Hull Breaks School Record, Hawkeyes Grab 9 Titles

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May 3, 2014

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Complete Results

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa track and field team captured nine titles and junior Gabe Hull broke the discus school record at the Musco Twilight on Saturday at Francis X. Cretzmeyer Track. Both the Iowa men (130 points) and women (170 points) finished second.

Hull started the day for the Hawkeyes with a school record-breaking performance in the men’s discus. He recorded a toss of 207-1 (63.11m) on his second attempt. A.J. Curtis set the previous record of 202-11 (61.84m) in 2007. Hull’s mark currently ranks second in the Big Ten and fourth in the nation. Hull also recorded a personal-best in the shot put. He finished third in the event with a toss of 59-4 ¼ (18.09m). His mark ranks eighth all-time at Iowa.

Sophomore Kevin Spejcher earned his way into the Iowa record book with a personal-best performance in the men’s high jump. Spejcher cleared the 7-2 ½ (2.20m) to win the event. His mark currently ties the best mark in the Big Ten, ranks 10th nationally, and fourth all-time at Iowa. Tayo Oladele-Ajose finished second in the women’s high jump with a leap of 5-5 (1.65m).

“It felt amazing,” said Spejcher. “Everything was coming together. It just felt great. I knew what 2.14 (meters) was like, but from then on I had no idea what the height was like, so I just kept going. I don’t even remember seven feet anymore.”

Freshman Aaron Mallett captured the men’s 110-meter hurdles title when he crossed the line in 14.08. Junior Keith Brown clocked a personal-best time of 14.34 to finish sixth.

“I got out pretty good for me,” said Mallett. “I’m not really a fast starter, but I hit the first hurdle and fixed myself pretty good. I ran well between hurdles two and seven, I hit the last hurdle but I just ran through the line and gave it all I had.”

Freshman Brittany Brown (11.62) and sophomore Lake Kwaza (11.75) finished first and second, respectively, in the women’s 100 meters. Brown personal-best time ties for eighth on Iowa’s all-time record list. Senior Tevin-Cee Mincy clocked a personal-best time of 10.42 to finish second in the men’s 100 meters.

Brown and Kwaza also swept the top two spots in the women’s 200 meters. Brown crossed the line in 24.40, while Kwaza clocked a 24.46. Sophomore James Harrington (21.41) clocked a personal-best time in the men’s 200 meters. Freshman O’Shea Wilson followed close behind, finishing third in 21.56.

“I feel like I’m expecting a really huge PR, and I feel like I’m getting there bit by bit,” said Brown. “Today was decent but I feel like I could have done better. I feel like I’m ready to hit it again and hit a bigger PR. I want to move up the Big Ten list and put points up for our team.”

The Hawkeyes swept the triple jump titles on the men’s and women’s side. Zinnia Miller moved up to No. 3 on Iowa’s all-time triple jump list. The senior recorded a personal-best leap of 41-1 ½ (12.53m) to the event title. Junior Babatunde Amosu took the men’s title with a leap of 51-9 ¼ (15.78m). Sophomore Klyvens Delaunay finished second in the event with a mark of 51-4 ¼ (15.65m).

Leacock captured the women’s long jump title. The senior recorded a leap of 19-8 ¼ (6.00m). Miller finished third in the event with a jump of 19-2 ½ (5.85m).

The Hawkeyes captured the women’s 1,600-meter relay title. The team of sophomore MonTayla Holder and freshmen Elexis Guster, Alexis Hernandez, and Mahnee Watts crossed the line in 3:40.03. The men’s team of junior Kaleb VanCleave, Thompson, Mallett, and junior Brennan Davey finished second in 3:13.00.

“I think both the men’s and women’s teams got better,” said UI director of track and field Larry Wieczorek. “That was one of my goals. We have to try to turn the corner as we get ready for Big Tens, and I think we made some great steps. I think people had fun. The athletes performed well. Overall it was just a great night.”

Senior Ashlyn Gulvas and Jasmine Simpson finished third and fourth, respectively, in the women’s hammer throw. Gulvas recorded a personal-best toss of 192-9 (58.75m), a time that ranks fourth all-time at Iowa. Simpson recorded a toss of 188-4 (57.41m).

The men’s 400-meter relay team ran to a second-place finish. The team of senior Tevin-Cee Mincy, freshman O’Shea Wilson, sophomore Brendan Thompson, and junior Keith Brown clocked a 40.54.

Freshmen Mahnee Watts and Katharina Trost each clocked personal bests to finish second and third, respectively, in the women’s 800 meters. Watts’ time of 2:08.58 ranks fifth all-time at Iowa, while Trost’s time of 2:09.62 ranks 10th.

Will Teubel crossed the 800 meters line in a personal-best time of 1:50.14. The sophomore’s time was good enough for a second-place finish and ranks second all-time at Iowa.

Junior Shannon Maser clocked a personal best in the women’s 1,500 meters. Maser finished second in 4:33.02. Junior Rachel Price finished eighth in the event with a personal-best time of 4:40.08.

“It was very important to build momentum,” added Wieczorek. “It’s nice to be at home and it’s nice to be in a comfortable environment, and I think it helped some of our athletes make progress.”

The Hawkeyes travel West Lafayette, Ind., for the Big Ten Outdoor Championships May 16-18.