BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – University of Iowa track and field closed out the Big Ten Championships on Sunday with three individual champions and the men’s 4×400-meter relay title.
The Hawkeye men finished in third place with 120 points behind Nebraska (151) and Minnesota (122), and the women finished in fourth with 76 points behind Michigan (139), Ohio State (123), and Nebraska (112).
“As every Big Ten Championship goes, this was a very up and down weekend with lots of highs and a few lows,” Director of Track & Field Joey Woody said. “But I was very proud of how our team competed all the way through the final event.”
Junior Jenoah McKiver earned the gold medal in the men’s 400 meters, crossing the line in 45.59, before doubling back as the lead anchor in the winning 4×400-meter relay. McKiver, senior DeAndre Stapleton Jr., junior Spencer Gudgel, and senior Julien Gillum won the program’s third title in the event in six years, crossing the finish line in 3:06.
Junior Austin West highlighted his weekend with the 400-meter hurdles championship, breaking the tape in 49.34. His time ranks second in Hawkeye history. Gillum was the event’s runner-up, finishing in 50.46.
Junior Austin Kresley continued his impressive season, claiming the individual title in the men’s 200-meter sprint. Kresley’s 20.26 was nearly two-tenths faster than the second place finisher.
“Austin (Kresley) had a fantastic weekend scoring big points in the 100 and on the 4×1, then coming through huge to win the 200 in a blistering time,” Woody said. “Austin West continues to show how versatile of an athlete he is by anchoring our 4×1 relay to a runner-up finish and then coming back with a spectacular performance to win the 400 hurdles in a very impressive time.”
Junior Paige Magee led the Hawkeye women, breaking her own 100-meter hurdle school record, crossing the line in 12.10 and finishing second overall. “Paige had an amazing weekend as she led the way for the women’s team, finishing runner-up in the 100 hurdles with another school record time, then came back to finish with another runner up finish in the 400 hurdles,” Woody added.
The Hawkeyes had several silver medalists on day three of the championships. Sophomore Max Murphy (5,000m – 13:54.95), senior James Carter Jr. (Triple Jump – 15.95 meters | 52’ 4”), Magee (400-meter hurdles – 56.97) and the 4×100 team of junior Kalen Walker, Kresley, Stapleton Jr., and West (39.41) contributed major team points with their placings.
“James continued to earn multiple medals and huge points for the team in both the long and triple jumps,” Woody said. “He’s very close to some really big jumps and I think he will see that happen in the next few weeks.”
“Another great performance by Max Murphy today,” Iowa distance and Associate Head Coach Randy Hasenbank said. “Two runner up finishes and 16 points for the team, he was competing against several top guys in the country and he proved that he is one of them. The conditions were tough with the heat and Max ran another very smart, patient race today. His move in the last 500 meters may have caught a couple of competitors off guard,” Hasenbank added. “I really liked that he went for the win and I think that mentality is why he is so good. He wants to win, not just participate. I would have to dig into the history of this meet, but this is going to end up as one of the best Big Ten performances by an Iowa distance runner in a long long time.”
MORE FROM DIRECTOR OF TRACK & FIELD JOEY WOODY:
“Jenoah continues to show he’s the best 400 runner in the conference by winning the 400 and then coming back to lead off our winning 4×4 relay. I thought Julien (Gillum) had a great weekend finishing runner up to Austin (West) in the 400 hurdles after winning last year, and then had a terrific anchor to win the 4×4 relay!”
“I want to make sure we recognize DeAndre Stapleton for his contributions to the team this weekend. He just missed the finals of the long jump, then came back to make the finals and score in the 400, he scored in the triple jump, ran the third leg of our 4×1 runner up relay, then ran the second leg of our 4×4 to earn his first Big Ten gold medal! The guys call him Houdini because he’s got all kinds of tricks up his sleeve! I’m very proud of that guy and what he’s done for our team this year, even experimenting with the 400 hurdles.”
“Mar (Bruxvoort) and Myreanna (Bebe) competed extremely well. I thought the entire women’s hurdle crew stepped up big this weekend with super impressive performances to score a ton of points for the team. I’m very excited to see what those women can do these next few weeks! Kat Moody had another terrific performance in the discus throw to score some very important points for the team. Alli (Bookin-Nosbisch) was in a great position and looked ready to charge down the homestretch and win a medal in the 800, but got tripped up by someone in front of her that made her stumble and lose some momentum, but she kept it together to finish the race and earn some valuable points for the team.”
“Max (Murphy) had an amazing weekend in both the 10k and 5k! To come back after the 10K and compete in these blistering hot conditions shows what type of competitor he is!”
The Hawkeyes now turn their attention to the NCAA West Region Preliminary in Sacramento, California, May 24-27.
HAWKEYE RESULTS:
*Wind-aided mark
Men’s Triple Jump
2. James Carter Jr. – 15.95 meters (52’ 4”)
7. DeAndre Stapleton Jr. – 15.20 meters (49’ 10.5”)
Women’s Triple Jump
10. Kayla Hutchins – 12.59 meters (41’ 3.75”)
Men’s Discus
7. Jordan Johnson – 55.96 meters (183’ 7”)
Women’s Discus
5. Kat Moody – 55.01 meters (180’ 5”)
13. Jamie Kofron – 46.76 meters (153’ 5”)
17. Alivia Bauer – 39.10 meters (128’ 3”)
Women’s High Jump
T-9. Jade Hunter – 1.65 meters (5’ 7”)
T-14. Ella Meeuwsen – 1.65 meters (5’ 7”)
Men’s 4×100 Relay
2. Kalen Walker, Austin Kresley, DeAndre Stapleton Jr., Austin West – 39.41, 8th all-time at Iowa
Women’s 4×100 Relay
5. LaSarah Hargrove, Lia Love, Alexandria Edison, Paige Magee – 45.12
Men’s 110 Hurdles
8. Grant Conway – 14.01
Women’s 100 Hurdles
2. Paige Magee – 12.90, PR, school record
3. Myreanna Bebe – 12.94, PR
5. Natalie Harris – 13.49, PR
Men’s 400 Meters
1. Jenoah McKiver – 45.59
5. Chadrick Richards – 46.72
7. DeAndre Stapleton Jr. – 47.45
8. Connor Belken – 48.18
Women’s 400 Meters
8. Tesa Roberts – 53.11
9. Audrey Biermann – 53.37
Men’s 100 Meters
4. Kalen Walker – 10.26
5. Austin Kresley – 10.32
Women’s 100 Meters
8. Lia Love – 11.43
Women’s 800 Meters
6. Alli Bookin-Nosbisch – 2:07.65
Men’s 400 Hurdles
1. Austin West – 49.34, PR, 2nd all-time at Iowa
2. Julien Gillum – 50.46
8. Phillip Jefferson – 52.51
Women’s 400 Hurdles
2. Paige Magee – 56.97
4. Mariel Bruxvoort – 57.33
5. Nylah Perry – 58.89
Men’s 200 Meters
1. Austin Kresley – 20.26
Men’s 5,000 Meters
2. Max Murphy 13:54.94
14. Jack Pendergast – 14:48.17, PR
Women’s 5,000 Meters
21. Madeline Block – 17:38.33
Men’s 4×400 Relay (3rd Championship in six years)
1. Jenoah McKiver, DeAndre Stapleton Jr., Spencer Gudgel, Julien Gillum – 3:06.30
Women’s 4×400 Relay
4. Ali Dorn, Audrey Biermann, Chloe Larsen, Tesa Roberts – 3:35.60