Hickey Wins Big Ten Shot Put

March 1, 2008

MADISON, WI – Hawkeye junior John Hickey won his second career Big Ten shot put title at the Big Ten Indoor Men’s Track and Field Championships Saturday in Madison, WI. The Hawkeyes are in fifth place with 20 team points after the first day of competition at the two-day meet. Host Wisconsin leads the team field with 41 points.

Hickey, who is Iowa’s fourth Big Ten indoor shot put champion, and senior teammate Shane Maier gave the Hawkeyes a strong one-two punch in the shot, placing first (61-9 3/4) and second (59-8 1/2), respectively. The duo have had a stronghold on the top two finishes at the last three conference meets, as Hickey won the 2007 conference outdoor title while Maier placed second. At the 2006 indoor meet the finish was reversed as Maier won the title and Hickey was runner-up. Junior A.J. Curtis also placed eighth in the event (56-9 1/2). Together, the Hawkeye trio of Hickey, Maier and Curtis scored 19 of Iowa’s 20 team points.

“Obviously John and Shane’s one-two finish in the shot put was a major highlight for us,” said Hawkeye Head Coach Larry Wieczorek. “This is the second year in a row that they’ve finished that way – just in reverse last year. We also had some good qualifiers advancing to tomorrow’s event finals. If they post strong performances we’ll be in good shape as a team.”

Also scoring for Iowa was the Hawkeye distance medley relay of freshmen James Paul and Brandon McSkimming, junior Cannon Dolan and senior Eric MacTaggart that placed eighth in 10:03.14. That time ranks ninth in Iowa school history.

Five Hawkeyes qualified for Sunday’s event finals. Qualifying for Iowa were sophomore Paul Chaney, Jr. ( 60 meters-6.85, 200 meters – 21.96), senior Max Milder (200 meters – 21.92), sophomore Ray Varner (400 meters – 48.99), sophomore Adam Hairston (800 meters – 1:54.02) and freshman Steven Willey (600 meters – 1:21.22). Chaney, Jr.’s 60-meter time of 6.85 was a collegiate-best that ranks fifth in school history.

Iowa also had four student-athletes competing in the heptathlon. After four events, senior Ryan Niver was in third place with 2,987 points. He tied collegiate-best marks in the 60 meters (7.28) and long jump (22-5 3/4) as part of the seven-event competition.

Two of Iowa’s other notable performances were by senior Jeff Raymond in the pole vault and junior Brice Wilson in the 60-meter hurdles prelims. Raymond placed ninth with a mark of 16-2, vaulting over 16 feet for the first time in his career. His performance ranks fifth in school history. Wilson bettered the collegiate-best 8.37 he clocked two weeks ago with an 8.29 Saturday. That mark ranks seventh in school history.

The second day of Big Ten competition gets underway Sunday at 10:20 a.m. All events will be held at the Camp Randall Memorial Sports Center on the University of Wisconsin campus.

TEAM STANDINGS AFTER DAY ONE
Place Team Points
1. Wisconsin 41
2. Minnesota 34
3. Purdue 32
4. Michigan 21
5. Iowa 20
6. Ohio State 13
7. Penn State 11
8. Illinois 10
9. Michigan State 7
10. Indiana 6

DAY ONE EVENT RESULTS (Winner Plus Iowa Placers)
60 Meters – Prelims
1. Adam Harris (Michigan) 6.65
8. Paul Chaney, Jr. (Iowa) 6.85

60-Meter Hurdles – Semifinals
1. Josh Hembrough (Purdue) 7.85
13. Brice Wilson (Iowa) 8.30
16. Frank Prill (Iowa) 8.43

60-Meter Hurdles – Prelims
1. Josh Hembrough (Purdue) 7.83
12. Brice Wilson (Iowa) 8.29
16. Frank Prill (Iowa) 8.38

200 Meters – Prelims
1. Jh’Rome Tuggle (Purdue) 21.55
6. Max Milder (Iowa) 21.92
7. Paul Chaney, Jr. (Iowa) 21.96

400 Meters – Prelims
1. Lesiba Masheto (Illinois) 47.92
6. Ray Varner (Iowa) 48.99
15. Chris Barton (Iowa) 49.58

600 Meters – Prelims
1. James Groce (Wisconsin) 1:19.04
12. Steven Willey (Iowa) 1:21.22
15. Zach Splan (Iowa) 1:21.80

800 Meters – Prelims
1. Luke Rucks (Wisconsin) 1:53.05
2. Adam Hairston (Iowa) 1:54.02

3,000 Meters
1. Brandon Bethke (Wisconsin) 8:10.80
13. Andy Napier (Iowa) 8:31.14

Distance Medley Relay
1. Wisconsin 9:54.25
8. Iowa 10:03.14
(Paul, McSkimming, Dolan, MacTaggart)

Long Jump
1. Adam Harris (Michigan) 24-10 1/2
17. Aaron Reed (Iowa) 21-11 3/4

Shot Put
1. John Hickey (Iowa) 61-9 3/4
2. Shane Maier (Iowa) 59-8 1/2
8. A.J. Curtis (Iowa) 56-9 1/2
15. Mark Schaapveld (Iowa) 52-7 1/2

Pole Vault
1. Ben Peterson (Minnesota) 17-1 3/4
9. Jeff Raymond (Iowa) 16-2
16. Alex Zona (Iowa) 15-6 1/4

Heptathlon 60 Meters
1. David Robb (Indiana) 7.15
8. Ryan Niver (Iowa) 7.28
10. Frank Prill (Iowa) 7.35
14. Mark Mankivsky (Iowa) 7.49
15. Bobby Windauer (Iowa 7.55

Heptathlon Long Jump
1. Frank Shotwell (Michigan) 23-3 1/4
5. Ryan Niver (Iowa) 22-5 3/4
12. Bobby Windauer (Iowa) 20-7 3/4
16. Frank Prill (Iowa) 19-9
18. Mark Mankivsky (Iowa) 19-4 3/4

Heptathlon Shot Put
1. R.J. McGinnis (Minnesota) 48-3 1/4
7. Ryan Niver (Iowa) 39-8
16. Bobby Windauer (Iowa) 34-3
17. Mark Mankivsky (Iowa) 33-9 1/2
18. Frank Prill (Iowa) 31-3

Heptathlon High Jump
1. David Grzesiak (Wisconsin) 6-11 1/2
4. Ryan Niver (Iowa) 6-6 3/4
14. Frank Prill (Iowa) 5-11 1/2
18. Mark Mankivsky (Iowa) 5-4 1/2

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