TEMPE, Ariz. – The University of Iowa track and field team concluded day one at the Baldy Castillo Invite in Tempe, Arizona, on Friday night – highlighted by freshman Khullen Jefferson’s performance in the 200 meters.
“Khullen [Jefferson] ran a fantastic race tonight,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “The conditions were set up for him to go out and put up a great performance, and he competed great to finish as the top-collegian in a very talented field.”
Jefferson won his heat and ran a new career-best time (20.83) to finish first among collegiate athletes and second overall to Olympian Fred Kerley.
In the hurdles, Iowa advanced four men and three women to tomorrow’s finals. Sophomores Grant Conway (13.97) and Gratt Reed (14.00), senior Josh Braverman (14.10) and freshman Kalil Johnson (14.34) all advanced to the 110-meter hurdles final, and Reed ran a career-best time. Sophomores Myreanna Bebe (13.56) and Tionna Tobias (13.64) and freshman Paige Magee (13.78) all advanced to the 100-meter hurdles final.
In the hammer throw, senior Tyler Lienau (60.52m / 198’6″) and junior Amanda Howe (59.83m / 196’3″) each finished third for the Hawkeyes. On the men’s side, senior Nik Curtiss (58.62m / 192’4″) and sophomore Jordan Hawkins both joined Lienau in the top-eight, finishing fifth and eighth place, respectively.
Sophomore Jamie Kofron threw a new career-best in the discus and finished fifth (48.97m / 160’8″) and sophomore Kat Moody was right behind her in sixth place (48.15m / 157’11”). Sophomore Dawson Ellingson was the top-finisher on the men’s side in the discus (50.02m / 164’1″), Lienau finished eighth (49.41m / 162’1″) and freshman Quintin Lyons rounded out the top-10 (48.18m / 158’1″). All-American multi-athlete Austin West recorded a new personal-best in the event (42.47m / 139’4”), finishing 14th overall.
The Hawkeyes are back on the track tomorrow afternoon at 12:30 p.m. (CT) for day two of the Baldy Castillo Invite, beginning with jumps.
HAWKEYE RESULTS:
Men’s Hammer Throw
3. Tyler Lienau – 60.52m (198’6″)
5. Nik Curtiss – 58.62m (192’4″)
8. Jordan Hawkins – 56.32m (184’9″)
12. Jordan Johnson – 49.08m (161’0″)
Women’s Hammer Throw
3. Amanda Howe – 59.83m (196’3″)
11. Jamie Kofron – 48.34m (158’7″)
12. Ianna Roach – 44.33m (145’5″)
Men’s Discus
6. Dawson Ellingson – 50.02m (164’1″)
8. Tyler Lienau – 49.41m (162’1″)
10. Quintin Lyons – 48.18m (158’1″)
14. Austin West – 42.47m (139’4”), PR
Women’s Discus
5. Jamie Kofron – 48.97m (160’8″), PR
6. Kat Moody – 48.15m (157’11”)
12. Alivia Bauer – 41.28m (135’5”)
13. Nicole Berry – 41.22m (135’3”)
Women’s High Jump
6. Maria Gorham – 1.65m (5’5”)
Women’s 100m Hurdles Prelims
5. Myreanna Bebe – 13.56 q
7. Tionna Tobias – 13.64 q
8. Paige Magee – 13.78 q
14. Jade McDonald – 14.15
Men’s 110m Hurdles Prelims
3. Grant Conway – 13.97 q
4. Gratt Reed – 14.00 q, PR
5. Josh Braverman – 14.10 q
9. Kalil Johnson – 14.34 q
Women’s 200m
23. Sarah Bova – 24.88
25. Chloe Larsen – 25.09
Men’s 200m
2. Khullen Jefferson – 20.83, PR
Women’s 3,000m
16. Kelli Tosic – 10:08.03
18. Ellie Twedt – 10:08.91