Feb. 17, 2012
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IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa track and field teams recorded 15 first place finishes at the Iowa Invitational on Friday at the Iowa Recreation Building. Drake, Northern Iowa, Central College, Simpson College, and St. Ambrose competed in the event, but no team scores were kept.
Sophomores Jasmine Simpson and Ashlyn Gulvas got the Hawkeyes off to a good start in the weight throw. Simpson reached the 57-7 (17.55m) mark to finish fourth. That mark ranks fourth all-time at Iowa. Gulvas finished fifth with a mark of 57-0 ¾ (17.39m). That mark ranks fifth all-time at Iowa.
Ryan Lamparek had a personal best performance in the shot put. The senior took the title with a toss of 57-0 (17.37m). That mark ranks tenth all-time at Iowa. Lamparek was also the top finisher for the Hawkeyes in the weight throw. He finished fourth with a toss of 58-6 ½ (17.84m)
Justin Austin had a solid day for the Hawkeyes. The junior ran a time of 6.79 to take the title in the 60 meters. Austin also finished first in the 200 meters posting a time of 21.48.
Freshman Kevin Lewis, junior Nick Holmes, and freshman Ben Witt finished first through third in the mile. Lewis crossed the line first with a personal best time of 4:12.47, while Holmes followed close behind with a time of 4:12.86. Witt also recorded a personal best time, running the mile in 4:13.07.
Sophomores Raven Moore and Erin Jones finished first and second, respectively, in the 60 meters. Moore recorded a time of 7.65, while Jones ran a time of 7.66.
Senior Nicole Erickson and junior Hannah Simonson finished first and second, respectively, in the 400 meters. Erickson crossed the line in 56.79, while Simonson followed close behind with a time of 56.83.
The Hawkeyes dominated the 600 meters. Junior Keaton Rickels took the title crossing the line in a personal best time of 1:19.43. Junior Nathan Prom and Freshman Brennan Davey tied for second with a time of 1:19.99, while Junior Ryan Weir (4th, 1:20.44), sophomore Kyle Slaymaker (5th, 1:20.92), and freshman Kyle Wheeler (6th, 1:22.42) rounded out the Hawkeye line-up.
Jeff Thode crossed the line in 1:53.42 to take the 800 meters title. Senior Nick Kuczwara also competed in the event. Kuczwara finished third with a time of 1:55.77.
Kaleb Van Cleave took the title in the 400 meters with a time of 49.17, while junior Patrick Richards finished second posting a time of 49.31. Jon Michael Brandt grabbed a first place finish in the 3000 meters. The freshman crossed the line in 8:44.09.
The women’s 1,600-meter relay team of senior Nicole Erickson, junior Hannah Simonson, sophomore Kelsey Quinn, and freshman Maisie Vachuska ran to a first place finish with a time of 3:50.66.
The men’s 1,600-meter relay team also ran to a first place finish. The team of freshmen Kaleb Van Cleave and Brennan Davey, junior Ryan Weir, and sophomore Nathan Prom posted a time of 3:15.69.
“I think it was a really good tune-up for us,” said head men’s track and field coach Larry Wieczorek. “Both the women and the men did a lot of good things tonight. I think the coaching staff feels more optimistic going into the Big Ten Championships”
Several other Hawkeyes also had notable performances.
Khanishah Williams competed well in two events. The freshman sprinted to a third place finish in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.96. Williams also reached a height of 5-2 ¼ (1.58m) to earn a third place finish in the high jump. Sophomore Zinnia Miller also competed in the high jump. Miller leaped to a height of 5-4 ¼ (1.63m) to take second.
Junior Kirsten Weismantle earned a third place finish in the pole vault when she reached a height of 10-11 ¾ (3.35m).
Freshman Jack Eckert reached a personal best mark of 15-5 (4.70m) to take second in the pole vault. Junior Kyle Reid also reached the 15-5 (4.70m) mark to finish third. Freshman Caleb Mere took second place in the long jump with his leap of 22-2 ½ (6.77m), while junior Brandon Oest reached a height of 6-8 (2.03m) to capture a third place finish in the high jump.
The Hawkeyes will head to the Big Ten Indoor Championships in Lincoln, Neb. on Feb. 24-25.