**Iowa’s 2022 NCAA Men’s Indoor Championship final standing was vacated due to an infraction of NCAA rules.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – University of Iowa track and field wrapped day two of the NCAA Indoor Championships with a runner-up performance in the 400 meters from freshman Jenoah McKiver and an eighth-place finish from the women’s 4×400-meter relay team.
“Jenoah [McKiver] had a stellar indoor season and it was amazing to watch him compete and finish runner-up at his first NCAA Championship,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “He has a bright future ahead of him.”
The Hawkeye men garnered three First Team All-America honors in the 400 meters, totaling four First-Team honorees on the weekend. They tied for 18th in the team race with 14 points.
McKiver’s NCAA runner-up performance in the 400 meters (45.65) earned him his first career All-America honors. Freshman Chadrick Richards finished sixth (46.26), also earning the first All-America honors of his career. Junior Wayne Lawrence, Jr. finished seventh (46.50) to earn the fifth All-America honor of his Hawkeye career.
“I was very proud of how Chad [Richards] and Wayne [Lawrence, Jr.] competed today,” Woody said. “Wayne has been a huge reason why our 400-meter program has reached this level, and it’s exciting to see him earn his first individual All-American trophy.”
On the women’s side, junior Mariel Bruxvoort, freshman Tesa Roberts, junior Payton Wensel and senior Mallory King — running in the final race of her Hawkeye career — finished in eighth place (3:35.03) to earn Iowa’s first ever First Team All-America performance in the 4×400-meter relay. Wensel split 52.65 and ran a key third leg in the race.
“I’m so proud of all of those women,” Woody said. “This is a very fitting way for Mallory [King] to go out after a great career as a Hawkeye. She’s meant so much to this team and I’m so happy to see her go out as an All-American.”
Sophomore Austin West turned in a pair of personal-best performances on the second day of the heptathlon, finishing runner-up in the 1,000 meters (2:33.70) and eighth in the 60-meter hurdles (8.19). West finished the heptathlon tenth overall – improving on his 13th-place finish a season ago – to earn Second Team All-America honors. Additionally, senior Nik Curtiss finished 14th in the shot put 18.73m (61’5.5) also earning Second Team All-America honors.
The men’s 4×400-meter relay of Richards, Lawrence, Jr., Julien Gillum and McKiver finished its season as Second Team All-Americans, finishing 12th.
“Chad [Richards] has been great all season for this team and had an amazing freshman indoor season,” Woody said. “Unfortunately, his legs cramped up after the quick turnaround from the open 400 and he just couldn’t go like he wanted to. He’s a fighter and will come back even stronger outdoors. I also want to give a ton of credit to Coach Wakenight for where he’s taken that 400-meter group to. We are one of the elite groups in the country and he’s done a tremendous job with that group and getting us to that level.”
The Hawkeyes switch gears to outdoor season and head to Tempe, Arizona, on March 18-19 for the Baldy Castillo Invitational hosted by Arizona State.
HAWKEYE RESULTS:
Heptathlon:
10. Austin West – 5,815 pts. – Second-Team All-American
8. 60m Hurdles – 8.19, Personal-Best
15. Pole Vault – 4.36m (14’3.5”)
2. 1,000 Meters – 2:33.70, Personal Best
Shot Put
14. Nik Curtiss – 18.73m (61’5.5) – Second-Team All-American
400 Meters
2. Jenoah McKiver – 45.65, All-American
6. Chadrick Richards – 46.26, All-American
7. Wayne Lawrence, Jr. – 46.50, All-American
Men’s 4x400m Relay
12. (Richards, Lawrence, Jr., Julien Gillum, McKiver) – 3:09.79, Second-Team All-Americans
Women’s 4x400m Relay
8. (Bruxvoort, Roberts, Wensel, King) – 3:35.03, All-Americans