IOWA CITY, Iowa—The University of Iowa track and field program announced Tuesday that 24 male student-athletes make up the 2022 incoming recruiting class. This year’s incoming class represents six states, including 15 athletes from the state of Iowa.
MEN’S SPRINTS
Damoy Allen
Utica, New York
Indian Hills Community College
6.71 (60M)
10.44 (100M)
21.14 (200M)
EVENTS – SPRINTS
“Damoy is an extremely talented sprinter who has range from the 100-400m,” Woody said. “Damoy has great potential in the short sprints with PR’s of 6.71 in the 60, 10.44 in the 100, and 21.14 in the 200. I’m very excited to have him join our team and bring more high-end depth to the group.”
Joe Stein
Milford, Iowa
Central College
6.87 (60M)
10.77 (100M)
EVENTS – SPRINTS
“Joe has had a tremendous career at D3 Central College, and I believe he’s got the tools and ambition to take on the challenge of competing in the Big Ten,” Woody said. “With PR’s of 6.87, 10.77, and 21.87, Joe is super motivated to make an impact in our short sprints group.”
Connor Belken
Dubuque, Iowa
Hawkeye Community College
21.50 (200M)
47.33 (400M)
EVENTS – SPRINTS
“Connor had a terrific season at Hawkeye CC and is ready to contribute immediately. He got extremely close to running 46 this spring and I believe he has a great shot to be a 45 second quarter-miler right away,” Wakenight said. “He brings a wealth experience and is hungry to make his mark at the D1 level. I think Connor is going to be our x-factor in the long sprints group this season.”
Tyrese Miller
Ankeny, Iowa
Ankeny High School
10.60 (100M)
21.58 (200M)
47.91 (400M)
EVENTS – SPRINTS
“Tyrese is the most complete sprinter in the state of Iowa, and I am thrilled to see what he can do in the black and gold,” Wakenight said. “I love his competitiveness and he has unlimited potential training in our long sprints group. He is one of the best kept secrets in the Midwest, but not for long. He is going to be a major player in the Big Ten for years to come.”
MEN’S MID-DISTANCE
Derek Leicht
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque Hempstead High School
50.41 (400M)
1:55.81 (800M)
EVENTS – MIDDLE DISTANCE
“I am so excited about adding Derek Leicht to our program,” assistant coach Jason Wakenight said. “He is a great racer and has a skillset that reminds me of some of our greatest Iowa mid-distance athletes. He has displayed speed, endurance, and such a strong desire to be great. He is a fantastic addition to the program.”
Ryan Schreiner
Winfield, Illinois
Wheaton North High School
49.79 (400M)
1:54.97 (800M)
4:20.31 (1600M)
EVENTS – MIDDLE DISTANCE
“Ryan has displayed unbelievable versatility as both sprinter and distance runner during his senior season,” Wakenight said. “Running under 15:00 during the cross country season and 49.7 in the open 400M this spring is incredible and tells me his ceiling as mid-distance runner is elite. I am really looking forward to watching him grow in our program.”
Brett Wasick
Bolingbrook, Illinois
Bolingbrook High School
1:51.14 (800M)
4:14.87 (1600M)
EVENTS – MIDDLE DISTANCE
“Brett enters the 2022-23 season as one of the best incoming mid-distance recruits in Iowa history,” Wakenight said. “He was on fire this spring, winning the Illinois 3A state title and running 1:51.14 at the New Balance national championships. He has the tools to be a very versatile athlete in our program and can be an immediate threat to make the Big Ten final and make noise at the NCAA meet. He’s going to be special.”
Nick O’Connor
Tiffin, Iowa
Indian Hills Community College
1:54.40 (800M)
3:55.46 (1500M)
EVENTS – MIDDLE DISTANCE
“Nick adds such an awesome new dimension to our mid-distance group,” assistant coach Jason Wakenight said. “He has been extremely competitive at longer distances and should challenge the entire group aerobically. He’s been a Hawkeye his whole life and adding him to the team was a no brainer. He has split 1:51 on relays and shown great footspeed, but I think his biggest impact on the program will be as a miler. He’s a threat to break into the Iowa Top-10 in his first year. We are so lucky he’s a Hawkeye.”
Koby Brackemeyer
Morrison, Illinois
Hawkeye Community College
1:21.63 (600M)
1:53.65 (800M)
EVENTS – MIDDLE DISTANCE
“Koby is just scratching the surface as an elite 800M runner. He has done an outstanding job developing himself at Hawkeye CC and is on the verge of doing some big things,” Wakenight said. “He has a really nice future ahead in the 600M and I love what he adds to our team dynamic. He is a humble, team first guy who chose Iowa to chase after that sub 1:50 mark and I can’t wait to see him break through this season. He can help take this group to another level.”
– Jason Wakenight
MEN’S DISTANCE
Nate Harbert
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Mountain Vista High School
4:20.70 (1600M)
EVENTS – DISTANCE
“Nathan has a lot of experience in racing in big meets,” associate head coach Randy Hasenbank said. “Last fall, he helped lead his team to the Colorado state team title in cross country. His speed has continued to increase, and he had a very nice track season as he posted a number of career best marks on the track.” – Randy Hasenbank
Miles Sheppard
Warsaw, Illinois
Warsaw (Hamilton West Hancock) High School
9:18.60 (3200M)
14:31.96 (3-Miles XC)
“Miles is a very, very dedicated and focused athlete,” Hasenbank said. “He earned numerous all-state honors in Illinois in cross country and track. He is going to be an athlete that will benefit from having a team to train with. I think he will handle moving to the longer distances because of his mental toughness and abilities.”
Hayden Kuhn
Marion, Iowa
Linn Mar High School
4:17.74 (1600M)
9:06.04 (3200M)
EVENTS – DISTANCE
“Hayden had a tremendous senior year. He has a lot of talent and will make a wonderful addition to the program; he may be one of several to make an immediate impact,” Hasenbank said. “Hayden improved by more than 30 seconds in his 3200 and nearly 10 seconds in the 1600 from junior to senior year. His improvement is a testament to his dedication. I am looking forward to having him surrounded by a great group of distance runners. He has a lot of room for growth, very excited to have him join our program.”
Carson Houg
Urbandale, Iowa
Des Moines Christian School
1:56.20 (800M)
4:18.92 (1600M)
9:16.03 (3200M)
EVENTS – DISTANCE
“Carson is great student and an athlete that has tremendous range,” associate head coach Randy Hasenbank said. “This is a conference where speed is critical. Carson is very athletic, and this makes him very versatile. We are excited to have him joining our program. He made some very significant improvements during his track season. We will continue to build his endurance for cross country. I am really excited to get him on the track, very athletic and strong. He was a huge, late addition to our squad and really adds to this freshman class.”
Eli Naumann
Epworth, Iowa
Western Dubuque High School
49.93 (400M)
1:55.31 (800M)
4:22.47 (1600M)
EVENTS – DISTANCE
“Eli is a runner who had a tremendous senior year. I thought he was very, very well coached and really posted some great time his senior season,” Hasenbank said. “He is very dynamic, 49 in the 400 up to 9:27 for 3200, very impressive range. The speed makes him very versatile. He will be surrounded by a great training group, which will continue to build his aerobic system, but, as far as track and field, he is very important to the future of the Distance Medley Relay. He is not too far from contributing to that event.”
Will Ryan
West Des Moines, Iowa
Dowling Catholic High School
4:16.13 (1600M)
9:10.72 (3200M)
EVENTS – DISTANCE
“Will is the ultimate competitor who races hard and has a great work ethic,” Hasenbank said. “He competes extremely well in big meets and was instrumental in leading Dowling Catholic to the state 4A cross country title. In addition, he has natural leadership abilities, we are very excited to have Will join our program.”
Brayden Burnett
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Cedar Falls High School
15:42.70 (5000M XC)
EVENTS – DISTANCE
“Brayden had a terrific cross country season in leading Cedar Falls to a fifth place team finish,” Hasenbank said. “He was the #6 senior across the line in the 4A state cross country meet. He has been very consistent, and I feel that he is a guy that will benefit immensely from being surrounded by a great a group of distance runners.”
MEN’S HURDLES/JUMPS
Davis Wenthe
Galesville, Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin
47.76 (400M)
51.04 (400H)
EVENTS – HURDLES
“Adding Davis might just make us the best 400 hurdle group in the country,” Wakenight said. “He is an elite competitor and has already done big things in our conference, finishing 4th in the 400H this May. I know firsthand that Davis is a fantastic competitor. I think he can elevate his game to the next level here at Iowa and make an impact at the national championships.”
Ian Collins
Charles City, Iowa
Charles City High School
6’9 (High Jump)
23’0 1/4 (Long Jump)
EVENTS – JUMPS
“We are very excited to add Ian Collins to our jumps group,” Woody said. “Ian was the top-ranked high jumper in the state of Iowa winning the 3A State Championship, and he became one of the top long jumpers in the state finishing runner-up in class 3A. We believe Ian has a huge upside in both events at the Big Ten and NCAA levels.”
Sal Capaldo
Polk City, Iowa
North Polk High School
14.59 (110H)
22.80 (200M)
6’2 (High Jump)
EVENTS – MULTIS
“Sal is a tremendous all-around athlete who competed at a very high level in multiple events at the state meet,” Woody said. “He has shown the ability to become a great combined-event athlete and continue our great tradition of Big Ten Champions and NCAA All-Americans in the Heptathlon and Decathlon.”
MEN’S THROWS
Daniel Lucas
Herrick, Illinois
Cowden-Herrick High School
163’8 (Discus)
60’4 ¾ (Shot Put)
EVENTS – THROWS
“Daniel is someone who I see developing well at the B1G level and beyond,” assistant coach Ray Robinson said. “He improved six feet his senior season to win the Illinois state championship in the shot. He has the frame and the work ethic to make big strides his first couple of years with the change to the 16lb shot. We also are going to look at developing a second event.”
Austin Busch
Jewell, Iowa
South Hamilton High School
60’5 ¾ (Shot Put)
177’7 (Discus)
EVENTS – THROWS
“Austin had an accomplished career at the State level in Iowa. At this level, we are likely to focus in on the hammer and weight,” Robinson said. “He has the mindset and tenacity to have success at this level. He was top 2 in every throwing event at the Iowa state Championships (indoor/outdoor) including Iowa State Champ 2A in the discus. I’m extremely excited to help Austin develop in the hammer over the next several years.”
Mike Stein
Milford, Iowa
Spirit Lake High School
196’0 (Javelin)
EVENTS – THROWS
“Mike is a hidden gem that I believe is due for a breakout campaign his freshman year for us,” Robinson said. “He threw 59m in 2021 in the javelin in just a few opportunities. He didn’t compete this year due to injuries, but should come back stronger than ever next year. Mike is a self-taught javelin thrower who is a true student of the sport. I look forward to Mike making an immediate impact for us next year.”
Ryan Williams
Sandy Hook, Connecticut
University of Miami (Ohio)
197’10 (Javelin)
EVENTS – THROWS
“Ryan had a successful career at Miami (OH) and his ability to compete at the Big Ten level in the javelin is apparent,” Robinson said. “His personal best of 197’10 makes him an immediate threat to score at the conference meet and help us chase down another conference title. I am looking forward to working with the deepest group of javelin talent we have had here at Iowa in over a decade. We are lucky to have Ryan in the fold.”
Walker Whalen
Indianola, Iowa
Indianola High School
204’9 (Discus)
EVENTS – THROWS
“Walker is a three-sport standout that I believe has an outstanding ceiling at the collegiate level,” Robinson said. “He had a breakout Senior campaign, breaking the Iowa State Meet record and throwing 204’ 9”, the 4th best throw in the US. Walker still has a lot of room to grow into his frame. His mentality from wrestling (5th in the State) and football will aid in his success as he transitions to the 2k discus. We also look forward to trying to develop him in the hammer and weight as well.