March 16, 2010
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THIS WEEK – WOMEN OPEN OUTDOOR SEASON
The University of Iowa women’s track and field team will kick off the 2010 outdoor season this weekend at the Coastal Carolina University Shamrock Invitational. Iowa will send 27 student-athletes to the two-day meet in Myrtle Beach, SC. Multi events and field events start Friday at 10 a.m. (CT). Track events will begin at 3:30 p.m. Saturday’s field events will start at 9 a.m. with track events beginning at 10 a.m.
WOMEN’S HEAD COACH Layne Anderson ON STARTING THE OUTDOOR SEASON:
“We’re looking to carry the momentum of the end of the indoor season into a successful outdoor season. I think it’s a great way to get started on a positive note, sending our athletes to a large meet like this. I’m looking forward to getting out there in the sunshine.”
BREAKING NEW GROUND
Iowa will host two home meets this outdoor season at the brand new Francis X. Cretzmeyer track. The track teams were unable to host any meets during the 2009 outdoor season after extensive flood damage from the summer of 2008. Fans can get their first look at the new facility on Saturday, April 17 when the Hawkeyes host the Iowa Invite at 12:00 p.m.
MUSCO ON THE BIG TEN NETWORK
Iowa will perform under the lights May 1 at the 11th-annual Musco Twilight meet. Events are scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. The Musco Twilight XI will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
INDOOR SEASON REVIEW – SCHOOL RECORDS
The 2010 indoor season was full of stellar performances, including four new school records. Sophomore Erik Sowinski set the 800-meter school record with a time of 1:48.90 at the ISU Classic on Feb. 13. At the Big Ten Championships, senior Dan Rolling set the school heptathlon record with 5,205 points. In Iowa’s final meet of the indoor season, freshman Jeff Thode and junior Steven Willey both set school records, Thode in the mile (4:03.07) and Willey in the 400 meters (46.75).
INDOOR SEASON REVIEW -TOP 10 PERFORMANCES
Numerous Hawkeyes placed in the top three all-time in their respective indoor events. Junior Bethany Praska recorded the second fastest all-time mark in the 600 meters (1:29.35) and third fastest all-time mark in the 800 meters (2:08.54). Senior Adam Hairston and junior Nick Kuczwara rank right behind Sowinski on the 800-meter all-time list, with Hairston second (1:49.26) and Kuczwara third (1:50.84). Also ranking third all-time in their respective events: sophomore D’Juan Richardson in the 60-meter dash (6.80), junior Lauren Hardesty in the mile (4:41.97), freshman Jordan Mullen in the 60-meter hurdles (8.02), freshman Kirsten Weismantle in the pole vault (11-5 3/4), senior Frank Prill in the heptathlon (5, 015 points), and the women’s distance medley relay team (11:25.01) consisting of sophomores Betsy Flood and McKenzie Melander, and juniors Tiffany Hendricks and Lauren Hardesty.
PROVISIONAL QUALIFIERS – CHAMPIONSHIPS FINISH
Iowa’s men’s team finished fifth in the Big Ten Championships and the women placed ninth. Individually, Iowa finished the indoor season with 14 athletes meeting the provisional qualifying mark in nine events.