AUSTIN, Texas – University of Iowa track and field wrapped up day two of the NCAA Championships on Thursday night with a third place finish and bronze medal from Austin West in the decathlon.
The junior decathlete entered the day in fourth place with 4,266 points. He began with the 110-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 14.45. A lengthy weather delay pushed events back by nearly two hours, but West returned to set a career best in discus, finishing eighth with a 44.55 meter (146’ 2”) toss. Following the pole vault, West turned in a stellar javelin performance, firing a personal record 64.85 meter (212’ 9”) mark and finishing second. The throw jumped West up to fifth all-time in Iowa history and catapulted him to third overall with one event remaining. A 4:39.75 finish in the 1,500-meter race clinched bronze for West and earned the men’s team six points.
“I thought he had a good start to the day, his discus throw really got the ball rolling with all three throws going over his PR,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said of West. “He had a monster throw in the javelin to put himself in position to be top three. To get third in this meet where the competition breaks the collegiate record and you have the previous collegiate record holder, that’s pretty impressive. I am really proud of him for battling through the two day competition, conditions, heat and delay. He earned it.”
Senior Amanda Howe capped her Hawkeye career with a season-best performance in the hammer throw. Howe’s mark of 63.79 meters (209’ 3”) was good for 12th overall, earning her second team All-America honors.
“Amanda has come a long way in the last two years,” Iowa throws and assistant coach Ray Robinson said. “She was the last one to get out of regionals and finished 12th here today. This was the first time in all of outdoor season where she looked like herself and wasn’t trying to force things. She has really stepped up and helped shepherd some of the younger athletes. That is going to be part of her legacy, too,” Robinson added. “She gave it her all every day at practice, in the weight room, supporting her teammates and in competition. I am really proud of her.”
Despite the weather delay, the running events started on schedule with juniors Paige Magee and Myreanna Bebe starring in the 100-meter hurdles. Competing in the same heat, Magee finished in 13.08, with Bebe close behind in 13.41. Magee joined Howe as a second team All-American, while Bebe earned honorable mention. The 400-meter hurdles saw two Hawkeyes earn honorable mention. Junior Mariel Bruxvoort ran a 57.84 in the semifinals, while Magee ended her junior campaign with a time of 59.00.
“Paige really competed well to get top three in her heat, but unfortunately just wasn’t enough to punch her ticket into the finals of the 100 hurdles,” Woody said. “I’m really proud of Paige and Mariel for getting to this meet in the 400 hurdles.”
The 4×400 relay quartet of junior Aliyanna Dorn, freshman Audrey Biermann, sophomore Chloe Larsen and Magee wrapped up the night with an honorable mention time of 3:37.08.
“This is the first time we’ve been to this meet with the 4×4 in a long time, so that’s a step in the right direction,” Woody said. “We just have to expect more and do more when we get here. That is the next step.”
Competition resumes Friday with the start of the heptathlon for Tionna Tobias at 2:45 p.m. (CT). The men’s finals begin on Friday with the 4×100 relay squad at 8:02 p.m. and James Carter Jr. in the triple jump at 8:10 p.m.
HAWKEYE RESULTS
Women’s Hammer
12. Amanda Howe – 63.79 meters (209’ 3”), SB, 2nd team All-American
Women’s 100-meter hurdles
13. Paige Magee – 13.08, 2nd team All-American
19. Myreanna Bebe – 13.41, honorable mention
Women’s 400-meter hurdles
19. Mariel Bruxvoort – 57.84, honorable mention
22. Paige Magee – 59.00, honorable mention
Women’s 4×400
21. Dorn, Biermann, Larsen, Magee – 3:37.08, honorable mention
Decathlon
3. West – 8,054 points, season best, All-American
9. 110-meter hurdles – 14.45 (917)
8. Discus – 44.55 meters (146’ 2”), PR, (758)
21. Pole Vault – 4.01 meters (13’ 1.75”) (620)
2. Javelin – 64.85 meters (212’ 9”), PR, (811)
7. 1,500-meters – 4:39.75 (682)