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If anyone is interested in talking to Coach Woody or any of the student-athletes before the Larry Wieczorek Invitational, please contact Maggie Wesley at (319.335.9411) or margaret-wesley@hawkeyesports.com.
THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa track and field team hosts the Larry Wieczorek Invitational on Friday and Saturday. The teams competing include Arizona, Baylor, Illinois, Iowa State, Minnesota, Purdue and Wisconsin. The meet begins Friday at 10 a.m. (CT) with the weight throw at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex and high jump at 1 p.m. at the UI Rec Building. Running events start at 5:27 p.m. (CT) with the 600 meters. A full schedule of events is located at HawkeyeSports.com. Admission is free .
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can follow the meet on the live results page at hawkeyesports.com/tracklive. Results will also be posted on the team’s official twitter account @iowaxc_tf. A live video feed is available at hawkeyesports.com.
THE MAN BEHIND THE MEET
The Larry Wieczorek Invitational is named after former Hawkeye track and field coach Larry Wiezcorek. Wieczorek’s time at Iowa spanned 50 years as both a student-athlete and coach. As an athlete, Wiezcorek was a six-time Big Ten champion and four-time All-American in cross country. He then transitioned into coaching and spent 30 years with the UI track and field program, leading 79 individual Big Ten Champions and 53 All-Americans.
IN THE RANKINGS
The University of Iowa men’s and women’s track and field teams are ranked in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) preseason poll. The men are ranked 16th in the nation and the women are ranked 13th. Participating men’s teams from No. 5 Indiana, No. 11 Wisconsin, and No. 15 Illinois, and women’s teams from No.7 Wisconsin and No. 14 Penn State are also ranked.
MEET THE RECORD HOLDERS
Four Hawkeyes on the roster account for four indoor school records.
They include:
-Nathan Mylenek, Collin Hofacker: distance medley relay (9:33.90)
-Laulauga Tausaga: shot put (17.79m) and weight throw (23.26m)
-Antonio Woodard, Wayne Lawrence Jr.: 1,600-meter relay (3:04.94).
MCCONICO EARNS FIRST B1G TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
On Dec. 18, senior Jaylan McConico earned his first Big Ten Athlete of the Week honor. McConico came off the Jimmy Grant Invitational in the 60-meter hurdles. with a new personal best (7.66), No. 2 all-time at Iowa, and a first place finish.
TAUSAGA MAKES PRESEASON HISTORY
On Jan 6., Laulauga Tausaga became the first ever Hawkeye to be named to the Bowerman preseason watch list. The Bowerman is an annual track and field award and is the highest accolade given to the year’s best student-athlete in collegiate track and field. It is the equivalent of college football’s Heisman Trophy. The award is named after Oregon track and field and cross country coach Bill Bowerman and is administered by the USTFCCCA. The winner is announced December 2020. Tausaga had a record breaking 2019 season that ended with an NCAA discus title and a berth to the 2019 World Championship in Doha, Qatar, where she finished in the top five with a personal best and discus school record (63.94m).
STARTING OUT THE 2020 SEASON ON TOP
The Hawkeyes won seven individual and one relay title at the Hawkeye Invitational on Jan. 10-11. For the women, senior Jenny Kimbro took home first in the 200 meters (24.50), a new personal best. Sophomore Amanda Howe had back-to-back meet wins in the weight throw, jumping up to Iowa’s fourth all-time (18.89m). For the men, sophomore Tyler Lienau had back-to-back meet wins. Senior Nathan Mylenek debuted his final season winning the 800 meters (1:55.04). The Hawkeyes won seven individual and one relay title.
NEXT ON THE BLOCK
The Hawkeyes travel to Lexington, Ky. to compete at the Rod McCravy Memorial on Jan.24-25.
