Walker Improves School Record at Black & Gold Invite

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa Track and Field senior Kalen Walker ran a 6.58 in the 60-meter finals to set the school record at the Black and Gold Invite on Saturday. After breaking the 60-meter program record for the third time this season, the Eddyville, Iowa, native now owns the seventh-fastest 60-meter time in Division I.

Walker jogged down the home stretch after crossing the finish line, pumping up the crowd inside the Hawkeye Indoor Track Facility. 

“He’s a showman,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said of Walker. “Kalen is running well and he was able to get the crowd into it. He executed a number of things well today. I actually thought he executed better in the preliminaries. It’s possible for him to run a low 6.5, especially with better competition coming.”

Watch @kalenwalker131 improve his Iowa all-time best in the 60-meter dash 👏#Hawkeyes x @BigTenPlus pic.twitter.com/i5ZZJXXsm7

— Iowa Track & Field/Cross Country (@IowaXC_TF) January 27, 2024

Senior Grant Conway opened in the 60-meter hurdles with a career best 7.68 in the preliminaries, before clinching the title in the finals with a 7.70. The Hawkeye hurdler’s new personal record is fourth in program history.

“I was excited to see Grant back out there competing in his specialty event today,” Woody said. “It was impressive for him to open up with a massive PR, especially a national qualifying-type mark like that. He’s had to battle through some injuries, so to see him succeed and be confident right now is great. Grant has trusted the process the entire way.”

Three Hawkeyes qualified to the women’s 60-meter hurdles finals. Junior Miya Brines led the group into the finals with an 8.63, followed by sophomore Ellie Rickertsen (8.79) and freshman Ali Frandsen (8.94). The same order held in the finals with Brines finishing second overall (8.62), Rickertsen placing fifth (8.84) and Frandsen claiming seventh (9.04).

HEAR FROM DIRECTOR OF TRACK AND FIELD JOEY WOODY
“We trained some of our team through this meet in anticipation for what is coming down the road. I like having home meets early in the season, but at this point I am eager to get on the road and have a chance to compete in different environments and facilities. Next week, we will have a big group of sprinters and hurdlers out in New Mexico, along with our jumpers. Our throwers will go to Iowa State because that will be a great competition. Mid-distance and distance will travel to Notre Dame. I like to send out athletes to environments that are going to position them for the most success for their events.”

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will split and travel to the New Mexico Collegiate Classic in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Meyo Invitational in South Bend, Indiana, and the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa, on Feb. 2-3.

HAWKEYE RESULTS

Women’s 60m prelims
14. Mytika Mayberry – 8.06

Men’s 60m
1. Kalen Walker – 6.63, meet record
2. Joe Stein – 6.82
13. Kaleba Jack – 6.96, PR

Men’s 60m finals
1. Kalen Walker – 6.58, school record
4. Joe Stein – 6.83

Women’s 60mH prelims
2. Miya Brines – 8.63, Q
3. Ellie Rickertsen – 8.79, q
7. Ali Frandsen – 8.94, q

Women’s 60mH finals
2. Miya Brines – 8.62
5. Ellie Rickertsen – 8.84
7. Ali Frandsen – 9.04

Men’s 60mH prelims
1. Grant Conway – 7.68, PR + 4th at Iowa
4. Kai Graves-Blanks – 8.29

Men’s 60mH finals
1. Grant Conway – 7.70, meet record
2. Kai Graves-Blanks – 8.10

Women’s 200m
16. Ali Frandsen – 26.40
17. Mytika Mayberry – 26.55

Men’s 200m
14. Kai Graves-Blanks – 24.23

Women’s 600m
3. Ali Dorn – 1:30.89

Women’s 800m
4. Lily Johannes – 2:20.50
5. Jalyssa Blazek – 2:23.33
7. Lauren McMahon – 2:23.76, PR

Men’s 800m
4. Derek Leicht – 1:53.72

Men’s Mile
9. Hayden Kuhn – 4:14.02, PR
11. Aidan King – 4:16.28

Women’s 3,000m Premier
2. Kelli Tosic – 10:25.46
10. Kaitlin Knape – 11:10.65, PR

Women’s High Jump
3. Jade Hunter – 1.65 meters (5’ 5”)
4. Madeline Andelbradt – 1.60 meters (5’ 3”)

Men’s High Jump
5. Noah James – 1.95 meters (6’ 4.75”)

Men’s Long Jump
8. Kaleba Jack – 6.81 meters (22’ 4.25”)