May 16, 2008
CHAMPAIGN, IL — Hawkeye senior Meghan Armstrong and the University of Iowa women’s track and field team kicked off the 2008 Big Ten Outdoor Championships in Champaign, IL, with a solid Friday performance. Armstrong collected her second career Big Ten title and helped boost the squad into first place in the team race when she won the last event of the day – the 10,000 meters – in a facility record-setting 33:49.03. The Tualatin, OR, native won the conference indoor 3,000 meters in March, and is the sixth two-time conference champion in school history. She is also Iowa’s first Big Ten 10,000-meter champion since Jennifer Brower in 1992.
The Hawkeye women’s team is in first place with 21 points after the first day of competition. Armstrong secured 10 team points with her 10,000-meter win, while senior Diane Nukuri and junior Racheal Marchand combined for the other 11 with their top-five finishes in that race. Nukuri placed third in 34:07.50, while Marchand placed fourth with a collegiate-best 34:11.48.
The Hawkeye men’s team is in sixth place with five points. Sophomore Jesse Luciano scored all five with his fourth-place finish in the 10,000 meters. Running that event for the first time in his Hawkeye career, Luciano posted a team-leading and collegiate-best 30:19.92.
The Hawkeyes also had three multi-event student-athletes compete Friday. Seniors Ryan Niver and Tammilee Kerr are each in sixth place in the decathlon (3,614 points) and heptathlon (3,142 points) respectively. Sophomore Frank Prill is in 11th place in the decathlon (3,291 points). Niver ran a collegiate-best 11.28 in the 100 meters, while posting season bests in the shot put (38-9 3/4) and high jump (6-4 3/4). Prill turned in collegiate bests in the high jump (6-0), long jump (22-1 3/4) and 100 meters (11.43)
Seniors Erin O’Hern and Jeff Raymond also made their final Hawkeye appearances Friday, placing 12th in their respective events. O’Hern posted a 161-8 in the hammer throw, while Raymond turned in a season-best 15-11 in the pole vault.
Iowa will continue competition at the three-day Big Ten Outdoor Championships Saturday. Events are scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. at the University of Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium.
WOMEN’S TEAM STANDINGS AFTER DAY ONE
1. Iowa 21
2. Wisconsin 20
3. Ohio State 10
4. Purdue 8
4. Michigan 8
6. Michigan State 7
7. Indiana 2
Minnesota 2
MEN’S TEAM STANDINGS AFTER DAY ONE
1. Minnesota 30
2. Wisconsin 21
3. Purdue 20
4. Ohio State 13
5. Michigan 12
6. Iowa 5
7. Indiana 4
8. Michigan State 2
Illinois 2
WOMEN’S EVENT RESULTS (Winner Plus Iowa Placers)
Heptathlon Day One Standings
1. Liz Roehrig (Minnesota) 3,649
6. Tammilee Kerr (Iowa) 3,142
Heptathlon 100-Meter Hurdles
1. Gayle Hunter (Penn St.) 13.89
5. Tammilee Kerr (Iowa) 14.49
Heptathlon High Jump
1. Liz Roehrig (Minnesota) 5-11 1/4
4. Tammilee Kerr (Iowa) 5-4 1/4
Heptathlon Shot Put
1. Bettie Wade (Michigan) 45-5 1/4
6. Tammilee Kerr (Iowa) 37-6 3/4
Heptathlon 200 Meters
1. Gayle Hunter (Penn St.) 23.81
6. Tammilee Kerr (Iowa) 25.56
Hammer Throw
1. Veronica Jatsek (Ohio St.) 203-6
12. Erin O’Hern (Iowa) 161-8
10,000 Meters
1. Meghan Armstrong (Iowa) 33:49.03
3. Diane Nukuri (Iowa) 34:07.50
4. Racheal Marchand (Iowa) 34:11.48
16. Hannah Roeder (Iowa) 38:16.45
MEN’S EVENT RESULTS (Winner Plus Iowa Placers)
Decathlon Day One Standings
1. R.J. McGinnis (Minnesota) 3,860
6. Ryan Niver (Iowa) 3,614
11. Frank Prill (Iowa) 3,291
Decathlon 100 Meters
1. Frank Shotwell (Michigan) 10.96
6. Ryan Niver (Iowa) 11.28
8. Frank Prill (Iowa) 11.43
Decathlon Long Jump
1. R.J. McGinnis (Minnesota) 22-6 1/2
5. Frank Prill (Iowa) 22-1 3/4
9. Ryan Niver (Iowa) 21-6
Decathlon Shot Put
1. R.J. McGinnis (Minnesota) 46-5 1/2
7. Ryan Niver (Iowa) 38-9 3/4
14. Frank Prill (Iowa) 30-9
Decathlon High Jump
1. David Grzesiak (Wisconsin) 6-7
2. Ryan Niver (Iowa) 6-4 3/4
8. Frank Prill (Iowa) 6-0
Decathlon 400 Meters
1. Shawn Colligan (Penn St.) 48.43
5. Frank Prill (Iowa) 50.71
8. Ryan Niver (Iowa) 51.38
Hammer Throw
1. Dave Ebersole (Ohio St.) 211-8
Pole Vault
1. Eric Sparks (Purdue) 17-6 1/2
12. Jeff Raymond (Iowa) 15-11
10,000 Meters
1. Chris Rombough (Minnesota) 30:13.12
4. Jesse Luciano (Iowa) 30:19.92
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