BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The University of Iowa track and field team went eight-for-eight on career bests and recorded four all-time top 10 performances in school history at the Indiana B1G Invite #3 on Friday.
Kal Lewis picked up the bronze medal in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:43.42. Lewis’s time is not only a career best by six seconds, but currently puts him second all-time in program history. Lewis was under one-half second from passing current Iowa school record holder Jeff Thode, who ran 3:43.02 in 2010. Lewis’s mark ranks fifth in the Big Ten and No. 21 in the NCAA West Region.
Emma Gordon finished 16th in the 5,000 meters with a career best 17:07.07. Gordon shaved over one minute from her previous PR. Nathan Mylenek finished seventh with a career best of 13:54.15, a time 15 seconds ahead of his previous PR and currently second all-time in program history and fifth in the Big Ten. Konnor Sommer finished 31st with a career best of 15:14.58.
In the 10,000 meters, Daniel Soto took home the silver medal with a career best 28:48.18. Soto’s time currently puts him second all-time in program history, four seconds behind Stetson Steele’s mark from 2000. Soto’s mark is No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 27 in the country. Noah Healy finished fifth with a time of 29:56.30. Healy’s time puts him ninth all-time in program history, .31 behind Chad Schwitters from 1999. Nick Trattner finished seventh with a career best 30:46.80.
Amber Aesoph kicked off the meet for the Hawkeyes finishing 11th in the 800 meters with a career best 2:13.10.
QUOTING RANDY HASENBANK
“This was an incredible night for the distance crew. We had a lot on the line and poured all our chips into this meet and the squad just competed so well. The men posted an incredible three No. 2 marks all-time. Kal Lewis just missed the school record in the 1500 meters by fractions of a second and posted a mark that is currently 20th in the NCAA West Region. Nate ran a huge PR in the 5k and came close to the school record as well. His previous best was 14:09, so 13:54 is a great run. I cannot say enough about Dan Soto, he put his life on hold to come back for this season with a goal of advancing to the NCAA finals. He had a 43-second personal best in that event tonight and that may very well be a good enough mark to advance. I am so proud of these guys. Emma is in the middle of a tremendous season as well running a one minute PR tonight in the 5k after a huge personal best two weeks ago in the 1,500 meters. Amber had the best race of her collegiate career with a 2:13.10.”
HAWKEYE RESULTS
Women’s 800m Run:
11. Amber Aesoph / 2:13.10 (PR)
Men’s 1,500m Run:
3. Kal Lewis / 3:43.42 (PR) 2nd all-time
Women’s 5,000m Run:
16. Emma Gordon / 17:07.07 (PR)
Men’s 5,000m Run:
7. Nathan Mylenek / 13:54.15 (PR) 2nd all-time
31. Konnor Sommer / 15:14.58 (PR)
Men’s 10,000m Run:
2. Daniel Soto / 28:48.18 (PR) 2nd all-time
5. Noah Healy / 29:56.30 (PR) 9th all-time
7. Nick Trattner / 30:46.80 (PR)