Women's Track & Field February 26, 2008

Hawkeyes Look Forward To Championships

Feb. 26, 2008

Iowa City, IA
THIS WEEK — The 18th-ranked Iowa women’s track team will compete at the 2008 Big Ten Indoor Championships. The University of Minnesota will host the meet Saturday and Sunday in the University Field House. More information about the meet can be found at www.gophersports.com.

Athletes who have a great chance of bringing home a Big Ten title include, Kineke Alexander in the 400 and 600 meters, Meghan Armstrong in the mile and 3,000 meters, Diane Nukuri in the 5,000 meters and Renee White in the triple jump. All of these athletes are currently ranked No. 3 or higher in the Big Ten Conference.

LAST WEEK — The Hawkeyes won three events and posted eight collegiate bests at the Iowa Invitational. The champions included senior Erin O’Hern in the wieght throw (54-8 1/4), junior Renee White in the triple jump (41-6 1/2) and sophomore Rhonda-Kaye Trusty in the 60 meters (7.65).

Hawkeyes that set career bests include: White (8.56), Tammilee Kerr (8.60) and Kimberley Stanford (8.63) in the 60 meters (7.63), Rachel Hawks in the 800 meters (2:20.75), Brittany Graham in the mile (5:55.97) and Kerr in the shot put (37-10).

HAWKEYE WOMEN’S COACHING STAFF — Head Coach Layne Anderson is in his first year as head women’s track and field coach at Iowa. In his four seasons as an assistant with the track and field team, there has been one national champion, 22 all-Americans and 18 Big Ten Champions. While competing for The Citadel in college, Anderson set 10 school records on his way to becoming a three-time Southern Conference champion. He is assisted by four-time Auburn all-American, 1996 decathlon national champion and Olympian Victor Houston and Hawkeye all-American and four-time Big Ten Champion Shellene Williams.

NEXT COMPETITION — The Hawkeyes will compete in the Alex Wilson Invitational hosted by Notre Dame or the NCAA Qualifier hosted by Iowa State University, March 7-8.

NCAA QUALIFIERS — The Hawkeyes have provisionally qualified seven student-athletes for the NCAA Indoor Championships, which will be held March 14-15 in Fayetteville, AR. Their event, qualifying marks and where they rank in the Big Ten and the nation are listed below.

Name             Event               Mark            Big 10/NCAA RankingKineke Alexander 400 Meters    53.14          2nd/4thMeghan Armstrong Mile                4:41.07     3rd/8th             3,000 Meters     9:20.02   3rd/13thJolly Burke   5,000 Meters      16:43.14  6th/22ndTammilee Kerr   Pentathlon    3,908 points  4th/13thDiane Nukuri Mile               4:48.48  11th/48th             3,000 Meters     9:20.07   4th/14th             5,000 Meters     16:10.71  2nd/4thRenee White   Triple Jump   42-0 1/2  1st/18thArmstrong, Alexander  Distance Medley  11:20.11 4th/13thL. Hardesty, Nukuri="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>

HAWKEYE WOMEN EARN NATIONAL RANKING — The Hawkeye women’s team is ranked 18th in the most recent U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association national rankings. Iowa is one of four teams representing the Big Ten in the poll (Michigan fifth; Minnesota seventh; and Penn State eighth). The rankings are compiled strictly from the NCAA descending order lists.

2007 INDOOR BIG TEN REVIEW — Iowa placed fifth at the 2007 Big Ten Indoor Championships with 75 points. Minnesota won the team title with 121.5. Iowa’s highest event finish was first place by Kineke Alexander in the 200 and 400 meters and by Peach Roach in the high jump 5-10. Following is a complete list of Iowa’s top-five Big Ten placers from the 2007 meet:

Event       Athlete     Mark    Place200 Meters  Kineke Alexander 23.67   1st400 Meters  Kineke Alexander 52.23   1stHigh Jump   Peaches Roach   5-10    1st3,000 Meters    Diane Nukuri 9:32.75 2nd5,000 Meters    Diane Nukuri 16:24.60    2ndTriple Jump Tiffany Johnson   41-3 3/4    3rd60-Meter Hurdles    Tiffany Johnson   8.35    4thMile        Meghan Armstrong 4:47.03 5th3,000 Meters    Meghan Armstrong 9:40.91 5thWeight Throw    Becca Franklin 58-3 1/4    5th="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>

IOWA’S BIG TEN HISTORY — The Hawkeyes’ best finish at the Big Ten Indoor Championships came in 2004 with a third place showing. Senior Kineke Alexander holds four of the University of Iowa’s 28 individual Big Ten Indoor Championship titles. She took first place in the 200 and 400 meters the last two years. Alexander is one of five Iowa athletes to win multiple Big Ten Indoor titles.

The most first place finishes the Hawkeyes have had in the Big Ten Indoor Championships in one season was three, in 1985 and 2007. They have won two on six occasions, the last coming in 2006.

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