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By JACK ROSSI
hawkeyesports.com
EUGENE, Ore. — The University of Iowa men’s track and field team left a rainy Hayward Field on Friday with two more first team All-Americans as juniors Reno Tuufuli and Mar’yea Harris notched top-five finishes in the country.
Tuufuli placed fifth overall in the discus, while Harris placed fourth in the 400 meters. The duo tallied four and five team points, respectively.
Iowa’s 9 total team points placed them 31st overall as a team.
HARRIS PLACES 4TH
Junior Mar’yea Harris’ fourth place finish was the highest finish of his career after placing 10th in 2017 and 18th in 2016.
Harris ran 45 seconds in a field that included the new collegiate record holder. Harris is Iowa’s fifth different All-American in the event in program history.
Harris was given lane eight in the final, which game him a unique challenge heading into the final race of the season.
“I wanted to focus on not worrying about anyone else in the race because in lane eight you can’t see anybody,” Harris said. “I knew I had to get out, but I focused on my own race. The guys that got top three were already gone when we made the final turn, but I knew if I finished strong then I could get a fourth place finish.”
TUUFULI IS A BACK-TO-BACK 1ST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN
Junior Reno Tuufuli repeated as the nation’s fifth place finisher in the discus throw with a mark of 189 feet. Tuufuli is Iowa’s seventh All-American in the discus throw.
Tuufuli was the second to last competitor to qualify to finals. He was eighth heading into the final three throws and fouled his fourth throw. Tuufuli did not improve on his fifth throw, but saved his best throw for last, which vaulted him into fifth place for the second consecutive year.
UP NEXT
The women wrap up their season tomorrow with Laulauga Tausaga (discus) and Jahisha Thomas (triple jump) set to compete. The discus throw begins at 5:05 p.m. (CT).
