Jan. 14, 2012
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IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa track and field teams recorded 24 first place finishes at the New Year’s Classic on Saturday at the Iowa Recreation Building. The classic was the season opener for both the men’s and women’s squads.
Loyola, Truman State, Bradley and Western Illinois competed in the event, but no team scores were kept.
Junior Jeff Thode owned the meet’s most memorable moment, breaking the 44-year old two-mile record previously held by head coach Larry Wieczorek. Thode crossed the line in 8:53.91, narrowly edging Wieczorek’s mark of 8:54.00.
The Hawkeyes run of titles began in the field when Iowa freshman Annemie Smith captured a first place finish in the weight throw with a toss of 57-3.75 (17.47m). Sophomore Rachel Curry and junior Majesty Tutson backed up Smith’s efforts with a pair of personal bests in the shot put. Curry finished first with a toss of 48-1.75 (14.67m) while Tutson came in third with a throw of 43-10.50 (13.37m).
“I had a better mark at the intrasquad (exhibition),” said Curry. “But I feel better about today because I was much more consistent. I think it’s a great way to start the season. I feel like I’m better prepared at this point than I have been in the past.”
The Hawkeyes also grabbed first place finishes in the women’s pole vault, long jump and triple jump. Freshman Brittany Holst reached the 10-11.75 (3.35m) mark to finish first in the women’s pole vault. Sophomore Zinnia Miller finished first in the women’s long jump with a leap of 18-5.75 (5.63m), while freshman Sarah Ryan took second place in her Hawkeye debut (18-2.25, 5.63m). Sophomore Carisa Leacock kept the Hawkeyes rolling when she scored a 40-5.5 (12.33m) mark in the triple jump.
Senior Jeffery Herron opened the season with a 24-0.75 (7.33m) mark to win the men’s long jump competition.
“I feel good about today,” said Herron, an outdoor All-American in 2011. “I didn’t get the results I wanted, but today was just the beginning. I have great expectations and I know I’ll get stronger throughout the season. It was just good to get out and show some of the work we’ve been putting in.”
Jeffery Herron was the Hawkeyes’ lone competitor in the men’s high jump. The senior scored a 6-6.75 (2.00m) mark to finish fifth.
Iowa’s run of titles continued through the field events. Senior Matt Banse won the men’s weight throw with a toss of 64-5 (19.63m), while Iowa sophomore Kyle Reid reached the 14-11 (4.55m) mark to take first in the pole vault. Troy Doris jumped to a first place finish in the triple jump. Doris, an indoor All-American in the triple jump a year ago, reached a mark of 52-3.25 (15.93m).
The Hawkeye men dominated the shot put, where seniors Ryan Lamparek and Banse, and freshmen Gabe Hull and Andrew Carman finished one through four. Lamperek recorded a throw of 55-5.50 (16.90) to finish first.
Khanishah Williams had a solid Hawkeye debut, picking up a pair of titles. The freshman sprinted to a first place finish in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.24. She also finished first in the women’s high jump reaching a mark of 5-7.75 (1.72m).
A pair of Hawkeye sophomores claimed titles in the women’s 60 and 400 meters. Raven Moore finished first in the 60 meters (7.63), while Erin Jones ran a 1:00.44 to finish first in the 400.
The Hawkeyes placed one through four in the women’s 500 meters. Kelsey Quinn finished first with a time of 1:14.84. The sophomore was followed by senior Nicole Erickson, junior Hannah Simonson, and senior Kelsey Mims.
Lena Placzek was the top finisher for the Hawkeyes in the 1,000 meters. The sophomore ran a time of 2:68.46 for a third place finish.
Senior Brooke Eilers, graduate student Mairke Schrulle and senior McKenzie Melander finished first, second and third, respectively, in the mile. Melander led the way for the first seven laps before Eilers pulled ahead at the start of the final lap to win with a time of 4:52.05
“It’s exciting to get it going, put a uniform on and compete against other teams,” said head coach Layne Anderson. “Certainly we’ve had some good performances to get it underway and now we have something we can build on moving forward.” A year after earning All-American honors in 2012, junior Jordan Mullen took first in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.87. Senior Dan Davis came in second with a time of 8.22.
The Hawkeye men dominated the sprint competitions. Senior Justin Austin, an All-American in 2011, sprinted to a second place finish in the 60 meters, recording a time of 6.82, just ahead of teammate Troy Doris (6.87). Senior D’Juan Richardson and sophomore Tevin-Cee Mincy finished first and second, respectively, in the men’s 200 meters. Richardson crossed the line in 22.23 while Mincy followed close behind with a time of 22.64. Senior Patrick Richards (48.78) and freshman Kaleb Van Cleave (50.06) finished first and second, respectively, in the 400 meter.
The Hawkeyes placed first through third in the men’s 600 meters. Junior Keaton Rickels crossed the line first with a time of 1:20.48, while junior Ryan Weir (1:20.53) and sophomore Kyle Slaymaker (1.21.49) followed close behind.
Senior Erik Sowinski, a two-time All-American in 2011, finished first in the 1,000 meters (2:24.15), while sophomore Nathan Prom finished third in 2:27.98.
Ben Witt was the top finisher for the Hawkeyes in the mile. The freshman ran a 4:19.32 to capture a second place finish in his Iowa debut.
The Hawkeyes closed the meet with a pair of titles in the 1,600-meter relays. The men’s relay recorded a time of 3:16.45, while the women’s relay crossed the line in 3:49.39.
The Hawkeyes will return to action Jan. 21 in Lincoln, Neb., at the Adidas Classic. The event will be held at the Devaney Centery on the campus of Nebraska.