Sowinski Breaks 800 Meters Record

Feb. 24, 2012

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Complete Results

LINCOLN, Neb. – The University of Iowa track and field teams competed in day one of the Big Ten Indoor Championships Friday. The Hawkeyes were led by two school record-setting performances from senior Erik Sowinski (800m) and the distance medley team of sophomore Nathan Prom, junior Keaton Rickels, Sowinski, and junior Jeff Thode.

Sowinski had a stellar first day for the Hawkeyes. The senior broke the school record in the 800 meters with a personal best time of 1:47.62, and earned himself a place in the finals. Sowinski’s time is also a Big Ten meet record.

The men’s distance medley relay team of Prom, Rickels, Sowinksi and Thode crossed the line in a school record setting time of 9:45.41 to finish third.

Rickels also qualified for the 600 meters final. The junior’s personal best time of 1:18.57 ranks fourth all-time at Iowa.

Thode and junior Nick Holmes both qualified for the final mile run. Thode ran a time of 4:07.06 to finish eighth, while Holmes finished ninth with a personal best time of 4:07.95.

Senior Troy Doris earned his way into the finals in the 60 meters. Doris ran a personal best time of 6.75. That time ranks third all-time at Iowa.

Justin Austin qualified for the finals in the 200 meters. The junior ran a time of 21.22. Patrick Richards just missed qualifying for the 200 meters finals. The senior’s time of 21.57 was good enough for a tenth place finish. Richards did, however, qualify for the 400 meters final when he crossed the line in 47.51.

Sophomore Ashley Liverpool ran a time of 55.36 in the 400 meters to earn her way into the finals. Nicole Erickson also earned a spot in the finals. The senior ran the 600 meters in a personal best time of 1:32.09. That time ranks fifth all-time at Iowa.

Matt Banse had a personal best performance in the shot put. The senior’s toss of 57-3 ¾ (17.47m) earned him a tenth place finish.

The Hawkeye women finished fifth through seventh in the 3,000 meters. Graduate Student Mareike Schrulle crossed the line first for the Hawkeyes with a time of 9:27.47. Senior Brooke Eilers followed close behind with a personal best time of 9:27.92. That time ranks eighth all-time at Iowa. McKenzie Melander also ran a personal best time, crossing the line in 9:29.71. That time ranks ninth all-time at Iowa.

The Iowa men are in ninth place, while the women are in tenth after day one of the competition. Action is set to resume at 10 a.m. tomorrow.