Iowa to Host Iowa Invitational

April 14, 2010

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THIS WEEK — The University of Iowa track squad return home for the first of two home meets this outdoor season. The Iowa Invitational takes place on Saturday, April 17 with events set to start at noon. Admission is free. Visiting teams include Illinois, Chicago State, Northern Iowa, Marquette, Drake, and Western Illinois.

FRANCIS X. CRETZMEYER REOPENING — The Iowa Invitational marks the reopening of the Francis X. Cretzmeyer Track, which was forced to close for the 2009 season following extensive flood damage from the summer of 2008. The facility has hosted the 1987 and 2000 Big Ten Championships as well as the annual Musco Twilight meet. Iowa is slated to host the 2011 Outdoor Big Ten Championships.

IOWA IN THE REGIONAL RANKINGS —The men’s team currently ranks third in the Midwest Region and the women rank seventh. Oklahoma leads the men’s and women’s regions

TWO MORE TOP BIG TEN —This past weekend’s competition put two more Hawkeyes on top of the Big Ten performance lists. Senior Ray Varner’s second-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles at 50.24 is a collegiate-best and ranks sixth nationally and third all-time at Iowa. Freshman Matt Byers continues to perform well in the javelin, placing second with a toss of 232-2 (70.76m). This ranks sixth nationally and places Byers second in Iowa’s record books.

TRUSTY SPRINTS TO SUCCESS —This past weekend’s Sun Angel Classic proved successful for senior Rhonda-Kaye Trusty, who won the 100 (11.74) and 200-meter dash (23.83). Her 100-meter dash time ranks fourth in the Big Ten and ninth all-time at Iowa, while her 200-meter time ranks third in the Big Ten, 36th nationally, and seventh all-time at Iowa. Trusty has led the team in the 100-meter dash the past two seasons and the 200-meter dash in the past three.

UP NEXT–Iowa will head to the 101st annual Drake Relays for three days of competition in Des Moines, IA at Drake University. Events will begin on Thursday Apr. 22 and will run through Saturday the 24. The Decathlon and Heptathlon events kick off the competition Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Friday’s opening ceremonies will begin at 11:50 a.m., with collegiate running events set to start at 12:15. Saturday’s competition is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. The Hawkeyes will also have the option of sending runners to the Kip Janvrin Invite in Indianola, IN hosted by Simpson College on Friday, Apr. 23.