AUSTIN, Texas – University of Iowa track and field capped off the action-packed weekend split between Florida, Texas and California on Saturday with school records in the 4×100-meter relay and 100 meters. With two new school records, the Hawkeyes totaled four top marks for the weekend.
“We had an amazing week across the country,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “Breaking four school records in one weekend and especially in three different event groups is unprecedented. I’m very proud of our team for how everyone competed against the best athletes in the country this weekend. We stepped up with some big time performances, but I believe we will take things to another level over the next few weeks.”
At the Texas Relays, the 4×100-meter relay squad made up of juniors Kalen Walker, Austin Kresley, Gratt Reed and Damoy Allen set the school record in 38.70, shattering the previous record by more than three-tenths of a second.
Kresley added a second school record to his resume, running a 10.19 100-meter dash, while Walker tied his career-best (10.20) that ranks second in the Iowa record book.
“Austin (Kresley) had one of the best weekends ever for an Iowa sprinter, and I’m very pleased to see Kalen (Walker) take another step forward in his recovery from last year’s injury,” Woody said.
In the 110 hurdles, junior Gratt Reed flew, posting his best at 13.50 and Iowa’s fifth-best time in program history. On the women’s side, sophomore Lia Love ran Iowa’s sixth-ranked 200 meters, crossing the finish line in 23.23.
After setting the triple jump school record on Friday, senior James Carter, Jr., doubled back and posted a season-best long jump of 7.85 meters (25’ 9.25”).
“Gratt (Reed) had a huge wind-legal PR and is showing why he’s one of the best hurdle and sprint combo athletes in the Big Ten and NCAA,” Woody said. “James (Carter, Jr.) also had one of the best all-time meets for a jumper, and Lia Love continues to prove that she’s one of the best sprinters on the women’s side of the Big Ten and NCAA.”
At the Florida Relays, all three women’s 400 meter runners set personal records. Junior Tesa Roberts ran her career best and the program’s seventh fastest time in 52.95, redshirt freshman Chloe Larsen joined Roberts on the top-10 list, ranking ninth at Iowa, and freshman Audrey Biermann narrowly missed the top 10, being edged out by her teammates. Her 53.69 mark ranks 11th.
Larsen, Roberts, Biermann and sophomore Jaiden Itson also broke onto the top-10 list in the 4-400-meter relay, posting a time of 3:35.17 and ranking fifth all-time.
The Hawkeyes added four additional personal bests from junior Connor Belken in the men’s 400 meters (47.41), freshman Natalie Harris in the 100 hurdles with a wind-aided 13.80, sophomore Miya Brines in the 100 hurdles (14.03), and junior Quintin Lyons in the men’s shot put (17.57 meters; 57’ 7.75”).
The Hawkeyes head to Mt. SAC Relays (Walnut, California) on April 12-15, Bryan Clay Invitational (Azusa, California) on April 13-15, Jim Duncan Invitational (Des Moines, Iowa) on April 14, and Beach Invitational (Long Beach, California) and Tom Jones Invitational (Gainesville, Florida) on April 14-15.
Hawkeye Results:
Florida Relays
Women’s 800 Meters
19. Clare Pitcher – 2:07.65
23. Grace Bookin-Nosbisch – 2:09.42
Men’s 800 Meters
24. Spencer Gudgel – 1:50.80
25. Tyler Olson – 1:50.81
31. Armando Bryson – 1:51.36
32. Jenoah McKiver – 1:51.40
Women’s 400 Meters
8. Tesa Roberts – 52.95, PR, 7th all-time at Iowa
12. Chloe Larsen – 53.64, PR, 9th all-time at Iowa
14. Audrey Biermann – 53.69, PR, 11th all-time at Iowa
Men’s 400 Meters
16. Connor Belken – 47.41, tied PR
18. Chadrick Richards – 47.58
37. Everett Steward – 49.45
Women’s 100 Meters
27. Alexandria Edison – 11.99
Men’s 4×400-Meter Relay
Invite:
2. McKiver, Richards, Gillum, Belken – 3:03.70
Open:
5. Schuster, Gudgel, Bryson, Strong – 3:11.55
Women’s 4×400-Meter Relay
4. Larsen, Roberts, Biermann, Itson – 3:35.17, 5th all-time at Iowa
Texas Relays
Women’s 4×100-Meter Relay
10. Hargrove, Love, Harris, Magee – 44.77
Men’s 4×100-Meter Relays
2. Walker, Kresley, Reed, Allen – 38.70, school record
Men’s 110 Hurdles
4. Gratt Reed – 13.50, PR, ties 5th all-time at Iowa
Women’s 100 Meters
8. Lia Love – 11.43
Men’s 100 Meters
3. Austin Kresley – 10.19, PR, school record
6. Kalen Walker – 10.20, 2nd all-time at Iowa
Men’s Long Jump
5. James Carter – 7.85 meters (25’ 9.25”), season best
Women’s 200 Meters
12. Lia Love – 23.23, 6th all-time
16. LaSarah Hargrove – 23.55
Bobcat Invitational
* Wind-aided mark
Women’s 100 Meters
22. Brynley McDermott – 12.07
34. Julia Pattison – 12.24
Women’s 100 Hurdles
6. Natalie Harris – 13.80*, PR
10. Miya Brines – 14.03, PR
23. Ellie Rickertsen – 14.40
30. Katie Petersen – 14.59
Women’s 400 Meters
8. Ali Dorn – 54.41
Women’s Triple Jump
19. Kayla Hutchinson – 12.00 meters (39’ 4.5”)
Women’s Hammer
7. Amanda Howe – 61.93 meters (203’ 2”)
Men’s Shot Put
6. Quintin Lyons – 17.57 meters (57’ 7.75”), PR
Women’s Shot Put
7. Jamie Kofron – 14.85 meters (48’ 8.75”)
13. Ianna Roach – 14.38 meters (47’ 2.25”), season best
Stanford Invite
Women’s 800 Meters
2. Amber Aesoph – 2:10.56