Jan. 27, 2016
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THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa track and field team competes at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Friday and Saturday. Friday’s competition begins with field events at 3 p.m. (CT) and running events follow at 6 p.m. Action resumes Saturday with running events at 11:30 a.m. and field events at 1 p.m. The multi-event competition starts Friday at 11 a.m. and continues through Saturday.
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SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
In a 15-team field, the Razorback Invitational features nine nationally-ranked programs on the men’s side: Florida (1), Texas (2), Texas A&M (3), Oregon (5), LSU (6), Georgia (7), Arkansas (11), Oklahoma State (16), and Purdue (25).
The Hawkeye women go up against seven top-25 teams: Arkansas (1), Georgia (2), Texas (3), Oregon (5), Florida (6), LSU (18), and Texas A&M (20).
FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES
Live results can be found on the track and field schedule page at hawkeyesports.com. Follow @IowaXC_TF on twitter for updates and relevant statistics throughout the meet.
HERE COMES MELCHERT
Following a personal-best performance in the men’s mile at the Big 4 Duals on Jan. 23, sophomore Michael Melchert entered Big Ten (5th) and national rankings (14th). He shaved nearly nine seconds off his previous personal best (4:13.80), which he set at the Border Battle on Jan. 9, to finish third in 4:05.37. His time ranks fourth all-time at Iowa.
The Monticello, Iowa, native was a frontrunner for the Hawkeyes in cross country, finishing 17th at the 2015 Big Ten Cross Country Championships.
CONTINUOUS PROGRESSION
Junior All-American Aaron Mallett is off to the fastest start of his collegiate career in the men’s 60-meter hurdles. The St. Louis native remains undefeated in the event this season, posting the second- and third-fastest times of his collegiate career.
After opening with a 7.95 at the Border Battle on Jan. 9, Mallett ran 7.82 at the Iowa Dual (Jan. 16) before clocking 7.80, his second-fastest mark all-time, at the Big 4 Duals on Jan. 23. His lifetime best (7.78) came at the 2015 Big Ten Championships. Mallett currently stands second in the Big Ten behind Nebraska’s Antoine Lloyd (7.78) and ties for eighth nationally.
GUSTER TOPS BIG TEN… AGAIN
The defending 400-meter champion has the fastest conference time in the women’s 400 meters following a first-place finish at the Big 4 Duals on Jan. 23. Her time of 54.21 stands 17th nationally.
The Atlanta native stands fourth among conference competitors in the 600 meters. She held the top spot following a winning performance at the Iowa Dual on Jan. 16 in a converted time, 1:30.93.
SPRINTER STRENGTH
Iowa has five student-athletes who rank among the top eight in the conference in the men’s and women’s 60 and 200 meters. For the men, third-year sophomore O’Shea Wilson (6.76) and freshman Christian Brissett (21.36) each own the sixth-fastest time in the 60 and 200 meters.
Freshman Briana Guillory (24.04) holds the fourth spot in the women’s 200 meters, while senior Lake Kwaza had an eventful Big 4 Duals, climbing to second in the 60 meters (7.42) and sixth in the 200 meters (24.22). Kwaza, along with junior Brittany Brown, set the 60-meter school record at the 2014 Big 4 Duals in 7.41.
THE SHORT STORY
The Hawkeyes swept the first four positions in the women’s 200 and 400 meters and produced a 1-2-3 sweep in the men’s 600 yards at the Big 4 Duals on Jan. 23.
Senior Lake Kwaza (24.22) led the Hawkeyes in the 200 meters, while junior Elexis Guster (54.21) paced a 400-meter pack, which included freshman Briana Guillory (2nd/55.35). Senior Will Teubel (1:09.59) won the 600 yards followed closely by sophomore Carter Lilly (1:09.67).
NEXT ON THE BLOCK
The Hawkeyes head to the Meyo Invitational for a two-day competition in South Bend, Indiana, from Feb. 5-6.
