GENEVA, Ohio – University of Iowa Track and Field set several new high marks during the first day of competition at the Big Ten Indoor Championships on Friday at Spire Academy.
The Hawkeyes posted three school records, improved on eight program top-10 marks and combined for 21 personal bests.
10 men’s team and nine women’s team members qualified for finals on Saturday.
Seniors Paige Magee and Kalen Walker each recorded Iowa program bests for the women’s and men’s squads, respectively. Both Hawkeyes take the fastest prelim times for their events into tomorrow’s finals.
PAIGE MAGEE 🤯#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/VaURbqIeLs
— Iowa Track & Field/Cross Country (@IowaXC_TF) February 23, 2024
In the women’s 60-meter hurdles, Magee shaved one-hundredth of a second off her program-record time to become the first Hawkeye to run sub-8.00. At 7.99, Magee’s race ranks fifth in the country this season.
Walker matched a program-best 6.51 in the 60 meters that he set at the Jarvis Scott Open on Feb. 10. Walker’s time ranks second nationally.
Saturday closed out with fireworks. Sophomore Sean Smith heaved a 22.28 meters (73’ 1.25”) weight throw for second place and a new school record. It was Smith’s final toss of the night and the final event for day one.
B1G dawgs eat! #Hawkeyes x @sean_smith312 pic.twitter.com/mTfJSXE50c
— Iowa Track & Field/Cross Country (@IowaXC_TF) February 24, 2024
Smith’s throw ranks 13th in the nation.
Moments before, the women’s distance medley team raced to a fourth-place finish in 11:17.78, good for second in program history. The team was comprised of seniors Alli Bookin-Nosbisch, Ali Dorn, Grace Bookin-Nosbisch and Amber Aesoph.
In the women’s 800 meters, Iowa record-holder Alli Bookin-Nosbisch qualified with a 2:05.07 time that ranked fourth in the prelims. Bookin-Nosbisch will chase her first conference title on Saturday.
The #Hawkeyes post 11:17.78 in the women's DMR, good for 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗗 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆!
Iowa takes fourth place:
» Alli Bookin-Nosbisch
» Aliyanna Dorn
» Grace Bookin-Nosbisch
» Amber Aesoph #B1GTF x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/LPi4eeZeBh— Iowa Track & Field/Cross Country (@IowaXC_TF) February 24, 2024
In the men’s 60-meter hurdles, senior Grant Conway posted a personal-best 7.66, improving his fourth all-time standing at Iowa. Conway will be joined by senior Gratt Reed (7.82) and junior Kalil Johnson (7.94) in tomorrow’s final.
Three Hawkeyes also qualified in the women’s 600 meters, including redshirt sophomore Chloe Larsen (1:28.88), sophomore Gabby Cortez (1:29.89) and junior Jaiden Itson (1:30.76).
Senior Austin West will chase his second Big Ten gold tomorrow. The Iowa City, Iowa, native is second in the men’s heptathlon after four events, currently 63 points back from the lead with 3,340 points. He was an outdoor conference champion in the 400-meter hurdles last season.
West finished second in the heptathlon 60 meters, long jump and high jump. He was fourth in the pentathlon shot put. West’s 1.99 meter (6’ 6.25”) high jump is a personal best.
Sophomore Sal Capaldo is also competing in the heptathlon, where he currently stands in sixth place (3,340 points). In the women’s pentathlon, freshman Annie Wirth led Iowa with a personal-best 3,870 points, placing fifth.