Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2016-17 | Hawk Talk Monthly — April 2017 | Drake Relays (PDF)
THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa track and field team travels to Des Moines, Iowa, for the 108th Drake Relays for its final meet before the postseason. The Hawkeyes begin competition inside Drake Stadium on Thursday and finish the meet Saturday.
FOLLOW ALONG
Live results will be available through the team’s schedule page on hawkeyesports.com and at hawkeyesports.com/tracklive. Follow the team’s twitter account @iowaxc_tf for live updates of the meets. The Drake Relays will be live streamed on USATF.tv (subscription required).
DRAKE RELAYS CHAMPIONS
The Hawkeyes have been traveling to the Drake Relays since in the 1920’s while amassing 75 victories during that period (54 for the men and 21 for the women). Iowa’s first victory at the Relays came in 1923 when the Hawkeyes won the men’s 1,600-meter relay. The most recent victory came last season when Lake Kwaza, Elexis Guster, MonTayla Holder, and Mahnee Watts won the women’s sprint medley relay with a time of 3:52.62, which ranks third in program history. The Iowa men have the most victories in the 1,600-meter relay with nine and the women have found the most success in the 100-meter hurdles and sprint medley relay (3).
MEN ENTER NATION’S TOP 25
The University of Iowa men’s track and field team is ranked No.23 in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Team Computer Rankings released Monday. The Hawkeyes debuted in the rankings with 93.33 points following their performance at the Musco Twilight meet on April 22. Iowa was ranked 29th in the preseason poll released in March and have climbed six spots since. Iowa’s highest national ranking under UI director of track and field Joey Woody is 22nd (April 25, 2013).
AARON MALLETT RETURNS TO FORM
Senior Aaron Mallett returned to the top of the NCAA leaderboard in the 110-meter hurdles at the 18th Musco Twilight meet on Saturday. Mallett ran a 13.56 at the meet to win his fourth Musco Twilight hurdle title. He now ranks first in the Big Ten and ties for fifth in the nation. Mallett was held out of competition the first three weeks of the outdoor season with a stress reaction in his foot.
ADAM JONES WINS FIRST TITLE AS A HAWKEYE
Senior Adam Jones won his first outdoor competition as a member of the Hawkeyes. Jones, a transfer from Samford college, won the men’s 1,500 meters at the Musco Twilight. Jones posted a time of 3:45.48 to cruise to his first victory. He now ranks fifth in program history in the event and 11th in the Big Ten.
KELLY BREEN SHINES IN 2ND STEEPLECHASE
Senior Kelly Breen competed in her second career 3,000 meter steeplechase at the Musco Twilight meet last weekend. The Palatine, Illinois, native finished runner-up with a time of 10:59.99. Breen now ranks seventh in Iowa history. Last week, running unattached at the Jim Duncan Invitational, Breen finished second in her first 3,000 meter steeplechase in 11:10.84.
MUSCO TWILIGHT RECORDS
Iowa set three meet records at the Musco Twilight meet on Saturday. Junior Jahisha Thomas broke the women’s triple jump meet record with a mark of 12.86m. Senior Aaron Mallett broke his own meet record set in 2015 in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.56 seconds and sophomore Ian Eklin broke the meet and facility record in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:23.41.
RELAY WARRIORS
The Hawkeye relay teams have been some of the best and most consistent groups on the track and field team. The men’s 4×400 meter relay group set the school record twice in the indoor season and has set two top 10 times this outdoor season. The men have set eight top times in various relays in 2017. They rank second in the Big Ten in the 4×100 meter relay (39.46) and first in the Big Ten in the 4×400 meter relay (3:03.78) and sixth in the NCAA.
The women have put four relays in Iowa’s all-time top 10 in 2017 and have set the school record in the 4×200 meters with a time of 1:35.36. The women rank first in the Big Ten in the 4×100 meter relay (44.34) and second in the 4×400 meters (3:32.37).
IOWA NATIVES AT DRAKE
The Hawkeyes have 17 Iowa natives on their roster (7 women and 10 men) competing at the Drake Relays that have competed at the meet in high school — Alex Balke, Heaven Chandler, Kelli DeGeorge, Ryan Dorman, Gage Eller, Erika Hammond, Noah Larrison, Jalynn Roberts-Lewis, Tia Saunders, Jordyn Sindt, Madison Waymire.
OGWO’S FAST START
Freshman Emmanuel Ogwo is excelling in his first season on the UI track and field team. A former Hawkeye football player, Ogwo switched to track and has been one of Iowa’s best additions. Ogwo has competed in the 200 meters, 400 meters, 4×100 meter relay, and 4×400 meter relay. At the Mt. SAC Relays, Ogwo ran the anchor for Iowa and finished with a team-best 45.10 split. He also set an outdoor personal best in the 400 meters with a time of 46.46 to win his heat and finish sixth overall.
JAMES WINS LONG JUMP TITLE
Senior Antwon James won his first event title as a member of the Hawkeyes at the Mt. SAC Relays last weekend. James, a transfer from Loyola, set a mark of 15.60 meters (51 feet, 2 1/4 inches). He ranks fourth in the Big Ten.
TAUSAGA’S MONUMENTAL SEASON
Freshman Laulauga Tausaga continues to boast one of the best discus throws in the country. Tausaga is eighth in the NCAA after her record-breaking performance at the Florida Relays, throwing 56.10 meters (184 – 1). Tausaga is second in the Big Ten and the only freshman ranked in the top 15 in the NCAA.
MYLENEK ATOP STEEPLECHASE LEADERBOARD
Freshman Nathan Mylenek boasts one of the best times in the country in the men’s 3,000 meter steeplechase. Mylenek ran a career-best 9:56.93 at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival on March 31. He now ranks fourth in school history, 37th in the nation, and fourth in the Big Ten. He is one of seven freshmen ranked in the top 50 in the NCAA.
COUNTING CURRENT ALL-TIME HAWKEYES
The men have 23 current athletes in Iowa’s all-time top 10, led by Aaron Mallett (110-meter hurdles) and William Dougherty (Decathlon) who hold school records in their respective events. The women have 26 athletes in the top-10 and four school record holders on the roster in Briana Guillory (100 meters), Brittany Brown (200 meters), Marta Bote Gonzalez (3,000m Steeplechase), and Laulauga Tausaga (Discus).
BIG TEN LEADERS
Through seven meets, the Hawkeyes have four Big Ten leaders.
- Junior Brittany Brown leads in the 200 meters (22.69).
- The men’s 4×400 meter relay: freshman Emmanuel Ogwo, Harris, freshman Collin Hofacker, and junior Carter Lilly (3:03.78).
- The women’s 4×100 meter relay: sophomore Taylor Chapman, sophomore Briana Guillory, senior Alexis Hernandez and junior Brittay Brown (44.34).
- Senior Aaron Mallett is first in the 110-meter hurdles (13.56).
NCAA LEADERS
Iowa has four events and a relay ranked in the top 10 in the NCAA. Senior Aaron Mallett is fifth in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.56, the men’s 4×400 meter relay ranks sixth (3:03.78), sophomore Reno Tuufuli is eighth in the country (60.23m), junior Brittany Brown is ninth in the 200 meters (22.69), freshman Laulauga Tausaga is 10th in the discus throw (56.10m).
NEXT ON THE BLOCK
The Hawkeyes have an off-week before beginning their postseason run. The Big Ten Championships run May 12-14 in State College, Pennsylvania, followed by the NCAA West Preliminary in Austin, Texas, May 25-27.
