Dec. 1, 2011
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa track and field team opens its 2011-12 season Saturday with its Black and Gold Intrasquad meet. The event will be held at the UI Recreation Building beginning at 4 p.m.
The Hawkeye men’s team returns seven All-Americans in Troy Doris, Justin Austin, Jordan Mullen, Jeff Thode, Ethan Holmes, Patrick Richards and Erik Sowinski.
Richards, Holmes, and Sowinski placed fourth at the 2011 NCAA Championships in the 1,600-meter relay with a time of 3:07.16, while Sowinski also placed fourth in the 800 meter run in 1:49.47. Austin crossed the finish line in fifth place in the 200-meters (20.80), Thode finished sixth in the mile run (4:01.73), Doris placed sixth in the triple jump (53-5 1/2), and Mullen finished ninth in the 60-meter hurdles (7.78).
The UI women’s team welcomes an outstanding recruiting class. Freshmen Khanishah Williams and Kayla Beattie are expected to make an immediate impact this season. Williams, a Burlington, Iowa, native, was the 2011 4A long jump and 100 meter hurdle state champion. Beattie, a Woodstock, Ill., native, set state records in the 3,200 (10:15) meters and 1,600 meters (4:51). The team also returns senior McKenzie Melander who placed 15th (4:49.21) in the mile at the NCAA Championships.
The Hawkeyes officially open the season Jan. 14 with a dual meet against Illinois.