IOWA CITY, Iowa— The University of Iowa track and field program announced Monday that 18 female student-athletes comprise the 2022 incoming recruiting class.
The incoming class represents four states and one Canadian territory, including eight athletes from the state of Iowa.
WOMEN’S SPRINTS
Audrey Biermann
Western Dubuque High School
12.25 (100M)
24.89 (200M)
54.56 (400M)
EVENTS – SPRINTS
“When I first recruited Audrey, I knew immediately she was a champion and a winner,” assistant coach Jason Wakenight said. “Having dominated the sprints in the state of Iowa, she has proven that she knows how to perform when it matters most. Setting the state record in the 400 meters is a strong indicator of how special she can be. She is going to be an all-time great at Iowa by the time she is done.”
Aliyanna Dorn
Monona, Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin
53.99 (400M)
1:29.97 (600M)
EVENTS – SPRINTS
“Ali brings in a veteran presence that is going to help this group to the next level,” Wakenight said. “She has already made Big Ten finals and knows how to compete at an elite level. I was extremely happy we had an opportunity to add an athlete of her caliber to this class. I think Ali gives our long sprints group a chance to compete with the best in the country and she can be an All-American level competitor in this program.”
Alexandria Edison
Homewood-Flossmoor High School
11.71 (100M)
24.18 (200M)
55.50 (400M)
EVENTS – SPRINTS
“Alexandria is an absolute superstar in the making,” Wakenight said. “She had a monster senior season and was hands down the best overall sprinter in the state of Illinois, finishing top five in all three sprint events. I think she is the best kept secret in the country and is going to turns heads this season. She is a great competitor and comes to Iowa as a threat to rewrite the record books in the sprints.”
Julia Pattison
Louisville, Colorado
Monarch High School
12.00 (100M)
24.68 (200M)
56.60 (400M)
EVENTS – SPRINTS
“Julia had a breakout senior season to become one of the top sprinters in the state of Colorado,” Woody said. “I’m very excited for Julia’s potential in the short sprints, but she also has tremendous range from the 60 meters to the 400 meters showing her overall athleticism and ability to compete at high level in the Big Ten Conference.”
Brynley McDermott
Burlington, Ontario
University of Albany
7.58 (60M)
11.61 (100M)
23.63 (200M)
EVENTS – SPRINTS
“I’m very excited about the addition of Brynley McDermott to our great group of sprint athletes,” Woody said. “Brynley just finished competing at the World Under 20 Championships in Cali, Colombia and finished her season with two huge personal bests in the 100 (11.61) and 200 meters (23.63) to finish top 20 in the world for her age group in both events. She can have an immediate impact in multiple events.”
Holly Duax
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City West High School
11.67 (100M)
23.95 (200M)
19’1 ½ (Long Jump)
EVENTS: SPRINTS
“Holly is one of the most decorated short sprint athletes in Iowa high school history winning multiple state championships and hitting personal bests of 11.67 and 23.95,” Woody said. “Holly also added the long jump to her repertoire her senior season and will be a factor in the jumps group as well.”
WOMEN’S MID-DISTANCE
Gabby Cortez
Cedar Rapids Prairie High School
25.36 (200M)
55.27 (400M)
2:11.19 (800M)
EVENTS – MID-DISTANCE
“Gabby had a breakout senior season, becoming a state champ and running extremely fast along the way,” Wakenight said. “Her development as both sprinter and 800M runner has been very impressive. I think she can be so good in so many different events, it is going to be awesome watching her grow this fall and show what she can do as both a sprinter and mid-distance runner. Look out for her in the 600M indoors – she’s going to be a killer at that distance.”
Lily Johannes
Cedar Rapids Prairie High School
2:17.48 (800M)
EVENTS – MID-DISTANCE
“Our mid-distance group got a lot stronger when he signed Lily this fall,” Wakenight said. “I really liked her approach to training and love her versatility as both long sprinter and mid-distance runner. Lily is used to competing on elite championship level relays and knows what it takes to be part of a winning program. I think she can take a huge step forward with some more development of her speed as a quarter miler and can’t wait to see her take off this fall.”
WOMEN’S DISTANCE
Rowan Boulter
Iowa City, Iowa
City High School
4:48.02 (1500M)
10:38.69 (3000M)
EVENTS: DISTANCE
Rowan is a young runner with a lot of potential in the distance events,” associate head coach Randy Hasenbank said. “She put together her best high school track season this past spring and has had great summer of training. She is really into distance running. I and am looking forward to her joining our program where she will have a great group of teammates to help her get to the next level as a distance runner.”
Jalyssa Blazek
Turkey Valley
2:15.83 (800M)
4:46.63 (1500M)
18:36.30 (5000M XC)
EVENTS – DISTANCE
“Jalyssa is a very dynamic athlete with a broad skillset,” Hasenbank said. “Not only is she a standout at 800 and 1500 meters, but she also finished 3rd at the state cross country meet. In addition to qualifying for the state track meet in the 1500 meter and 800-meter races, she also qualified in the 100-meter dash. While I am excited to get her out on the cross-country course, we will certainly look to continue her development in the middle-distance races.”
Aleah Tenpas
Johnston, Iowa
Johnston High School
4:42.29 (1500M)
10:17.14 (3000M)
EVENTS – DISTANCE
“Aleah comes from Johnston High School and is another in a long line of outstanding runners from the Johnston program,” Hasenbank said. “Aleah a great senior year as she set personal best in virtually every event this past spring. Aleah has excellent range with competitive marks from 800 meters up to 5, 000 meters. I am looking forward to her contributions to our program.”
Ellie Rathe
La Porte City, Iowa
Union La Porte City High School
4:54.28 (1500M)
10:39.06 (3000M)
EVENTS: DISTANCE
“Ellie was a two-time state qualifier in cross country in addition to qualifying to the state outdoor track meet,” Hasenbank said. “Ellie is an all-around athlete that has turned her focus to distance running. She has made great improvement, loves to run and I am looking forward to watching continue to improve as a runner in our program.”
Ana Barroso
Oswego, Illinois
Oswego East High School
EVENTS: DISTANCE
“Ana qualified for the Illinois state high school track meet on several occasions in the 1600-meters and 4×800-meter relay,” Hasenbank said. “Ana will benefit greatly from having your training group to work with an I am looking forward to working with her.”
WOMEN’S HURDLES/JUMPS
Ellie Rickertsen
Goose Lake, Iowa
Northeast Goose Lake High School
13.91 (100H)
63.43 (400H)
EVENTS: HURDLES
“Ellie comes to Iowa as a very decorated high school athlete winning multiple 100 and 400 hurdle state titles while competing for Northeast Goose Lake HS,” Woody said. “Ellie is also one of the all-time best combo-100/400 hurdlers ever in the state of Iowa. I believe Ellie can be an immediate contributor for the team and continue to build our hurdle program into one of the best in the NCAA.”
Natalie Harris
Waukee High School
8.86 (60H)
14.23 (100H)
24.95 (200M)
EVENTS – HURDLES
“Natalie has contributed to multiple state championship teams while competing at Waukee and Waukee Northwest High Schools,” Woody said. “She has won multiple sprint and hurdle relay state championships and finished her career as one of the top all-time 100 hurdlers in Iowa HS history. Natalie has tremendous range competing in the 100 hurdles and short sprint relays to the 400 hurdles and 4×4.”
Madeline Andelbradt
Naperville, Illinois
Naperville North High School
5’7 ¼ (High Jump)
45.24 (300 Hurdles)
EVENTS: JUMPS
“We are very excited to add Madeline Andelbradt to the women’s HJ crew,” Woody said. “Madeline has competed in the HJ at a very high level coming in with a personal best jump of 5’7 1/4” (1.71m). In addition to the HJ, Madeline has also placed at the Illinois state meet in the 300 hurdles as well as the Illinois State Cross Country Championships, which shows her athleticism and may lead her to becoming a heptathlete at some point in her career. Madeline has the tools to jump at very high bars throughout her career at Iowa and contribute at the Big Ten and NCAA level.”
WOMEN’S THROWS
Wisdom Williams
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria City High School
141’1 (Discus)
48’1 3/4 (Shot Put)
EVENTS: THROWS
“Wisdom is a supreme talent,” assistant coach Ray Robinson said. “She had an outstanding season winning the VA state championship (Indoor/Outdoor) and finished third at NBN Indoor and second outdoor. She also is an accomplished weight and discus thrower. I believe Wisdom will have the ability to be a two or three event force at the Big Ten level.”
Emma Callahan
New Castle, Pennsylvania
Shenango High School
137’0 (Discus)
50’10 3/4 (Shot Put)
EVENTS: THROWS
“Emma will be a great addition to the team,” Robinson said. “She is a tremendous student and has the drive and desire to succeed at the next level. She finished the year Pennsylvania State Champion indoors and outdoors and second at NBN Nationals, and ranked fourth in the US in the shot put. We will look to develop in the hammer and weight with her as well. I look for Emma to make an immediate impact.”