West Shatters Decathlon Record, Posts World No. 4

ONTARIO, Calif. – University of Iowa track and field sophomore Austin West shattered the decathlon school record and set the fourth-best point total (8,179) in the world in 2022 at the Mt. SAC Relays on Thursday at Hilmer Lodge Stadium. 

“Austin had an absolutely fantastic 10 events over two days of competition to set not only a school record, but one of the top all-time collegiate best decathlons in NCAA history,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “He is the ultimate competitor and he earned every point with grit and determination. He’s a great representation of Iowa Track and Field.” 

West broke former Hawkeye Will Daniels’ school-record mark of 7,864 points. He set personal-bests in seven of the ten decathlon events over the past two days. West is now the No. 24 all-time performer in the decathlon in NCAA history. 

At the Bryan Clay Invite, the men’s and women’s 800-meter groups flourished. Junior Alec Still moved to fourth all-time at Iowa in the 800 meters (1:47.50), dropping almost a full second off of his personal best. Still finished fifth in a field of 196 athletes. Freshman Armando Bryson did the same, dropping nearly a full second (1:48.31) to land at No. 9 on Iowa’s all-time list, finishing 10th.  

“The 800-meter athletes all had an amazing day,” Woody said. “We had multiple PRs and all-time top-10 performances. Alec continues to show he’s one of the best all-time 800 runners in Iowa history.  He’s a great competitor and has now broken the 1:48 barrier. He’s on his way to breaking 1:47 very soon.”

On the women’s side, freshman Clare Pitcher ran a personal-best (2:06.05) to jump to fourth on Iowa’s all-time list, and freshman Alli Bookin-Nosbisch (2:06.92) moved to seventh all-time. Her twin sister, Grace Bookin-Nosbisch also ran a career-best (2:09.07), as well as freshman Katie Moore (2:11.16). 

“Clare continues to move up the all-time list and is showing the ability to be a big point-scorer at the Big Ten meet and qualify to the NCAA championships. I’m very proud of that entire group.”

Sophomore Jamie Kofron moved to fifth all-time at Iowa in shot put (15.39m / 50’6”) with a career-best throw. Freshman Brooke McKee jumped onto Iowa’s all-time 3,000-meter steeplechase list at seventh (10:46.80). 

The Hawkeyes are back in action on Friday at the Mt. SAC Relays, Bryan Clay Invite and the Beach Invite. The Mt. SAC Relays and Beach Invite begin at noon CT, and the Bryan Clay Invite resumes at 1 p.m. CT. 

HAWKEYE RESULTS:

Mt. SAC Relays

Decathlon
2. Austin West – 8,197 pts., PR, School Record, No. 4 World in 2022, No. 24 all-time collegiately

Men’s Discus
10. Jordan Johnson – 53.65m (176’0”)

Women’s Shot Put
14. Jamie Kofron – 15.39m (50’6”), PR, No. 5 all-time

Men’s Shot Put
12. Elijah Barnes – 17.46m (57’3.5”)
14. Dawson Ellingson – 17.05m (55’11.25”)
16. Quintin Lyons – 16.80m (55’1.5”)

Women’s 3K Steeplechase
37. Brooke McKee – 10:46.80, PR, No. 7 all-time
DNF – Micah Poellet

Men’s 3K Steeplechase
42. Jack Pendergast – 9:09.55, PR
54. Yohanna Yual – 9:16.67

Bryan Clay Invite:

Women’s Open 10K
2. Kelli Tosic – 35:19.42, PR

Women’s 800 Meters
22. Clare Pitcher – 2:06.05, PR, No. 4 all-time
28. Alli Bookin-Nosbisch – 2:06.92, PR, No. 7 all-time
45. Grace Bookin-Nosbisch – 2:09.07, PR
65. Katie Moore – 2:11.16, PR
115. Logan Akason – 2:15.24

Men’s 800 Meters
5. Alec Still – 1:47.50, PR, No. 4 all-time
10. Armando Bryson – 1:48.31, PR, No. 9 all-time
13. Antonio Abrego – 1:48.68, PR
28. Spencer Gudgel – 1:49.61, PR

Men’s 5K
Ian Geisler – 14:35.91, PR
Konnor Sommer – 14:48.71, PR

Men’s 5K
Noah Healy – 14:19.39
Nick Trattner – 14:22.37