April 18, 2009
Messersmith Invite Complete Results
McDonnell Invite Complete Results in PDF Format
IOWA CITY, IA — The Iowa track and field team spilt competitors this weekend between two-day action at the University of Arkansas’ John McDonnell Invite as well as Saturday’s Messersmith Invite at the University of Northern Iowa. In total, Iowa saw nine regional qualifying performances as well as nine event champions.
In Fayetteville, AR, sophomore Steven Willey won the 400-meter dash (47.04) with a regional qualifying collegiate best time. Junior Adam Hairston (4th, 1:49.96) regionally qualified in the 800 meters with a season best performance. It was business as usual for junior Ray Varner, as he again came out with a season best regional qualifying mark in the 400-meter hurdles (2nd, 51.00). Varner’s finish was only two-hundredths of a second away from breaking his collegiate best of 50.99 in that event. Freshman Patrick Richards (8th, 21.70) had a strong showing in the 200-meter dash that earned him a new collegiate best and was only less than four-tenths of a second away from a the regional qualifying mark of 21.35.
In Cedar Falls, IA, senior Renee White had a very strong season debut in the long jump, netting a win (20-0 1/4) with a regional qualifying mark. Iowa took the top three spots in the men’s discus toss with three regional qualifying performances from freshmen Nick Brayton (1st, 180-11),Ryan Lamparek (2nd, 177-3), and senior A.J. Curtis (3rd, 170-4). Brayton and Lamparek’s tosses place sixth and ninth, respectively, all-time at Iowa. Freshman Matt Banse earned his qualifying mark in the hammer throw (2nd, 187-7) with a collegiate best mark that ranks seventh in school history.
In addition to White and Brayton, six other Hawkeyes were crowned event champions at the Messersmith Invite: Senior Jennie Docherty (2:14.68) in the 800 meters, the women’s 400-meter relay team (46.90), the women’s and men’s 1,600-meter relay teams (3:58.67, 3:21.72), junior Jay Renaud (4:01.54) in the 1,500 meters, and freshman Ryan Lamparek (53-2 1/4) in the shot put.
Next up for the Hawkeyes, the men and women will compete at the 100th running of the Drake Relays, April 23-25, in Des Moines, IA. Events will be held on Jim Duncan Track in Drake Stadium (18,000). Tickets are available at (515) 271-3647 or at www.drakebulldogs.com. The Saturday, April 25, session of the Drake Relays will be shown taped delayed on ESPN2. The air time will be 1 p.m. (CT) the following day.