FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — University of Iowa track and field wrapped up the second and final day of competition in record-breaking fashion at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa.
Senior Mallory King made history, breaking Bethany Praska’s 800-meter school record from 2011 at the Tyson Invitational at the Randal Tyson Track Center. King finished third (2:04.56) in a very fast race, eclipsing Praska’s mark by nearly half of a second.
“Mallory King is a great example of an athlete who has just bought in since day one and continues to get better every season,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “Today was an amazing performance by her.”
At the Iowa State Classic, senior Nik Curtiss improved his school record in the shot put (19.57m / 64’2.5”) to finish runner up.
“Nik [Curtiss] been a great addition to our program,” Woody said. “I’m excited to see what he will do over the next few weeks at the Championships.”
Two Hawkeye women recorded personal-best times in the mile. Freshman Amber Aesoph moved to fifth all-time at Iowa (4:41.58) and senior Emma Gordon ran 4:49.33. On the men’s side, freshman Antonio Abrego finished fifth (1:48.81) in the 800 meters. Junior Tyler Olson (1:49.72) and freshman Jason Hoffman (1:49.75) each ran sub-1:50, finishing 10th and 11th, respectively.
Iowa capped off its day at the Tyson Invitational with a pair of record-breaking performances in the 4×400-meter relays. The men’s squad of freshman Chadrick Richards, juniors Julien Gillum and Wayne Lawrence, Jr., and freshman Jenoah McKiver ran 3:02.40 and shattered the previous school record by 2.36 seconds – a time that ranks second in the country.
“They went head-to-head against the top team in the country and came up just a bit short,” Woody said. “All of those guys are hungry and they believe they are the best team. We know that we have a lot more in the tank and look forward to showing what we can do at the NCAA Championships in four weeks.”
The women’s quartet of junior Mariel Bruxvoort, freshman Tesa Roberts, and seniors Payton Wensel and King took down the program record with a time of 3:32.38, clocking in at sixth in the NCAA this season.
“To cap the meet off with those tremendous school-record 4×400-meter relays was a big exclamation point to the weekend,” Woody said. “I’m so proud of how those women competed this entire weekend. Not many of the teams that we beat today would’ve recruited those girls out of high school, which just shows how much they have bought in to our program and how much they have developed.”
The 200 meters was another bright spot on the day for the Hawkeyes. The men and women combined to run nine personal-best times. The men were led by freshman Khullen Jefferson’s seventh-place finish (21.18) and the women were led by freshman Lia Love (23.95).
The Hawkeyes are back on the road next weekend for the Alex Wilson Invitational in South Bend, Indiana.
HAWKEYE RESULTS (Tyson Invitational):
Women’s Triple Jump:
15. Kayla Hutchins – 12.20m (40’0.5”)
19. Jade McDonald – 11.97m (39’3.25”), Personal Best
Men’s Triple Jump:
9. James Carter Jr. – 15.31m (50’2.75”)
16. Deandre Stapleton Jr. – 14.25m (46’9”)
Women’s 200 Meters:
23. Lia Love – 23.95, Personal Best
30. Payton Wensel – 24.23, Personal Best
35. Mariel Bruxvoort – 24.38, Personal Best
46. Sarah Bova – 24.98, Personal Best
47. Miya Brines – 25.09, Personal Best
48. Chloe Larsen – 25.12, Personal Best
50. Tionna Tobias – 25.26
51. Paige Magee – 25.37
Men’s 200 Meters:
7. Khullen Jefferson – 21.18, No. 7 all-time, Personal Best
11. Gratt Reed – 21.26, Personal Best
24. Drake Woody – 21.67, Personal Best
Women’s 800 Meters:
3. Mallory King – 2:04.56, School Record, Personal Best
Women’s 4×400 Relay:
2. IOWA A (Bruxvoort, Roberts, Wensel, King) – 3:32.38, School Record
Men’s 4×400 Relay:
2. IOWA A (Richards, Gillum, Lawrence Jr., McKiver) – 3:02.40, School Record
9. IOWA B (Woody, Jefferson, Steward, Jefferson) – 3:09.57
HAWKEYE RESULTS (ISU Classic):
Women’s Shot Put:
6. Jamie Kofron – 14.81m (48’7.25”)
9. Ianna Roach – 14.69m (48’2.5”), Personal Best
Men’s Shot Put:
2. Nikolas Curtiss – 19.57m (64’2.5”), School Record, Personal Best
13. Jordan Johnson – 16.88m (55’4.75”)
17. Elijah Barnes – 15.53m (50’11.5”)
Women’s 60 Meters Prelims:
3. Mytika Mayberry – 7.72q
Women’s 60 Meters Final:
3. Mytika Mayberry – 7.67
Women’s 800 Meters:
3. Clare Pitcher – 2:07.56, Personal Best
10. Alli Bookin-Nosbisch – 2:09.47, Personal Best
18. Grace Bookin-Nosbisch – 2:11.05
28. Katie Moore – 2:13.47
34. Logan Akason – 2:16.96
Men’s 800 Meters:
5. Antonio Abrego – 1:48.81
10. Tyler Olson – 1:49.72
11. Jason Hoffman – 1:49.75
12. Alec Still – 1:49.84
29. Martin Strong – 1:54.10
Women’s Mile:
5. Amber Aesoph – 4:41.58, No. 5 all-time, Personal Best
10. Emma Gordon – 4:49.33, Personal Best
Men’s Mile:
19. Kal Lewis – 4:10.49