ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – University of Iowa track and field closed weekend at the New Mexico Classic in Albuquerque, the Meyo Invitational in South Bend, Indiana, and the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa.
In Albuquerque, junior Paige Magee highlighted the day in the 60-meter hurdles. Magee shattered her previous best of 8.31, qualifying for the finals with a mark of 8.13. Her time catapulted her to second in the Hawkeye record books. Magee would finish sixth in the finals, crossing the line in 8.22. On the men’s side, junior Austin Kresley soared to a 6.77 finish in the men’s 60-meter dash, finishing fourth in the qualifying round.
“I am really excited for Paige (Magee),” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “That is a big breakthrough and we saw it coming, it was just a matter of executing. Both her and Myreanna (Bebe) are on their way to running 8.0. Overall this weekend, we saw a ton of progress and are headed in the right direction. Now we just have to stay healthy and keep building these next two weeks.”
At the Meyo Invite, senior Maddie Block opened the day with a new best in the women’s 3,000-meter race, stopping the clock at 9:55.39. Sophomore Jaiden Itson finished third in the women’s 400-meter event, with a personal record (55.44).
The Hawkeyes had a strong showing in the men’s 800-meter race, registering three personal bests and a pair of top five event finishes. Freshman Brett Wasick had the best time, finishing fourth with a personal record of 1:51.91. Junior Armando Bryson was right behind in fifth (1:52.04). Sophomore Martin Strong and junior Nick O’Connor followed up with career bests themselves, 1:53.21 and 1:54.46, respectively.
Freshman Audrey Biermann continued her strong season, clocking a new career best of 53.84 in the women’s 400-meter dash. In the 800-meter event, the Hawkeyes went three-for-three in setting personal records, including two marks that made the top-10 list at Iowa. Sophomores Alli Bookin-Nosbisch bumped up to third in Hawkeye history, stopping the clock in 2:05.17, while Clare Pitcher moved to fifth with a 2:06.59.
“Out at Notre Dame, I thought the 800s went really well, especially for the women coming back after the 600s,” Woody said. “Clare (Pitcher) and Alli (Booking-Nosbisch) had all-time performances and that was huge. We had a lot of young guys that competed well, too. We are close to a breakthrough in the 800s and the next couple of weeks we should see 1:48, 1:49.”
In Ames, Iowa began the day with stellar performances in the women’s weight throw. Junior Amanda Howe took the title with a season-best toss of 21.18 meters (69’ 6”). Sophomore Alivia Bauer threw a career best 19.40 meters (63’ 7.75”), placing third and bumping up to fifth in Iowa history. Junior Jamie Kofron continued her strong season with a fourth-place throw of 19.28 meters (63’ 3.25”). The Hawkeyes would then go 1-2-3 in the women’s shot put. Junior Kat Moody hit 15.98 meters (52’ 5.25”) with her final throw, followed by freshmen Wisdom Williams (15.16 meters; 49’ 9”) and Emma Callahan (15.05 meters; 49’ 4.50”). In the men’s shotput, senior Elijah Barnes led the way, finishing third with a throw well over 18 meters (18.43 meters; 60’ 5.75”).
“I’m really proud of Amanda (Howe) this weekend,” Woody said. “It was awesome to see a big breakthrough performance this weekend, with her second-best lifetime performance in the weight throw. Also, exciting to see Alivia (Bauer) have a great performance with her lifetime best.”
“I am extremely proud of how we competed today,” assistant coach Ray Robinson said of the throws group. “I thought the entire group came out swinging. This will serve us well in the championship meets. We had a ton of season’s bests with Amanda (Howe) over 21 meters in the weight throw. Alivia moved up in the top 10 and is getting healthier. I’m really proud of Kat (Moody) for closing in on the 16 meter mark (in the women’s shot put).”
“On the men’s side, Quintin (Lyons) continues to climb after what he went through this fall. Elijah (Barnes) had probably the biggest performance, getting back up over 18 meters.”
The Hawkeyes return to action next weekend with the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas and the Music City Challenge in Nashville, Tennessee on Feb. 10-11.
HAWKEYE RESULTS
NM Classic
Women’s 60-meter hurdles (qualify)
8. Natalie Harris – 8.80
16. Katie Petersen – 8.91
17. Ellie Rickertsen – 8.94
Women’s 60-meter hurdles prelims
6. Paige Magee – 8.13, PR + 2nd all-time
13. Myreanna Bebe – 8.31
Women’s 60-meter hurdles finals
6. Paige Magee – 8.22
Men’s 60-meter (qualify)
4. Austin Kresley – 6.77
Men’s 60-meter dash prelims
26. Damoy Allen – 6.96
Women’s 60-meter (qualify)
6. Lia Love – 7.46
42. Alexandria Edison – 7.79
50. Mytika Mayberry – 7.84
Women’s 60-meter dash prelims
14. LaSarah Hargrove – 7.38
26. Lia Love – 7.46
Men’s 60-meter hurdles prelims
15. Grant Conway – 7.87
23. Gratt Reed – 8.03
Men’s 400-meter dash
22. Drake Woody – 49.10
Women’s 400-meter dash
19. Mariel Bruxvoort – 55.50
Meyo Invite
Women’s 3,000-meters
8. Maddie Block – 9:55.39, PR
Men’s 400-meters
4. Connor Belken – 48.34
Women’s 400-meters
3. Jaiden Itson – 55.44, PR
Men’s 800-meters
4. Brett Wasick – 1:51.91, PR
5. Armando Bryson – 1:52.04,
13. Martin Strong – 1:53.21, PR
20. Nick O’Connor – 1:54.46, PR
Women’s 400-meters
2. Audrey Biermann – 53.84, PR
Men’s 400-meters
2. Chadrick Richards – 47.68
3. Phillip Jefferson – 47.79, PR
7. Evan Schuster – 48.72
Women’s 800-meters
3. Alli Bookin-Nosbisch – 2:05.17, PR + 3rd
5. Clare Pitcher – 2:06.59, PR + 5th
8. Grace Bookin-Nosbisch – 2:09.04, PR
Men’s 800-meters
7. Ryan Schreiner – 1:50.73, PR
9. Spencer Gudgel – 1:50.83
Women’s 3,000-meters
11. Kelli Tosic – 9:49.82
13. Emma Gordon 9:56.39
15. Brooke McKee – 10:06.4
Women’s 4×400
2. Dorn, Biermann, Larsen, Cortez – 3:37.99
Men’s 4×400
2. Gillum, Belken, P. Jefferson, Gudgel – 3:08.67, SB
Iowa State Classic
Women’s Weight Throw
1. Amanda Howe – 21.18 meters (69’ 6”), SB
3. Alivia Bauer – 19.40 meters (63’ 7.75”), PR + 5th at Iowa
4. Jamie Kofron – 19.28 meters (63’ 3.25”)
Men’s Weight Throw
5. Jordan Johnson – 19.42 meters (63’ 8.75”)
Women’s Shot Put
1. Kat Moody – 15.98 meters (52’ 5.25”)
2. Wisdom Williams – 15.16 meters (49’ 9”)
3. Emma Callahan – 15.05 meters (49’ 4.25”)
6. Ianna Roach – 14.24 meters (46’ 8.75”)
Men’s Shot Put
3. Elijah Barnes – 18.43 meters (60’ 5.75”)
4. Quintin Lyons – 16.72 meters (54’ 10.25”)