FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Iowa track and field wrapped up day two at the Razorback Invitational with sophomore Austin West taking down the heptathlon school record, and freshman Jenoah McKiver ran another Big Ten-leading time.
“I’m extremely proud of Austin [West] and how he competed this weekend from the first event through the final event on day two of one of the most competitive heptathlons in NCAA history,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Woody said.
West, an Iowa City West graduate, won the 1,000-meter run to finish the event and take down Iowa’s heptathlon record previously set by teammate Peyton Haack’s with a total of 5,832 points. West’s third-place finish ranks fifth nationally.
“To score over 5,800 points is very impressive, and we believe he has more in the tank as we prepare for the Big Ten and NCAA meets later this season,” Woody said.
McKiver continued his hot start to the season by running 400 meters in 45.78 to win the event in a talented field. McKiver’s time currently leads the Big Ten and ranks second in the NCAA this season. The Hawkeye’s time moved him to third on Iowa’s all-time list. He doubled back to run the anchor leg of the fifth-fastest 4×400-meter relay in school history with a 45.12 split.
“Jenoah [McKiver] is a very impressive athlete that can compete at a very high level from 200 meters to 600 meters,” Woody said. “Running 45.7 this early is very exciting and shows that he has the ability to compete against the best in the country.”
The Hawkeyes capped off the weekend running a pair of Big Ten-leading times in the men’s and women’s 4×400-meter relays. The men’s third place (3:05.68) 4×400-meter relay squad included junior Julien Gillum, sophomore Spencer Gudgel, junior Wayne Lawrence, Jr. and McKiver and clocked in at No. 5 all-time at Iowa and seventh in NCAA this season. Lawrence, Jr. clocked a 45.46 split and McKiver anchored in a team-best 45.12.
On the women’s side, the quartet of junior Mariel Bruxvoort, senior Payton Wensel and freshmen Jaiden Itson and Tesa Roberts ran the fourth-fastest time in school history (3:35.90) and ninth in the NCAA this year. Wensel’s 53.37 split was a team best and Roberts anchored in 53.40.
“The relays are starting to get to where we expected them to be this year,” Woody said. “The entire 400-meter group is making huge strides and we know that we can run much faster in both relays as we get into championship season.”
In the women’s 400 meters, Wensel joined Iowa’s top-10 all-time list (54.67). In the mile, freshman Amber Aesoph also etched her name at 10th, running a huge personal-best time of 4:48.66.
“Payton [Wensel] is having a tremendous senior season, and I’m so proud of how she’s been competing every single race,” Woody said. “We saw some great things in Amber’s [Aeosoph] training and racing last season, but it just took a little time and getting into the right races to show what she’s capable of this season. She’s a great competitor.”
In the throws, senior Nik Curtiss placed third in shot put (18.82m / 61’9”) and sophomore Jordan Johnson recorded a new personal-best (17.42m / 57’2”), finishing sixth. Junior Elijah Barnes finished fourth (18.26m / 59’11”). Senior Nia Britt (16.00m / 52’6”) was runner-up, and sophomores Kat Moody (15.40m / 50’6.25”) and Jamie Kofron (14.57m / 47’9.75”) finished fourth and eighth, respectively.
Freshman Antonio Abrego finished third in the 800 meters (1:49.22) and freshman Jason Hoffman finished seventh, running a new personal-best time of 1:50.18. Junior Alec Still was eighth (1:50.25).
Sophomores Kalen Walker and LaSarah Hargrove both qualified for the 60-meter final early in the day. Walker finished sixth in the final (6.74) and Hargrove finished fifth (7.36). Sophomore Grant Conway (7.83), senior Josh Braverman (7.89) and sophomore Gratt Reed (7.91) finished fourth, sixth and seventh in the 60-meter hurdles final, respectively.
The Hawkeyes are back on the road next weekend for the Meyo Invitational in South Bend, Indiana, and the Frank Sevigne Husker Invite in Lincoln, Nebraska.
HAWKEYE RESULTS:
Heptathlon:
3. Austin West – 5,832 points, Personal Best, School Record
4. 60 Meters – 7.04
3. Long Jump – 7.39m (24’3”)
4. Shot Put – 14.38m (47’2.25”)
3. High Jump – 1.95m (6’4.75”)
4. 60 Hurdles – 8.24
6. Pole Vault – 4.25m (13’11.25”), Personal Best
1. 1,000 Meters – 2:35.03, Personal Best
Women’s Shot Put:
2. Nia Britt – 16.00m (52’6”)
4. Kat Moody – 15.40m (50’6.25”)
8. Jamie Kofron – 14.57m (47’9.75”)
11. Nicole Berry – 13.66m (44’9.75”)
12. Ianna Roach – 13.66m (44’9.75”)
Men’s Shot Put:
3. Nikolas Curtiss – 18.82m (61’9”)
4. Elijah Barnes – 18.26m (59’11”)
6. Jordan Johnson – 17.42m (57’2”), Personal Best
Women’s Triple Jump:
10. Kayla Hutchins – 11.93m (39’1.75”)
12. Jade McDonald – 11.78m (38’7.75”), Personal Best
Men’s Triple Jump:
6. James Carter Jr. – 15.16m (49’9”)
8. Deandre Stapleton Jr. – 13.97m (45’10”)
Men’s 60m Hurdles Prelims:
2. Grant Conway – 7.82q
6. Josh Braverman – 7.95Q
8. Gratt Reed – 8.00q
11. Kalil Johnson – 8.17
Men’s 60m Hurdles Finals:
4. Grant Conway – 7.83
6. Josh Braverman – 7.89
7. Gratt Reed – 7.91
Women’s 60m Hurdles Prelims:
9. Myreanna Bebe – 8.26, Personal Best, T-No.3 all-time
19. Tionna Tobias – 8.66
20. Paige Magee – 8.75
23.Miya Brines – 9.20
Men’s 60 Meters Prelims:
1. Kalen Walker – 6.68Q
8. Gratt Reed – 6.86
10. Austin Kresley – 6.91
11. Kalil Johnson – 6.99
14. Josh Braverman – 7.17
Women’s 60 Meters Prelims:
7. LaSarah Hargrove – 7.41Q
12. Lia Love – 7.50
22. Paige Magee – 7.75, Personal Best
27. Mytika Mayberry – 7.89
Men’s 60 Meters Final:
6. Kalen Walker – 6.74
Women’s 60 Meters Final:
5. LaSarah Hargrove – 7.36
Men’s 400 Meters:
1. Jenoah McKiver – 45.78, Personal Best, No. 3 all-time
8. Julien Gillum – 47.15
11. Khullen Jefferson – 47.35
15. Chadrick Richards – 47.64
18. Armando Bryson – 47.95, Personal Best
23. Phillip Jefferson – 48.33, Personal Best
26. Everett Steward – 48.48
30. Drake Woody – 48.81
Women’s 400 Meters:
13. Payton Wensel – 54.67, Personal Best, No. 10 all-time
14.Mariel Bruxvoort – 54.78, Personal Best
16. Tesa Roberts – 54.99
27. Sarah Bova – 56.77, Personal Best
29. Chloe Larsen – 56.99, Personal Best
31. Laney Fitzpatrick – 57.26, Personal Best
Men’s 800 Meters:
3. Antonio Abrego – 1:49.22
7. Jason Hoffman – 1:50.18, Personal Best
8. Alec Still – 1:50.25
17. Tyler Olson – 1:51.51
29. Kal Lewis – 1:56.43
Women’s 800 Meters:
10. Mallory King – 2:07.74
15. Clare Pitcher – 2:10.80
19. Grace Bookin-Nosbisch – 2:14.36
27. Logan Akason – 2:16.92
19. Katie Moore – 2:19.90
Men’s Mile:
31. Kal Lewis – 4:13.63
Women’s Mile:
12. Amber Aesoph – 4:48.66 Personal Best, No. 10 all-time
17. Emma Gordon – 4:51.29 Personal Best
Men’s 3,000 Meters:
20. Max Murphy – 8:23.47
Men’s 4×400 Relay:
3. IOWA A (Gillum, Gudgel, Lawrence Jr, McKiver) – 3:05.68, Season Best, No. 5 all-time
6. IOWA B (Steward, Bryson, Woody, Olson) – 3:13.42
9. IOWA C (Hoffman, Jefferson, Still, Andrews) – 3:15.02
Women’s 4×400 Relay:
5. IOWA A (Bruxvoort, Wensel, Itson, Roberts) – 3:35.90, Season Best, No. 4 all-time
12. IOWA B (Bova, King, Fitzpatrick, Akason) – 3:49.89