Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2016-17 | Hawk Talk Monthly — January
Editor’s Note: The following first appeared in the University of Iowa’s Hawk Talk Daily, an e-newsletter that offers a daily look at the Iowa Hawkeyes, delivered free each morning to thousands of fans of the Hawkeyes worldwide. To receive daily news from the Iowa Hawkeyes, sign up HERE.
IOWA CITY, Iowa — This is the fourth of a five-part series previewing the University of Iowa track and field team’s indoor season. The fourth installment takes a look at the Hawkeye throwers and horizontal jumps.
TOP RETURNERS
The Hawkeyes return sophomore Reno Tuufuli and senior Avery Meyers to their throwing lineup. The duo rank sixth and seventh in Iowa history in the shot put, respectively.
“Avery is one of the strongest guys on campus,” UI director of track and field Joey Woody said. “He puts a lot of work in the weight room and in his technique. The guy is a true competitor, but he puts everything into training and every day he is going at it.”
In the team’s first meet of the year Meyers launched a personal best throw of 60-1 3/4.
Sophomore O’Shea Wilson highlights the Hawkeyes’ horizontal jumps. After missing more than two years with injuries, Wilson returned to competition at the Hawkeye Invitational to jump a personal-best and collegiate leading jump of 25-9 ½.
“You could say it’s a surprise, but we’ve seen him jump 25 feet before except he scratched them,” Woody said. “We knew he had it in him to be a 25 foot long jumper. He is finally healthy and his training is going well.”
Jahisha Thomas returns for her junior season as Iowa’s school record holder in the long jump. Thomas has been a national qualifier in both the long jump and triple jump.
“She brings a lot to our program as far as scoring points in the Big Ten Championships,” Woody said. “She has some big goals. She expects to be a national qualifier in the long jump and triple jump.”
ATHLETE POISED FOR A BREAKOUT YEAR
Sophomore Tria Seawater-Simmons quietly moved up Iowa’s all-time triple jump list to No. 2 following the Border Battle meet on Jan. 7.
Seawater-Simmons jumped 42-1 ¼ in her first meet of the season, moving up from the No. 6 spot set last year at 38-6 ¾.
“She is training more as a triple jumper and high jumper, which is a unique combination,” Woody said “We expect her to continue to grow and develop, especially in the triple jump, which is her main event.”
FRESHMEN TO WATCH
Iowa has revamped its women’s shot put lineup in the past two years to bring in three talented freshmen into the fray.
“We haven’t had much success in the women’s shot put over the last few years,” Woody said. “But coach (Andrew) Dubs has done a great job recruiting and brought in Nia Britt, Laulauga Tausaga, and Erika Hammond.”
Known as the three-headed monster, the team sees improvement by each one week-by-week as they gain confidence and refine their techniques. |
