Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2016-17 | Hawk Talk Monthly — December | Photo Gallery | Results PDF
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa track and field team christened its new multi-million-dollar track in their annual Black and Gold Intrasquad meet on Friday inside the UI Recreation Building.
The Hawkeyes set eight meet records in their first competition of the season.
“I was really impressed with how the athletes came out and put on a show,” UI director of track and field Joey Woody said. “They have been waiting for this moment and now to be able to go out there and perform at a high level, I was excited for the whole group. From the 60 meters to the 3000 meters, we had some great performances.”
Jahisha Thomas kicked off the flurry of records in the women’s 60-meter hurdles. Thomas sprinted to the finish in 8.38, besting her own record set last year.
“I felt really good,” Thomas said. “I am really happy with the time. It has always been a never-ending story with my start, but the fact that I could clock this time this early shows a lot of what’s to come so I am really happy with that.”
Sophomore Christian Brissett ran to a career-best in the men’s 60-meters. The Wyncote, Pennsylvania native, notched a time of 6.80.
“I told myself today that if I can come out and run 6.84 then I would be happy,” Brissett said. “To come in and run 6.80, it shows I am going in the right direction.”
In the men’s 1,000-meters, junior Carter Lilly dominated the field, posting a time of 2:26.73, four seconds ahead of the runner-up.
“Intrasquad is a way to see where we are at and right now I feel like I am way ahead of where I was last year at this time,” Lilly said. “I ran three seconds faster and I still felt like I had a bit more. Overall, a good race.”
Junior Alexis Hernandez won a pair of events Friday. She set a facility record in the 300 meters, finishing in 38:48, and anchored the women’s first-place 1,600-meter relay (3:53.13).
“It’s really exciting coming into this meet,” Hernandez said. “I told myself this was one of my goals. In practice, I have been pushing myself and working hard. It is great to start off the season on that note.”
The Hawkeyes were happy to finally compete on the track they have been hearing about for years and were not disappointed.
“The track feels really good,” Lilly said, “It’s definitely one of the best tracks I’ve ever ran on.”
“This is just the start,” Woody said. “It’s not the end by any means. The key is to get after it over winter break and then we get back and have a meet right away.”
The Hawkeyes return to action in 2017 with the Border Battle in Iowa City on Jan. 7.
THE EIGHT MEET RECORDS INCLUDE:
Women’s 60-meter Hurdles: Jahisha Thomas (X2), Heaven Chandler
Women’s Long Jump: Jahisha Thomas
Men’s 3,000-meters: Nathan Mylenek, Adam Jones
4×400-meter Relays: TEAM GOLD A – Emmanuel Ogwo, Antonio Woodard, Carter Lilly, Austin Lietz. TEAM GOLD B – Collin Hofacker, Jared Ganschow, DeJuan Frye, Mar’yea Harris
