May 1, 2010
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Complete Results in PDF Format
Iowa City, IA – Under the lights and fireworks of Musco Twilight XI Saturday, the University of Iowa showed some fireworks of their own on the track. Freshman Jeff Thode set a meet and facility record in the 1,500 meters, and two other competitors broke facility records.
Thode’s win sets the new school and facility record at 3:44.51. Sophomore Betsy Flood took a commanding lead in the 3,000 meters, winning with a collegiate-best time of 9:22.63, which puts her at third all-time at Iowa in the 3,000 meters. Sophomore Tiffany Medenwaldt won the women’s discus, setting a school record at 161-3 (49.16m). Medenwaldt also placed second in the women’s hammer throw with a collegiate-best mark of 171-11 (52.40m) that moves her up to second in the Iowa record books. Freshman teammate Majesty Tutson placed third in the discus invite competition at 159-4 (48.56m), which puts her third all-time at Iowa. Sophomore Jeffery Herron won the men’s long jump with a collegiate-best mark of 24-9 (7.54m), which puts him ninth all-time at Iowa. Freshman Kirsten Weismantle continues to climb Iowa’s all-time pole vault list, moving to fourth all-time today with her fourth-place height of 11-3 3/4 (3.45m). Senior Ray Varner won the 400-meter hurdles in his last home meet as a Hawkeye (51.07). Varner’s season-best time of 50.24 leads the Big Ten and ranks sixth nationally.
The Hawkeyes took the top four spots in the men’s high jump with freshman Brandon Oest in front (6-10 3/4, 2.10m) followed by freshman Matt Newman (6-8 3/4, 2.05m), Herron (6-8 3/4, 2.05m), and junior Graham Valdes (6-8 3/4, 2.05m). Freshman Ethan Holmes placed fourth in the 110-meter hurdles, earning a new collegiate-best at 14.58. Sophomore Erik Sowinski won the 800 meters at 1:50.53. Coming into this weekend, Sowinski ranked second in the Big Ten in the 800 meters and owns the Iowa indoor 800 meters record (1:48.90). Sophomore McKenzie Melander took the 1,500 meters, out in front with a season-best 4:28.77.
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Sophomore Jeffery Herron, typically a high jumper, won Saturday’s long jump to place ninth all-time. |
“I think it was an excellent atmosphere,” said Men’s Head Coach Larry Wieczorek. “It’s a great meet to show off Iowa track and field, and for our fans and our athletes to have a lot of fun. We had some tremendous competition and tremendous performances. Thode’s record was a highlight. He’s nearing that four-minute mile pace and he’s just a tremendous athlete for us. I think we definitely made progress going towards the Big Ten Championships.”
“I think it was definitely a special night,” said Women’s Head Coach Layne Anderson. “It was a great turnout. I was excited that the Hawkeyes on both squads came out and performed against some tough competition. Betsy Flood’s 3K stands out as a great performance, Tiffany Medenwaldt breaking the school record in the discus and placing second all-time in the hammer was great. We’ll look to carry some of this momentum and the momentum from the season into the Big Ten Championships in a couple weeks.
Former Iowa athlete Peaches Roach set a new facility record in the high jump at 6-0 1/2 (1.84m). Roach was a four-time all-American at Iowa from 2004-07 and was a five-time Big Ten Champion in the high jump. Roach also took the 100-meter hurdles (13.59) and the 200-meter dash (23.84). Northern Iowa’s Holli Hosch won the 800 meters at 2:06.84 which is a new meet and facility record.
Iowa will head to Naperville, IL, for two days of competition at the North Central Invite beginning Thursday, May 6.