April 11, 2009
MACOMB, IL — Members of the University of Iowa track and field team won five events at Saturday’s Lee Calhoun Memorial in Macomb, IL, and two Hawkeyes posted regional qualifying performances late Friday night at the Mesa Classic in Mesa, AZ. The teams tallied 18 collegiate-best performances between the two meets.
While the Hawkeyes did not have a full squad competing at the 20th annual Lee Calhoun Memorial at Western Illinois, the Iowa men placed second with 165.5 points in the team standings, while the Hawkeye women finished fifth with 68.50. Eastern Illinois won both the men’s (175) and women’s (200.50) team races.
At the Lee Calhoun Memorial, the Hawkeye women swept the first four places in the 1,500 meters – all with collegiate-best times. Senior Rachel Hawks won the race in 4:42.08, freshman Brittany Dlhy placed second in 4:43.06, junior Katie Ellis placed third in 4:44.16 and freshman Danielle Berndt placed fourth in 4:46.88.
For the Iowa men, senior Andy Napier and redshirt freshman Mark Battista went one-two in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, with Napier running a 9:15.06 for first place and Battista clocking a 9:37.20 for second. Also winning Saturday Lee Calhoun events for the Iowa men were freshman Zack Braff (800 meters – 1:54.26), sophomore Graham Valdes (high jump – 6-8 3/4) and freshman Matt Banse (shot put – 54-2). Seniors Tommy Tate (3,000 meters – 8:38.27) and Mark Schaapveld (hammer throw – 179-9) also won Lee Calhoun events for Iowa Friday evening.
Four Hawkeyes competed at the Mesa Classic hosted by Mesa Community College late Friday night. Redshirt freshman Ryan Lamparek and senior A.J. Curtis posted regional qualifying marks in the discus, placing eighth (175-4) and ninth (172-8), respectively. Hawkeye freshman D’Juan Richardson placed third in the 100 meters with a collegiate-best 10.90, while sophomore Zeke Sayon placed fourth in 10.97.
Iowa will conclude this weekend’s competition late Saturday night at the Sun Angel Classic at Tempe, AZ. All events are being held at Arizona State University’s Joe Selleh Track at Sun Angel Stadium