Wieczorek Announces 2011 Captains

Oct. 14, 2010

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa head men’s track and field coach Larry Wieczorek announced today that junior Ryan Lamparek, senior Zeke Sayon and junior Erik Sowinski have been named team captains for the 2011 season. They join senior Mark Battista, who was named cross country team captain prior to the season.

Lamparek, a junior from Fairfax, IA, qualified for the NCAA Championships in the shot put last season behind a collegiate-best performance at the NCAA West Regional (58-4, 17.78m). He ranks among Iowa’s all-time top 10 performers in five events, including indoor shot put and weight throw and outdoor shot put, hammer and discus.

Sayon, a senior from Rockford, IL, earned second team all-Big Ten honors in 2010, placing second in the 100 meters at the Big Ten Championships (10.64). He led all Iowa runners in the 100 meters a year ago, recording a team-leading collegiate-best (10.51) at the NCAA West Regional.

Sowinski, a junior from Waukesha, WI, earned all-America honors last season by running the third leg of Iowa’s 1,600-meter relay that placed seventh at the NCAA Championships. He is also the school record holder in the indoor 600 (1:18.05) and 800 meters (1:48.90).

The Hawkeyes open the 2011 season Jan. 8 at the Illinois Dual. They return home Jan. 15 to host the Iowa Open, the first of two indoor meets on the 2011 schedule. Iowa hosts the Iowa Invitational Feb. 18.

The outdoor schedule is highlighted by two home meets, including the Big Ten Championships (May 13-15) and the 12th annual Musco Twilight Meet (April 23). Iowa opens the outdoor season March 18-19 at the Shamrock Invite in Coastal Carolina.