April 23, 2016
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa freshman Briana Guillory’s school record-breaking performance in the women’s 100 meters was one of 13 gold medals won by the University of Iowa track and field team Saturday at the 17th-annual Musco Twilight. In addition to Iowa, the event featured Drake, Iowa Central, Iowa State, and Northern Iowa. No teams scores were kept.
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“It was a spectacular night for Iowa track and field,” UI director of track and field Joey Woody said. “It’s fun to watch every event because we were competing at such a high level and the performances were awesome all across the board. We had great performances in the sprints, jumps, and hurdles, distance, throws, everything was good. I couldn’t be more happy or pleased with where we’re at right now heading into Drake and then the Big Ten week.”
Guillory made her 100-meter collegiate debut in record-fashion. The Antioch, California, native broke the meet record (11.41) and the school record (11.40) en route to earning a first-place finish in a wind-aided (+2.9) collegiate-best 11.35. The previous school record was set by senior Lake Kwaza in 2015. Guillory’s time would top the Big Ten.
“It feels great,” Guillory said. “I just appreciate all the love my team has given me for it. It’s a beautiful day, and when you’re running with people who really care about you and it’s in front of the home crowd, you want to put on a show. I have to give kudos to Lake because I’ve been working on my block starts with her. My block starts have been really bad, and today it was good, so I have her to thank for that.”
Crushing his own meet record from last season, junior All-American Aaron Mallett continued his undefeated run in the men’s 110-meter hurdles at Musco Twilight, clocking a season-best 13.50 with a +2.6 tail-wind. The defending Big Ten champion would rank third nationally and continue to lead the conference.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Mallett said. “It’s always great to run a good time on a beautiful day and in front of a crowd like this. I’ve been working on my start all season, and I figure if I can get out with the best I can finish with the best. I imagine myself running against a ghost and I just keep pushing and moving no matter who is around me. If no one is around me, I just have to keep moving.”
In the men’s 400 meters, freshman Mar’yea Harris ranks eighth in school history and would climb to seventh in the Big Ten following a career-best, winning time of 46.56.
Sophomore Michael Melchert (3:48.35), and juniors Kevin Docherty (3:49.24) and Brook Price (3:53.36) swept the first three spots with personal-best performances in the men’s 1,500 meters. Melchert and Docherty continue to rank ninth and 10th all-time at Iowa.
The Hawkeyes produced their second sweep under Musco Lighting as junior All-American Elexis Guster (23.91), Guillory (24.23) and freshman Taylor Chapman (24.61) went 1-2-3 in the women’s 200 meters.
Iowa kept its momentum going in the field events, which was highlighted by an impressive leap from sophomore Jahisha Thomas in the women’s triple jump. Setting the meet record, Thomas (42-3 1/2, 12.89m) improved by over a meter to capture the sixth win of the day for the Hawkeyes. She moves to second on Iowa’s all-time list and would rank 22nd nationally and third in the Big Ten.
The best marks of the day in the men’s and women’s high jump belonged to senior Kevin Spejcher (7-1, 2.16m) and graduate student Khanishah Williams (5-7 3/4, 1.72m), respectively. Spejcher’s season-best mark would rank second in the league and tie for 21st nationally.
“I’m always happy to be at Musco,” Spejcher said. “The indoor season was rough, but each outdoor meet has gotten better and better. I’m happy to be outside. I just love feeling free and competing outside. It’s kind of special because you know that you’re one of the few teams that is a true team coming together all the time. It’s a good feeling.”
Three of Iowa’s four relays finished ahead of the competition.
Running the ninth-fastest time in program history, Thomas, Guster, Chapman, and Guillory upset the meet record in the women’s 400-meter relay with a winning time of 44.88, while the men’s 400-meter relay of freshman Christian Brissett, Mallett, junior James Harrington, and Harris clinched first place over Drake (40.50) in 40.33.
The men’s 1,600-meter relay — junior Mitch Wolff, Harris, freshmen Christian Brissett and DeJuan Frye — closed the meet with a win in 3:09.76.
Other Iowa event winners include Brissett (21.20) in the men’s 200 meters and redshirt sophomore Alex Balke (198-3, 60.43m) in the men’s javelin.
Redshirt freshman Nia Britt (1st) hit a qualifying mark of 48-6 (14.78m) while competing unattached in the women’s shot put for the chance to compete at the USATF Junior Championships from June 24-26.
Iowa competed in front of a home crowd of 790 at the Francis X. Cretzmeyer Track.
The Hawkeyes head to Des Moines, Iowa, for the Drake Relays from April 28-30.
Additional Collegiate Bests & Notables:
Women’s 100-meter hurdles:
So. Heaven Chandler — 13.91 (8th all-time)
Men’s 110-meter hurdles:
Fr. Chris Douglas — 14.23 (10th all-time)
Women’s 400-meter hurdles:
So. Sheridan Champe — 1:03.83
Men’s 600 meters:
So. Carter Lilly — 1:15.64
Women’s 800 meters:
Jr. Mahnee Watts — 2:07.41 (5th all-time)
Women’s pole vault:
Fr. Amy Smith — 11-3 3/4, 3.45m (5th all-time)
Women’s triple jump:
Fr. Tria Seawater-Simmons — 40-1 1/4, 12.22m (6th all-time)
