Tobias Wins Pentathlon on Day 1 of Larry Wieczorek Invitational

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa Track and Field senior Tionna Tobias secured the women’s pentathlon title on day one of the seventh-annual Larry Wieczorek Invitational at the Hawkeye Indoor Track Facility on Friday.

Tobias led the women’s multis in the pentathlon, winning the event with 4,049 points – the third-highest score in program history. She used first-place finishes in the 60-meter hurdles and long jump to accumulate significant point totals on her way to victory. The 8.37 (60-meter hurdles) and 6.02 meters (long jump) were pentathlon meet, track and facility records. Freshman Annie Wirth set lifetime bests in the 60-meter hurdles, long jump and 800 meters. Fellow freshman Carlee Rochford excelled in the shot put, setting a personal record of 11.56 meters (37’ 11.25”). Sophomore Isabelle Woody posted three career bests (60-meter hurdles, high jump, 800 meters) on her way to securing an overall pentathlon personal record of 3,227 points.

“The women’s multis had a tremendous day,” Iowa Director of Track & Field Joey Woody said. “The younger women are still learning about the event; how to handle their energy and how to deal with adversity here and there. Tionna [Tobias] was a great leader. She was very mature with how she handled today. She’s vying for qualification to indoor nationals at the end of the season. I am proud of her.”

“We are getting better every week,” jumps coach Hadrien Choukroun said of the multi-event group. “We continue to build on things from week-to-week and are getting closer to where we need to be. Tionna [Tobias] and Annie [Wirth] finished strong in the 800, while Carlee [Rochford] and Isabelle [Woody] had nice days in the hurdles and high jump.”

Sophomore Sal Capaldo was the lone Hawkeye in the men’s heptathlon and used a strong opening day to position himself well for the final two events tomorrow. Through four events, he amassed 2,958 points and is currently in second place overall. Capaldo earned an individual victory in the high jump to go along with a third-place mark in the 60 meters and a pair of fourth place finishes (long jump and shot put). The two-day event wraps up on Saturday, starting with the 60-meter hurdles at 2:20 p.m.

The Hawkeyes displayed consistency across multiple field events, including the women’s long jump and high jump. Freshman Maud Zeffou-Poaty continues the strong start to her freshman campaign, moving up to third all-time at Iowa with her 6.15-meter (20’ 2.25”) personal record in the long jump. In the high jump, redshirt sophomore Ella Meeuwsen and junior Jade Hunter matched career bests with 1.70-meter (5’ 7”) and 1.65-meter (5’ 5”) marks, respectively. 

At the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex, Hawkeye senior Kat Moody was crowned the champion in the women’s shot put following her 16.22-meter (53’ 2.75”) mark. The weight throw continues to be a strength for Iowa this season. On the men’s side, sophomore Sean Smith returned to form, finishing second with a throw of 21.83 meters (71’ 7.50”). Sophomore Austin Busch placed third, firing the weight 20.91 meters (68’ 7.25”). Smith and Busch achieved personal bests and moved to second and fourth all-time at Iowa, respectively. 

Freshmen Olicia Lucas and Kai Graves-Blanks claimed titles in the early groups of the 200-meter dash. Lucas led the women’s group with a 24.86 personal record, while Graves-Blanks flew around the track in 21.97. Additionally, Iowa earned individual first-place finishes from senior Gratt Reed (200-meter premier | 21.49), junior Lia Love (200-meter premier | 23.78) and sophomore Lily Johannes (600 meters | 1:37.96).

HEAR FROM DIRECTOR OF TRACK AND FIELD JOEY WOODY 
“Overall, it was a strong, consistent day for our team. I tell our team often that consistency leads to big breakthroughs. If we aren’t consistent, it’s hard to know when the breakthrough is coming. I thought we were very consistent today. The women’s multis had a tremendous day. On the track, I was pleased with the 200s. Lia [Love] was ready to go. She is set up to be 23 low and maybe break 23 by the end of the indoor season. Her training has been so consistent. In the 600, Alli [Bookin-Nosbisch] put together another fantastic race, finishing in 1:28. In the men’s 200, I was impressed by Gratt [Reed]. That was his fastest time on this track. Look at James Fingalsen. He’s still figuring things out as a freshman, but is such a competitor and has a nose for the finish line. He had a big time performance in the 600. With the throws group, we had big time marks from Jamie [Kofron] and Sean [Smith]. Kat [Moody] just continues to win.”

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes wrap up the seventh-annual Larry Wieczorek Invitational at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Hawkeye Indoor Track Facility. Admission is free and coverage will be provided on B1G+ and via the Hawkeyes official ‘X’ account (IowaXC_TF).

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Men’s 200m
1. Kai Graves-Blanks – 21.97
10. Evan Schuster – 22.51

Women’s 200m
1. Olicia Lucas – 24.86, PR
3. Chloe Larsen – 25.15
8. Laney Fitzpatrick – 25.92
13. Ellie Rickertsen – 26.34
21. Mytika Mayberry – 26.94

Men’s 200m Premier
1. Gratt Reed – 21.49
3. Connor Belken – 21.80
7. Miles Granjean – 22.05

Women’s 200m Premier
1. Lia Love – 23.78
2. Holly Duax – 24.34, PR
3. Nylah Perry – 24.40, PR
4. Julia Pattison – 24.49
5. Alexandria Edison – 24.72
6. Maud Zeffou-Poaty – 24.99
7. Mariel Bruxvoort – 25.05

Men’s 600m
2. Phillip Jefferson – 1:20.05
3. Brett Wasick – 1:21.00
6. Koby Brackemeyer – 1:22.53
10. Carson Lane – 1:24.54

Women’s 600m
1. Lily Johannes – 1:37.96
4. Lauren McMahon – 1:44.50

Men’s 600m Premier
4. James Fingalsen – 1:18.86, PR
5. Ryan Schreiner – 1:19.30
6. Josh Pugh – 1:19.64, PR
7. Nick O’Connor – 1:19.70

Women’s 600m Premier
2. Alli Bookin-Nosbisch – 1:28.73, PR + 6th at Iowa
3. Gabby Cortez – 1:30.05
4. Grace Bookin-Nosbisch – 1:33.45
5. Jaiden Itson – 1:34.11
6. Clare Pitcher – 1:34.47

Men’s 3,000m
3. Jack Pendergast – 8:24.78, PR

Women’s 3,000m
7. Aleah Tenpas – 10:04.68
11. Ellie Rathe – 10:18.74
13. Cameron Kalaway – 10:36.19
14. Rowan Boulter – 10:47.68
15. Audra Soderlind – 10:56.18, PR

Men’s 3,000m Premier
6. Will Ryan – 8:16.24
7. Hayden Kuhn – 8:17.25
11. Yohana Yual – 8:21.88, PR
12. Aidan King – 8:24.89, PR

Women’s 3,000m Premier
7. Amber Aesoph – 9:38.13
12. Abby Ryon – 10:07.42

Heptathlon (Day 1)
2. Sal Capaldo – 2,958 points

60m
3. Sal Capaldo – 6.99
Long Jump
4. Sal Capaldo – 6.65m (21’ 10”)
Shot Put
4. Sal Capaldo – 11.45m (37’ 6.75”)
High Jump
1. Sal Capaldo – 1.96m (6’ 5”)

Pentathlon (Final)
1. Tionna Tobias – 4,049 points, 3rd at Iowa
2. Annie Wirth – 3,754 points
3. Carlee Rochford – 3,556 points
7. Isabelle Woody – 3,227 points, PR

60m hurdles
1. Tionna Tobias – 8.37, meet, track, facility record (60-hurdles within pentathlon)
2. Annie Wirth – 8.73, PR
4. Carlee Rochford – 9.08, PR
13. Isabelle Woody – 9.91, PR
High Jump
2. Carlee Rochford – 1.66m (5’ 5.25”)
3. Isabelle Woody – 1.66m (5’ 5.25”), PR
4. Tionna Tobias – 1.66m (5’ 5.25”)
7. Annie Wirth – 1.60m (5’ 3”)
Shot Put
2. Carlee Rochford – 11.56m (37’ 11.25”), PR
3. Annie Wirth – 11.12m (36’ 5.75”)
4. Tionna Tobias – 10.72m (35’ 2”), PR
7. Isabelle Woody – 10.15m (33’ 3.75”)
Long Jump
1. Tionna Tobias – 6.02m (19’ 9”), pentathlon meet, track, facility record
2. Annie Wirth – 5.50m (18’ 0.50”), PR
7. Carlee Rochford – 5.11m (16’ 9.25”)
11. Isabelle Woody – 4.81m (15’ 9.50”)
800m
2. Tionna Tobias – 2:24.43
3. Annie Wirth – 2:25.67, PR
6. Isabelle Woody – 2:33.90, PR
7. Carlee Rochford – 2:34.67, PR

Women’s High Jump
5. Ella Meeuwsen – 1.70m (5’ 7”)
8. Jade Hunter – 1.65m (5’ 5”)

Men’s Long Jump
15. Kaleba Jack – 6.76m (22’ 2.25”)

Women’s Long Jump
4. Maud Zeffou-Poaty – 6.15m (20’ 2.25”), PR + 3rd at Iowa
6. Kayla Hutchins – 5.90m (19’ 4.25”)

Men’s Weight Throw
2. Sean Smith – 21.83m (71’ 7.50”), PR + 2nd at Iowa
3. Austin Busch – 20.91m (68’ 7.25”), PR + 4th at Iowa
4. Jordan Johnson – 19.96m (65’ 6”)
7. Walker Whalen – 18.28m (59’ 11.75”)

Women’s Weight Throw
2. Jamie Kofron – 20.11m (65’ 11.75”)
3. Alivia Bauer – 20.07 (65’ 10.25”)

Men’s Shot Put
8. Quintin Lyons – 16.73m (54’ 10.75”)

Women’s Shot Put
1. Kat Moody – 16.22m (53’ 2.75”)