Jan. 3, 2011
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THIS WEEK
The Hawkeyes travel to Champaign, Ill. to open up the 2011 indoor season at the Illinois Open. The men’s only event is scheduled to begin at noon Saturday. The teams will face off in the U of I Armory indoor track.
“We are very excited about this event,” Head Coach Larry Wieczorek. “This is the third year we’ve had this event and Iowa has won the last two, but Illinois is a very good team and this will be a great competition for us to start the season. I think everyone is excited and ready for this rivalry duel meet.”
INDOOR SEASON AT A GLANCE
The Hawkeyes will compete in eight meets prior to the Big Ten Championships, Last Chance Meet and NCAA Championships during the 10-week track and field indoor season.
Iowa will host two meets at the University of Iowa Recreation Building. The Iowa Open is set for Jan. 15th and the Iowa Invitational will take place on Feb. 18th.
The women’s 2011 Big Ten Indoor Championships will take place in West Lafayette, IN, on the campus of the University of Purdue, while the men’s team will compete in Champaign, Illinois at the University of IL.
The Hawkeyes will compete throughout the season to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships, scheduled for March 11-12 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Larry Wieczorek
Larry Wieczorek is in his 24th season as head men’s cross country coach and his 15th season as head men’s track and field coach at the University of Iowa. He served as an assistant track and field coach for 12 years before taking the helm in 1997.
Last season, Wieczorek guided 28 qualifiers, made up of 20 student-athletes competing in 13 individual events and two relays to the NCAA Outdoor Championships preliminary round.
HAWKEYE DEBUTS
The men’s track and field team’s nine freshmen and three transfer student-athletes. One Hawkeye newcomer standout is Troy Dorris, a junior transfer from College of Dupage. Dorris won the long jump event at the Intrasquad meet with a 6.82 meter jump and placed second in the 60-meter dash final.
Sophomore Justin Austin is also expected to make an impact this season. Austin comes to Iowa from the University of Kentucky. He placed first in the 60-meter dash at the Intrasquad meet with a time of 6.86 seconds.
EXHIBITION REVIEW
The Hawkeyes welcomed back a wealth of talent as well as a group of newcomers at the annual Intrasquad meet. Both teams were split into a Black team and a Gold team. The women’s competition was won by the Gold Squad (47-45), while the Black Squad claimed the men’s title (68-50) and the overall victory (113-97). Several student-athletes posted unofficial career bests at the event which was held in the UI Recreation Building.
COMING UP
Iowa hosts the Iowa Open January 15th. Five teams will compete in Iowa City at the University of Iowa Recreation Building. The Hawkeyes welcome Central Methodist, Iowa Western Community College, Truman State, Western Illinois and Bradley.
RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS
Iowa welcomes back all-American honorees Patrick Richards, Chris Barton, Steven Willey and Erik Sowinski for the 2011 season. The four student-athletes earned the prestigious recognition following a successful season competing in the 1,600 meter relay. The team, made up of two juniors and two sophomores, capped off the season with a seventh place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships after running a time of 3:05.61 in Eugene, Oregon.