Jan. 29, 2016
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Iowa track and field team recorded six personal bests and three season bests across four events to highlight the first day of action at the Razorback Invitational on Friday.
“We are off to a good start, but we have big events to come tomorrow against big-time competition,” UI director of track and field Joey Woody said. “William Dougherty is having a good meet so far in the multi-events. I am looking forward to seeing him complete that event tomorrow and hopefully end with a personal best.”
After four events scored in the men’s heptathlon, Dougherty, a sophomore, tallied 2,805 points on the strengths of two collegiate bests in the long jump (21-3 1/2, 6.49m) and shot put (42-5 1/2, 12.94m) and a season best in the high jump (6-1 1/2, 1.87m). The Moville, Iowa, native stands 10th heading into Saturday’s competition, which begins at 11 a.m. (CT).
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In her first long jump appearance of the season, sophomore Jahisha Thomas (14th) climbed one spot to second on Iowa’s all-time list for her indoor collegiate-best leap of 19-9 1/2 (6.03m). That mark would place her sixth in the Big Ten.
“Seeing Jahisha jump over six meters is a really good sign of things to come,” Woody said. “Last year she did not jump over six meters until the outdoor season.”
Sophomore Jalynn Roberts-Lewis (17th; 18-1, 5.51m) also set a collegiate best in the women’s long jump, while sophomore Heaven Chandler (18th) matched her personal best, 17-5 1/2 (5.32m).
Also registering a personal best was junior Kerry Dean Jr. (18th; 22-11.75, 7.00m) in the men’s long jump.
On the track, Iowa managed a pair of top-15 finishes in both the men’s and women’s 200 meters, led by freshmen Mar’yea Harris and Briana Guillory.
Downing her previous personal best of 24.41, which she set at the season opener on Jan. 9, Guillory tore through the women’s 200-meter mark with the seventh-fastest time in program history (23.87) to finish 11th overall. Not far behind was senior Lake Kwaza (13th) in a season-best 23.99. Their times would move them to third and fourth, respectively, in the conference.
Harris nearly echoed Guillory in the men’s 200 meters, also placing 11th with a collegiate-best performance (21.59). Iowa’s second finisher, junior Vinnie Saucer, Jr., set a 0.1-second personal best of 21.79 to finish 15th overall.
“It was a good day for the sprinters in the 200 meters,” Woody said. “I am looking forward to seeing what Mar’yea and Briana can do in the 400 meters and what Lake can do in the 60 meters tomorrow. This was a good sign tonight with both freshmen having run really well.”
Senior Kevin Spejcher (11th) cleared a season-best 6-8 1/4 (2.04m) in the men’s high jump, while graduate student Khanishah Williams (5-7 1/4, 1.71m) added five points for her fourth-place finish in the women’s event.
The Razorback Invitational resumes Saturday at 11:30 a.m. (CT) with running events; field events to follow at 1 p.m.
