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By JACK ROSSI
hawkeyesports.com
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Senior Will Dougherty highlighted the final day of the Black & Gold Premier with a school-record in the heptathlon on Saturday inside the UI Recreation building.
Dougherty came into Saturday’s competition in fourth place in the heptathlon with 3,042 points. He set personal-bests in three of the four events from Friday and continued that pace by setting another in the pole vault (4.50m, 14 feet 9 inches).
He finished the heptathlon with 5,386 points, passing Kyle Reid for first in Iowa history.
“This is a little bittersweet” Dougherty said. “My goal coming into college was always to get the school records and that has been fulfilled and satisfied and I am happy with that, but I know I left some out there on the table. It’s good because I know what I need to work on between now and the conference meet.”
UI director of track and field Joey Woody sees multi-event athletes as becoming a more vital part of the program.
“It’s funny because the multi-events have not been a strong part of our program,” Woody said. “Since I have taken over, they have become more a priority of our program. A lot of the events Will competes in he never did until he started competing on his own during summer track.
He has done some tremendous things the past couple years,” he said. “He’s got some big goals too. He expects to qualify for the national championships.”
Junior Jahisha Thomas competed in the women’s 60-meter hurdles. Thomas’ personal-best time of 8.42 seconds moves her up to fourth in Iowa history and sixth in the Big Ten.
“I was a little skeptical coming into the race, but I am glad that it worked out,” Thomas said.
Moving forward Thomas said she has one thing to work on before every race — the nerves.
“I need to breathe,” she said. “I am really nervous at the start, so I need to breathe, have confidence in my training, and make sure I have a good start.”
The Hawkeyes hit the road for the first time next weekend when they travel to South Bend, Ind. for the Meyo Classic, hosted by Notre Dame.
OTHER NOTEABLES
Men’s Mile
Brandon Cooley — PR (4:20.02)
Women’s 400m
Tia Saunders — PR (58.29)
Men’s 400m
Chris Thompson PR (48.73)
Collin Hofacker — PR (48.43)
Austin Lietz — PR (49.05)
Men’s 60m Hurdles
Tyler Kirkwood — PR (8.28)
Aaron Mallett — Event Title, Facility Record (7.75)
Women’s 800m
Macie Weber — PR (2:20.32)
Amber Decker — PR (2:13.55)
Jordyn Sindt– PR (2:17.31)
Women’s 60m
Briana Guillory — PR (7.51)
Men’s 400m
Emmanuel Ogwo — PR (47.53)
Men’s 800m
Tysen VanDraska/ Adam Jones — tied for event title (1:52.63)
Men’s 60m
Aaron Mallett — PR (6.80)
Jacob Gourley — PR (6.77)
Women’s Pole Vault
Amy Smith — PR (3.60m, 11 feet 9 ¾ inches)
Women’s Triple Jump
Hannah Schilb — PR (39 feet 5 ¾ inches)
