April 26, 2007
DES MOINES, IA –
The University of Iowa men’s and women’s track teams began competition today at the Drake Relays in Des Moines. The women had two student-athletes compete and the men had one.
Junior Diane Nukuri set a collegiate best and took first place in the 5,000 meters. Her time of 16:15.28 is good enough to qualify for the NCAA regional meet. She has previously qualified in the 1,500 meters and provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 10,000 meters. Junior Racheal Marchand finished eighth with a time of 16:35.04, improving her previous regional qualifying mark and collegiate best.
Junior Tammilee Kerr placed 10th in the heptathlon with a total of 4,302 points. Kerr finished third in the shot put (35-0 ½), 200 meters (wind-aided 25.49), javelin throw (126-0) and in the 100-meter hurdles (14.38). She set a new collegiate best in the 800 meters with a seventh place time of 2:28.12. Kerr took fourth in the long jump (16-11 ¼) and did not record a height in the high jump.
For the men, sophomore Andy Napier placed 16th in the 5,000 meters with a season-best time of 14:42.77. This performance tops his previous season best by over 12 seconds.
The Hawkeyes will continue competition at the Drake Relays tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. with the 400-meter relay.
RESULTS
WOMEN
Heptathlon
1. Ashley Reyer (So. Miss.) 5,217 pts.
10. Tammilee Kerr (I) 4,302 pts.
5,000 Meters
1. Diane Nukuri (I) 16:15.28
8. Racheal Marchand (I) 16:35.04
MEN
5,000 Meters
1. Stephen Samoei (TEP) 14:01.10
9. Andy Napier (I) 14:42.77
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