Men's Track & FieldMay 24, 2024

Hawkeyes Advance 2 More to Eugene

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Iowa track and field advanced two men’s student-athletes to the NCAA Championships on Friday.

Junior Rivaldo Marshall punched his ticket to outdoor nationals with an automatic bid in the 800 meters. The native of Kingston, Jamaica, raced 1:46.96 for third overall in the quarterfinal event.

This indoor season, Marshall became Iowa’s first 800-meter national champion. He owns the program records both outdoors (1:45.86) and indoors (1:46.86) in the event.

Senior Jordan Johnson qualified for the NCAA Championships with a 58.22-meter (191’ 0”) toss in the discus. Johnson, who entered the event seeded 22nd, placed ninth overall with the season-best mark.

“I stayed focused on doing what I have done all year,” said Johnson. “This meet doesn’t always set you up for success. You get three throws, so if you can get pretty close to your best, you are in a strong position.”

Johnson was a first-team All-American in the event in 2022, placing eighth at outdoor nationals with a career best of 59.52 meters (195’ 3”).

“I was in the same situation two years ago, so my goal was to stay relaxed and not get too tense,” said Johnson. “I was able to bring back good memories.”

Now Johnson has the opportunity to run things back at the finals in Eugene, Oregon.

“I am pretty excited to get back out there,” said Johnson. “It is a gorgeous facility. The vibes are good.”

Freshman Precious Irivi finished 15th in the triple jump and punched a ticket of his own to the World Athletics U20 Championships. The rookie from Nigeria jumped 15.57 meters (51’ 1”), good for seventh in program history at Iowa.

“I decided it wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t hard,” said Irivi. “I just had to stay focused.”

He credits jump coach Hadrien Choukron for helping him build that confidence and composure.

“Coach Frenchie has been so patient with me,” said Irivi. “He has not rushed my progression, and today I was ready. I know I am in the right spot.”

Irivi beat his own personal best on the first jump before setting another best on the third attempt. The jump also ranks 20th in the world for U20 athletes.

“I am really happy with this performance,” said Irivi. “This was my last chance to qualify for worlds, and now I will be appearing this August.”

HEAR FROM DIRECTOR OF TRACK AND FIELD JOEY WOODY
“The guys competed great today. Jordan Johnson got us started with a great performance in the discus, hitting his season’s best and punching his ticket back to Eugene. He has had a tough year overcoming some injuries, but he is definitely peaking at the right time.

“Rivaldo had another great race today to punch his ticket in the 800. He held his position really well in a tactical race and brought it home strong the last 100 meters to get an ‘auto Q.’

“Precious Irivi had a terrific day today, putting up two personal bests. He just missed making it to Eugene as a true freshman in the triple jump. This will be great motivation for him heading into the summer and offseason. Isaac Lewis had another great race in the 400 hurdles and continues to show his ability to perform well at championshp meets. He has grown a lot as a true freshman, and the future is bright for him.

“I thought the 4×400 meters competed extremely well and just missed qualifying to Eugene by a tenth of a second. I am super proud of those guys running a season’s best, especially without Josh, who was injured coming off of his runner-up performance in the Big Ten Championship.

“It is always a tough time of year when we have a lot of terrific athletes, especially our seniors who have meant so much to our program, finishing their season just short of our goals of being at nationals. A huge thank you is owed to DeAndre Stapleton Jr., Gratt Reed, Grant Conway, Connor Belken and Damoy Allen for everything they have done for Iowa track and field. Our program accomplished some amazing things in their time at Iowa. They definitely left it in a better place than when they arrived.”

UP NEXT
Iowa women’s track and field athletes compete to qualify for the NCAA Championships tomorrow on the final day at the NCAA West Preliminary in Fayetteville, Arkansas.