April 3, 2010
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Complete Tiger Track Classic Results in PDF Format
Complete Central Invitational Results in PDF Format
Iowa City, IA – The University of Iowa track and field squads competed in day two of the Tiger Track Classic Saturday in Auburn, AL, as well as the Central Invitational in Pella, IA. Student-athletes in both places finished well with some earning spots in the all-time record books.
At Auburn, sophomore Erik Sowinski began his outdoor season the same way he spent most of the indoor season, winning the 800 meters with a collegiate-best 1:49.66. This mark places Sowinski fourth all-time in the outdoor 800 meters at Iowa. Sowinski later helped the men’s 1,600-meter relay team to a win (3:07.91) along with senior Ray Varner, sophomore Patrick Richards, and junior Steven Willey. The women’s 1,600-meter relay squad performed well also, finishing third at 3:39.88. The team, consisting of juniors Tiffany Hendricks, Bethany Praska, sophomore Nicole Erickson, and senior Rhonda-Kaye Trusty, now ranks sixth all-time at Iowa in the women’s 1,600-meter relay.
A youthful women’s field events squad that found success Friday continued to perform well Saturday, with freshman Kirsten Weismantle placing second in the pole vault (11-1 3/4, 3.40m) with a collegiate-best mark that ranks fourth all-time at Iowa. Freshman teammate Katie Truedson placed fifth at 10-8 (3.25m), a mark which is good enough to place her right behind Weismantle on the all-time list at fifth. Freshman Jordan Mullen hurdling success crossed over from the indoor season to the outdoor Saturday, with Mullen placing third with a time of 14.06 that places him fifth all-time at Iowa.
“I thought it was a productive weekend for our teams,” said Men’s Head Coach Larry Wieczorek. “[Matt] Byers had a terrific debut Friday, placing third all-time in the javelin (222-0, 67.66m). [Jordan] Mullen did outstanding in the hurdles and Erik Sowinski did well in the 800 meters and helped the 4×4 team to a win. I think this is one more big step forward for our program.”
Despite a small group of Iowa student-athletes performing at the Central Invitational, the Hawkeyes managed to finish fifth out of 11 teams with 48 points. Helping earn points for Iowa was sophomore Kelsey Mims winning the 400-meter hurdles with a collegiate-best 1:04.69. Freshman Eva Greenwalt finished second in the high jump at 4-11 3/4 (1.52m), and Iowa placed seven in the top ten in the women’s 1,500 meters, led by sophomore Danielle Berndt (2nd, 4:45.77).
Next weekend, the Hawkeyes will be splitting competition between the Sun Angel Classic and the Lee Calhoun Memorial. A small group will head to The Sun Angel Classic, hosted by Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ. The meet will take place Friday and Saturday Apr. 9-10. The remaining student-athletes will head to Macomb, IL, at Western Illinois University for the Lee Calhoun Memorial on Saturday.