ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – University of Iowa Track and Field improved three all-time marks at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic on Friday evening. Redshirt sophomore Chloe Larsen, junior Lia Love and senior Tionna Tobias led the Hawkeyes across three events.
Larsen won the women’s 600-meter race with a 1:28.31 personal best. The Waunakee, Wisconsin, native holds the Big Ten’s second-fastest time and improved Iowa’s third-best mark. Larsen is within one second of the school record, set by Kineke Alexander in 2008.
Love moved from tenth to fourth in Iowa history following her 23.39 lifetime best in the women’s 200-meter invitational race. The Chapel Hill, North Carolina, native sprinted to the top of the Big Ten with her performance.
Tobias broke through in the women’s long jump, sticking a 6.41-meter leap on her second attempt. Her mark is one-hundredth off of the school record. Tobias finished fifth overall out of 57 competitors.
“The women’s team had a tremendous meet,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “Chloe continues to show that she is a phenomenal 600 runner. She was not highly recruited out of high school but she has shown everyone her ability. Lia executed better than she has in the last couple of meets on a bigger banked track like this. It was nice to see her go out there and execute. Tionna had an unbelievable day. She is confident in her run and approach. Her consistency has been so impressive.”
The women’s 200-meter dash was an all-around highlight in Albuquerque, with five of six sprinters setting career bests. In the unseeded 200-meter dash, sophomore Holly Duax was the top Hawkeye finisher, placing seventh with a 23.88 lifetime best. Sophomores Julia Pattison (24.01) and Alex Edison (24.02) broke through with personal records and top ten finishes. Freshman Olicia Lucas posted a new best with a 24.51.
Iowa was well-represented in both the men and the women’s 600-meter races. On the men’s side, freshman Josh Pugh (1:18.95, PR), sophomore Phillip Jefferson (1:19.02) and freshman James Fingalsen (1:19.11) swept the top three times.
Joining Larsen in the women’s 600-meter run, sophomore Gabby Cortez finished second in 1:29.18. Senior Ali Dorn clocked a 1:29.42, while junior Jaiden Itson placed fourth in 1:31.38.
On the first day at the Meyo Invitational in South Bend, Indiana, the biggest Hawkeye highlight was a 1-2 finish in the men’s 600-meter race. Sophomore Ryan Schriener won with a career-best time of 1:17.91, while senior Nick O’Connor finished second with a PR of his own at 1:18.13.
“They went 1-2 and dominated the heat,” said Associate Head Coach Randy Hasenbank. “That’s what you like to see is competitive spirit. They competed very well.”
Entering the loaded day of competition, Schreiner’s 600-meter time would have ranked 23rd nationally and eighth in the Big Ten. Two other Hawkeyes, Derek Leicht (1:20.73, 7th) and Carson Lane (1:22.70, 10th) recorded personal bests.
On the women’s side, Iowa qualified two 60-meter hurdlers for tomorrow’s prelims. Sophomore Ellie Rickertsen ran 8.84 to qualify at fifth place, and freshman Ali Frandsen won her heat with a PR of 8.89.
In the 5,000-meter race, Iowa was led by a pair of lifetime bests from senior Iowa natives. Abby Ryon of Mt. Pleasant placed 14th, running a new-best 17:10.93. Cedar Rapids Prairie alumnus Jack Pendergast ran 14:38.74 to close out day one.
“Getting opportunities is the key for the young athletes, and a lot of them took advantage of it,” said Hasenbank. “We had split squads competing all over the country, but I think they did well.
“The goal is to keep getting the team ready for the postseason. PRs won’t score points at the Big Ten Meet, but it represents progress. We had a lot of people get better today and take advantage of their race opportunities.”
UP NEXT
Competition continues tomorrow in South Bend at 9 A.M. (CT) and Albuquerque at 10:30 A.M. The Iowa State Classic kicks off at 11 A.M. in Ames, Iowa.
HAWKEYE RESULTS
New Mexico Collegiate Classic
Men’s 200m Unseeded
17. Miles Granjean – 21.73
31. Evan Schuster – 22.11
Men’s 200m Invitational
23. De’Andre Stapleton – 21.31
25. Damoy Allen – 21.38
30. Khullen Jefferson – 21.56
Women’s 200m Unseeded
7. Holly Duax – 23.88, PR
9. Julia Pattison – 24.01, PR
10. Alex Edison – 24.02, PR
24. Olicia Lucas – 24.51, PR
30. Mariel Bruxvoort – 24.71
Women’s 200m Invitational
13. Lia Love – 23.39, PR + 4th at Iowa
Men’s 400m Invitational
8. Connor Belken – 47.35, PR
Women’s 400m Invitational
9. Nylah Perry – 54.45
13. Audrey Biermann – 54.81
Men’s 600m
1. Josh Pugh – 1:18.85, PR
2. Phillip Jefferson – 1:19.02
3. James Fingalsen – 1:19.11
Women’s 600m
1. Chloe Larsen – 1:28.31, PR + 3rd at Iowa
2. Gabby Cortez – 1:29.18
3. Ali Dorn – 1:29.42
4. Jaiden Itson – 1:31.38
10. Laney Fitzpatrick – 1:34.77
12. Tesa Roberts – 1:37.36
Pentathlon
14. Isabelle Woody – 3,175 points
14. 60-meter hurdles – 9.85, PR
8. High Jump – 1.61m (5’ 3.25”)
8. Shot Put – 10.29m (33’ 9.25”)
18. Long Jump – 4.83m (15’ 10.25”)
14. 800m – 2:35.50
Men’s Long Jump
18. Sal Capaldo – 6.38m (20’ 11.25”)
Women’s Long Jump
5. Tionna Tobias – 6.41m (21’ 0.50”), PR + 2nd at Iowa
12. Maud Zeffou-Poaty – 6.05m (19’ 10.25”)
33. Annie Wirth – 5.44m (17’ 10.25”)
38. Kayla Hutchins – 5.33m (17’ 6”)
42. Carlee Rochford – 5.21m (17’ 1.25”)
Women’s High Jump
8. Ella Meeuwsen – 1.66m (5’ 5.25”)
Meyo Invitational
Women’s 60m Hurdles (Qualifying)
5. Ellie Rickertsen – 8.84, q
8. Ali Frandsen – 8.89, PR, Q
Men’s 600m
1. Ryan Schriener – 1:17.91, PR
2. Nick O’Connor – 1:18.13, PR
7. Derek Leicht – 1:20.73, PR
10. Brett Wasick – 1:21.37
15. Carson Lane – 1:22.70, PR
Women’s 600m
5. Grace Bookin-Nosbisch – 1:32.50
6. Clare Pitcher – 1:32.92
8. Katie Moore – 1:33.97
13. Lily Johannes – 1:36.36, PR
Men’s 5,000m
16. Jack Pendergast – 14:38.74, PR
35. Aidan King – 15:02.86
Women’s 5,000m
14. Abby Ryon – 17:10.93, PR
20. Aleah Tenpas – 17:45.19
22. Kelli Tosic – 17:45.25
23. Rowan Boulter – 17:49.30, PR
27. Ellie Rathe – 17:56.53
30. Ellie Twedt – 18:13.41, PR