Nationally Ranked Hawkeyes Return to Action

April 4, 2012

Weekley Release

THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa track and field team will split competitors between the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif., and the Battle on the Bayou in Baton Rouge, La. The Stanford Invitational will be held at the Cobb Track and Angell Field on the campus of Stanford University. The event is scheduled to begin Friday at 11.am (CT) and continue through Saturday. The Battle on the Bayou will be held at Bernie Moore Stadium on the campus of LSU. The meet is set to begin Saturday at 10 a.m. (CT). Live Stats will be available on the hawkeyesports.com track and field schedule page.

IN THE RANKINGS
The men’s track team is ranked 20th in the USTFCCCA national rankings.

AMONG THE NCAA TOP TEN
Senior Troy Doris is ranked second in the triple jump (53-8 1/2; 16.37m) in the national week one rankings, while junior Justin Austin is ranked fourth in the 200 meters (20.46). Junior Matt Byers is also nationally ranked. Byers currently sits at eighth in the javelin (245-8; 74.89m).

4X4 DEFENDS TITLE
The women’s 1,600-meter relay team of Bethany Praska, Tiffany Hendricks, Nicole Erickson, and Ashley Liverpool took the 2011 Big Ten Title with a time of 3:36.15. The 2012 1,600-meter relay team of Hannah Simonson, Liverpool, Erickson, and Victoria Sack opened the season with a first place finish at the Arkansas Invitational crossing the line in 3:38.07. That time ranks fourth all-time at Iowa.

BYERS RETURNS TO THE SCENE
Junior Matt Byers broke the school record in the javelin at the 2011 LSU Invitational. Byers’ toss of 245-8 (74.89m) still remains the top mark in Iowa history. Byer’s will head to LSU to compete in the javelin Saturday. The event is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. Byers placed first in the javelin in his first competition of 2012.

THODE HOLDS 1,500 METERS RECORD
Junior Jeff Thode will make the trip to Stanford University to compete in the 1,500 meters. Thode currently holds the school record in the event (3:43.02). The 1,500 meters is set to start at 8:46 p.m. (CT) Friday.

STEEPLECHASE RECORD HOLDERS
Senior Danielle Berndt currently holds the school record in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. Berndt broke the record at the 2011 NCAA West Regional with a time of 10:26.54. Junior Kelsey Hart also ranks among Iowa’s top 10 performers list in the steeplechase. Hart’s time of 10: 47.56 ranks fifth all-time at Iowa. Both competitors will compete at the Stanford Invitational. The steeplechase is scheduled to begin Friday at 7:15 p.m. (CT).

AUSTIN HOLDS TWO
Junior Justin Austin will head to the Battle on the Bayou to compete in the 200 meters Saturday. Austin currently holds the school record in the 200 meters (20.31). Austin also currently ranks fourth in the country in the 200 meters (20.46). The event is set to begin at 4:20 p.m. Austin also holds the school record in the 100 meters (10.21).

DORIS OWNS TRIPLE JUMP RECORD
Senior Troy Doris currently holds the school record in the triple jump (54-0; 16.46m). Doris will make the trip to LSU to compete in the event. The triple jump is set to begin at 3:40 p.m.

TUTSON HOLDS DISCUS RECORD
Junior Majesty Tutson will compete in the discus at the Battle on the Bayou Saturday. Tutson holds the school record in the event (172-4; 52.52m). The discus is set to begin at 11:40 a.m.

NEXT ON THE BLOCK
The Hawkeyes will head to Columbia, Mo., for the Tom Botts Invitational on April 13-14.