 300-meter track is one of the largest and fastest indoor tracks in the world. Events start at 2 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

Senior distance runners Jeff Kent and Micah VanDenend will compete at the University of Washington Husky Classic Saturday in Seattle, WA.

HAWKEYES SIGN THREE — The University of Iowa men’s track program has signed Matt Banse (Strawberry Point, IA), Chris Barton (Sherman Oaks, CA) and Brandon McSkimming (West Des Moines, IA) to national letters of intent. Banse, who is the younger brother of former Hawkeye thrower Andy Banse, is a two-time shot put state champion for Starmont High School. His best throw is 60-3. Barton anchored the state champion 400-meter relay for Notre Dame High School. His best 400-meter time of 47.70 ranks him third in the state and 23rd in the nation. McSkimming is the top returning 400-meter runner and second-best returning 200-meter runner in Class 4A. He anchored the state champion 1,600-meter relay to a state record-breaking 3:13.80, and ran on the state champion 400-meter relay for Valley High School.

LAST WEEK — The Hawkeyes posted six collegiate best times in five events at the Meyo Invitational in South Bend, IN. Freshman Paul Chaney, Jr., recorded Iowa’s highest placing on the day, finishing third in the 200 meters with a collegiate-best 21.60. Iowa’s 1,600-meter relay placed fifth with a season-best 3:13.32. Senior Micah VanDenend ran a collegiate-best mile (4:07.54) for 11th place.

NCAA QUALIFIERS — The Hawkeyes have qualified two student-athletes for the NCAA Indoor Championships, which will be held March 9-10 in Fayetteville, AR. Their event, qualifying marks and where they rank in the Big Ten and nation are listed below.

Name – Event – Mark – Big 10/NCAA Ranking
Adam Hamilton – Weight Throw – 54-4 (19.61 m) – 3rd/23rd
Shane Maier – Shot Put – 59-5 1/2 (18.12 m) – 2nd/17th

HAWKEYE COACHING STAFF — Head Coach Larry Wieczorek is in his 11th season at the helm of the Iowa men’s track team. He has coached 24 all-Americans and 39 Big Ten Champions at Iowa. The team’s highest conference meet finishes during his tenure are 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 – and a four-time all-American. In 1998, Wieczorek was inducted into the National Iowa Varsity Club Hall of Fame. He is assisted by three-time Indiana all-American Scott Cappos and World Champion and four-time Northern Iowa all-American Joey Woody.

NEXT COMPETITION — The Hawkeyes will host the co-ed Iowa Invitational Friday, February 16 at the University of Iowa Recreation Building in Iowa City. Competing teams include Iowa, Augustana, Grinnell, Coe and Wartburg. Competition is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.