FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Iowa track and field concluded its weekend with a broken record at the Music City Challenge in Nashville and produced solid performances from the throws group at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Junior Alli Bookin-Nosbisch soared to the top of the Iowa record books in the women’s 800-meter race, breaking the tape in 2:04.28 and the school record set last year by Mallory King. The Ottumwa, Iowa, native broke through to the top of Hawkeye history after steadily climbing up the rankings this season. Bookin-Nosbisch finished third overall in the event.
“It was a terrific performance by Alli (Bookin-Nosbisch) in the 800-meter today,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “We knew she was ready for a big-time performance and she stepped up and competed extremely well, breaking the school record. Coming back, she had a great split on the 4×400, which shows she is in great position heading into the championship season.”
Down in Fayetteville, senior Elijah Barnes claimed the men’s shot put title, while senior Kat Moody climbed up the school’s all-time record books in the women’s event. Barnes finished with an 18.25-meter (59’ 10.50”) toss, nearly half of a meter better than the runner-up. In the women’s shot put, Moody’s new best of 16.64 meters (54’ 7.25”) improved her third-ranked mark in Hawkeye history.
“The throwers rode the wave of momentum from Amanda (Howe)’s performance yesterday into today with the shot put,” Woody added. “Kat had a breakthrough today, and I’m excited for where she’s at as well.”
“We have a great support system,” assistant coach Ray Robinson said. “The group shares the joys and those big moments like we had this weekend. It’s something that we can try to coach, but at the end of the day, it takes everyone playing a part in that, and they do a really good job.”
More career bests were achieved in the sprints with senior DeAndre Stapleton racing to a 21.21 in the men’s 200-meter dash. In the women’s edition, freshmen Alexandria Edison and Ellie Rickersen sprinted to individual bests of 24.55 and 26.13, respectively.
The quartet of Stapleton Jr., junior Connor Belken, sophomore Chadrick Richards and junior Evan Schuster sped to a team best 3:08.31 in the men’s 4×400 relay. The mark earned the Hawkeyes a sixth place finish in the event.
In the women’s 4×400, redshirt freshman Chloe Larsen, junior Paige Magee, freshman Audrey Biermann and junior Tesa Roberts clocked a season best 3:33 and elevated the group to third all-time at Iowa.
“I was really proud of the 4x400s,” Woody said. “The men competed extremely well and all had season-bests splits, building off of their individual performances yesterday. The women took the challenge of competing to go after the school record and qualify for the NCAA championships today. They performed at a high level, just missing the school record, but putting them in great position heading into championship season.
“Overall, I think our team has come together, more than they ever have,” Woody said. “It is a really good sign of where we are at as a whole. I believe that will catapult us to the top of the conference and help us build towards winning trophies at the NCAA Championships.”
At the Music City Challenge, freshman Gabby Cortez sped to a new personal best of 55.58 in the women’s 400-meter event. Sophomore Amber Aesoph continues her return to form, cruising to a season’s best 2:11.56 in the women’s 800-meter event.
Freshman Ryan Schreiner logged a top-10 finish, grabbing sixth in the unseeded men’s 800 (1:50.83).
The Hawkeyes conclude the indoor regular season next weekend with the Iowa Open on Feb. 17 and the Alex Wilson Invitational on Feb. 18.
HAWKEYE RESULTS
Tyson Invitational
Men’s 200-meters
18. DeAndre Stapleton Jr. – 21.21, PR
Women’s 200-meters
36. Alexandria Edison – 24.55, PR
42. Ellie Rickertsen – 26.13, PR
Men’s 4×400
6. Stapleton Jr., Belken, Richards, Schuster, – 3:08.31, SB
Women’s 4×400
4. Larsen, Magee, Biermann, Roberts – 3:33.00, SB + 3rd at Iowa
Men’s Pole Vault
10. Peyton Haack – 4.95 meters (16’ 2.75”)
Men’s High Jump
14. Zack Pluff – 2.07 meters (6’ 9.50”)
Women’s Shot Put
4. Kat Moody – 16.64 meters (54’ 7.25”), PR + 3rd at Iowa
9. Jamie Kofron – 15.15 meters (49’ 8.50”), SB
17. Emma Callahan – 14.27 meters (46’ 10”)
20. Wisdom Williams – 13.89 meters (54’ 7”)
22. Ianna Roach – 13.63 meters (44’ 8.75”)
Men’s Shot Put
1. Elijah Barnes – 18.25 meters (59’ 10.50”)
10. Quintin Lyons – 16.32 meters (53’ 6.50”)
Men’s Triple Jump
7. James Carter – 15.69 meters (51’ 5.75”)
Women’s Triple Jump
19. Kayla Hutchins – 11.80 meters (38’ 8.75”)
Music City Challenge
Women’s 3,000-meters
15. Emma Gordon – 9:58.39
19. Abby Ryon – 10:03.57
52. Rowan Boulter – 10:40.34
Men’s 3,000-meters (Unseeded)
14. Konnor Sommer – 8:21.49
35. Yohana Yual – 8:33.48
Women’s 800-meters (Unseeded)
9. Amber Aesoph – 2:11.56, SB
Men’s 800-meters (Unseeded)
6. Ryan Schreiner – 1:50.83
39. Nick O’Connor – 1:53.90, PR
50. Martin Strong – 1:54.61
57. Brett Wasick – 1:55.64
Women’s 400-meters
2. Gabby Cortez – 55.58, PR
Women’s 800-meters (Seeded)
3. Alli Bookin-Nosbisch – 2:04.28, PR + #1 at Iowa
11. Clare Pitcher – 2:08.29
18. Grace Bookin-Nosbisch – 2:09.55
Men’s 800-meters (Seeded)
21. Spencer Gudgel – 1:50.22, PR
24. Armando Bryson – 1:54.32
Women’s 4×400
2. Itson, Pitcher, A. Bookin-Nosbisch, G. Bookin-Nosbisch – 3:40.91
Men’s 4×400
4. Schreiner, Bryson, Gudgel, Strong – 3:12.69