Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2017-18 | Hawk Talk Monthly — December
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa track and field team honored its 2017 team at its annual awards banquet on Friday, Dec. 8. The team recognized the accomplishments of 10 student-athletes as well as 45 academic achievements.
Aaron Mallett and Brittany Brown were named the most valuable performers for the 2017 Track & Field team’s indoor and outdoor seasons.
Mallett, who graduated this past spring, won his third straight MVP honor after winning Big Ten titles in the 60-meter hurdles and 110-meter hurdles, events he holds school records in. Mallett is a six-time All-American and anchored the 400-meter relay team to a school record (39.12) and ran the second leg on the school record-setting 800-meter relay (1:23.02). In addition, he was the Drake Relays 110-meter hurdles champion and placed fourth in the nation at the NCAA Championships in the 110-meter hurdles.
Brown, who is entering her senior year at Iowa, was a first-team All-American and Big Ten champion indoor and outdoor in the 200 meters. She holds the school record in the 200-meters indoor (22.79) and outdoor (22.30). She was also the 2017 Big Ten silver medalist in the 60-meters and 100-meters. In addition, she anchored the school record-setting 800-meter relay at the Florida Relays and ran the final leg of the winning 400-meter relay at the Drake Relays.
Junior Andrea Shine and sophomore Nathan Mylenek were named the 2017 Most Outstanding Cross Country team members.
Shine became the first Hawkeye since 2012 to earn All-Region honors after placing 20th at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Ames, Iowa. Shine ranks seventh and ninth, respectively on Iowa’s all-time list in the 4,000 meters and 6,000 meters. She also led Iowa in every race this season, becoming the third consecutive Hawkeye to accomplish the feat.
Mylenek led Iowa in five of the team’s six races in 2017. He became Iowa’s school record holder in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA Midwest regional with a time of 29:53.2 and ranks sixth in program history in the 6,000-meters (18:26). Mylenek helped lead Iowa to its highest regional ranking in program history at No. 5 in the Midwest region.
Iowa’s most improved athletes for 2017 were Shine and sophomore Collin Hofacker.
Hofacker was a first-team All-American indoor and outdoor on the 1,600-meter relay. He helped that relay finish a program-best third at the NCAA Championships, running a school record-setting time of 3:01.91. He ranks 10th outdoor and fifth indoor in the 400-meters and ran the lead leg on the winning 1,600 meter relay at the Drake Relays.
The Hawkeyes open the 2018 indoor regular season on Jan. 13 hosting the Hawkeye Invitational. The meet begins at 10 a.m. (CT) inside the UI Recreation building.
Other notable honors include:
Outstanding Freshmen: Laulauga Tausaga/ Collin Hofacker
Inspirational Award: Tria Simmons/ Nathan Mylenek
Teammate Award: Laulauga Tausaga/ Mar’yea Harris
Keatinge/Cretzmeyer Award: Avery Meyers
Silver Hawk Award: Jahisha Thomas/ Mar’yea Harris
John Raffensperger Dedication Award: Mallory King/ Nick Jensen
