IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa Track and Field sophomore Sal Capaldo and senior Paige Magee were named Big Ten Co-Athletes of the Week, the conference announced on Wednesday.
Capaldo, a native of Polk City, Iowa, was tabbed as the men’s co-field athlete of the week following his 5,256-point heptathlon performance at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational on Jan. 20. This is Capaldo’s first athlete of the week honor of his career.
“What Sal did in his opener was really impressive,” Iowa Director of Track & Field Joey Woody said of Capaldo. “He got over the 5,200-point mark for the first time in his career and is now on the program’s all-time list. If you look at the list, everyone in front of him was an All-American. I am excited for where he is at and where he is headed.”
The multi-event specialist won the high jump portion of the heptathlon with a 1.96-meter mark. Capaldo secured three second place finishes within the heptathlon to secure the title. His total of 5,256 points ranks sixth in program history. Capaldo is ranked atop the Big Ten and 18th nationally in the heptathlon.
Magee earned the women’s co-track athlete of the week honor after setting Iowa’s new program record of 8.00 in the 60-meter hurdles at the Wieczorek Invite. This is Magee’s second athlete of the week honor of her career.
“Paige has become very consistent now by running 8.0’s in the prelims,” Woody said. “That is a major deal. It’s a big sign of where she’s headed. She is putting her name out there as one of the best hurdlers in the country.”
The Columbia, Missouri, native bettered her previous school record of 8.07 from this season’s Jimmy Grant Invitational. The Hawkeye hurdler is currently ranked third in the NCAA. Additionally, Magee ran the second leg of the women’s 4×400 relay that won the event in 3:40.91.
𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 🚨
Paige Magee runs 8.00 in the 60-meter hurdles to set Iowa’s new all-time best!#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/hSkPpXn42J
— Iowa Track & Field/Cross Country (@IowaXC_TF) January 20, 2024
The Hawkeyes most recently earned weekly conference honors when Magee, Sean Smith, Kalen Walker and Daniela Wamokpego swept all four awards on Dec. 13.
Iowa returns to competition on Jan. 26-27, hosting the Black & Gold Invitational.