THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa track and field team hosts Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin at the fifth annual Larry Wieczorek Invitational on Friday and Saturday. Field events begin at 1 p.m. (CT) Friday, while track events start at 5:20 p.m (CT) at the University of Iowa Rec Building. Competition on Saturday begins at Noon (CT) for field events, while track events begin at 1 p.m (CT). There will be a live stream of Friday and Saturday’s action on BTN plus and the BTN plus mobile app. A complete schedule of events and links to live results are located at hawkeyesports.com/tracklive.
THE MAN BEHIND THE MEET
The Larry Wieczorek Invitational is named after former Hawkeye track and field coach Larry Wieczorek. Wieczorek’s time at Iowa spanned 50 years as both a student-athlete and coach. As an athlete, Wieczorek 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.
WHAT 2: WATCH 4 // JAMIE KOFRON
Sophomore Jamie Kofron is competing in the shot put and weight throw this weekend. She is on a hot streak, recording back to back career bests in the shot put the last two meets. Coming into the year, Jamie’s best mark was 13.45m but it now stands at 15.26m. This mark stands at No. 8 in the Big Ten and ranks No. 6 in school history.
WHAT 2: WATCH 4 // WAYNE LAWRENCE, JR. AND THE MEN’S 400 METERS
Junior Wayne Lawrence Jr is a well-known name among Hawkeye fans. The reigning Big Ten 200-meter and 400-meter indoor champion is ready to do battle against the Big Ten again this weekend. Last week Lawrence recorded a Big Ten leading time in the 400 meters of 46.66. This time currently ranks No. 3 in the nation. He will be competing in the 200 meters, the 400 meters, and the 4×400 meter relay at the Wieczorek Invitational.
Lawrence leads a pack of five Hawkeyes in the top 11 of the Big Ten. Jenoah Mckiver is tied for second in 46.93. Julien Gillum is ranked eighth with a time of 48.2, while Khullen Jefferson is ranked ninth in 48.51. Nolan Kembel rounds out the group in 11th with a time of 49.02.
WHAT 2: WATCH 4 // MARIEL BRUXVOORT
Junior Mariel Bruxvoort recorded a career best in the 400 meters last weekend by over a full second to place second behind teammate Nyla Perry. She also ran on a leg of the 4×400 meter relay that finished second. Bruxvoort’s 400-meter time (56.47) currently ranks fifth in the Big Ten and the team’s 4×400 meter relay ranks second (3:45.23). Mariel will be competing in the 200 meters, the 400 meters, and the 4×400 meter relay this weekend.
WHAT 2: WATCH 4 // TYLER OLSON
Junior Tyler Olson led the way in a Hawkeye sweep of the 600 meters last weekend with a time of 1:18.84. Olson’s time was a personal best by a little over a second and currently ranks third in the Big Ten. He also ran a leg of the 4×400 meter relay that won the race and posted a time 3:12.23 that currently ranks third in the Big Ten and 11th in the nation. He is slated to run the 600 meters, 800 meters, and the 4×400 meter relay this weekend.
WHAT 2: WATCH 4 // WOMEN’S 5K
Freshman Kelli Tosic and junior Gabby Skopec both set career bests in the 5,000 meters at the Nebraska Tri on Jan.16, running 17:21.47 and 17:24.19, respectively. This dynamic duo currently ranks sixth and seventh in the Big Ten and 10th and 11th in the nation. Tosic and Skpoec will running the mile this weekend.
WHAT 2: WATCH 4 // AUSTIN KRESLEY
Freshman Austin Kresley took another huge leap Jan. 16 at the Nebraska Tri, improving his 60-meter career best to 6.73 and placing second. This time is currently No. 2 in the Big Ten, No. 11 in the nation, and ties for third all-time in program history. Kresley will run the 60 meters, 200 meters, and the 4×400 meter relay this weekend.