April 1, 2007
PALO ALTO, CA –
Hawkeye senior distance runner Micah VanDenend shattered his own school 5,000-meter record Saturday at the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, CA. The Glen Ellyn, IL, native became the first Hawkeye in school history to break 13:50 in that event with his time of 13:49.31. He set the previous record of 13:55.96 at the same meet last season.
Van Denend, who was the third collegian to finish the race and placed seventh overall in the first section, also became the third Hawkeye to qualify for the NCAA Midwest Regional. Senior Adam Hamilton (hammer throw) and sophomore John Hickey (shot put) are Iowa’s other qualifiers. The regional meet is set for May 25-26 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.
Iowa’s other two competitors at Stanford were senior Jeff Kent and freshman Jesse Luciano. Kent placed 10th in the fourth section of the 5,000 meters (14:21.05), while Luciano ran a collegiate-best 3:49.99 to place seventh in the 1,500-meter “B” section.
The Hawkeyes’ next competition will be Saturday, April 7 at the Mark Messersmith Invitational in Cedar Falls, IA. All events will be held at the University of Northern Iowa Messersmith Outdoor Track and Field Complex. Field events are set to start at 11 a.m. with running events at 1:10 p.m.
IOWA’S STANFORD INVITATIONAL EVENT RESULTS (Winner Plus Iowa Placers)
5,000 Meters – Section 1
1. Nate Brannen, Reebok 13:43.19
7. Micah VanDenend 13:49.31
5,000 Meters – Section 4
1. Chris Swisher, Unattached 14:09.27
10. Jeff Kent, Iowa 14:21.05
1,500 Meters – “B” Section
1. Andrew Ellerton, Michigan 3:48.10
7. Jesse Luciano, Iowa 3:49.99
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