EUGENE, Ore. – Senior Austin West is in fifth place with 4,292 points in the decathlon and Hawkeye alumnus Nik Curtiss qualified for the shot put finals on day one of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials at Hayward Field.
West opened the afternoon session with a 10.78 in the 100 meters, before a season-best 7.33-meter mark in the long jump and lifetime-best 15.09 meters in the shot put. The evening session featured the high jump and 400 meters. West cleared the bar at 1.92 meters in the high jump and finished third in the 400 meters in 46.91. The standout decathlete placed within the top ten in each of the first five events.
Curtiss, a 2022 graduate, placed 12th in the shot put and qualified for Saturday’s final with a 19.79-meter mark. Positioned outside of the top 12 heading into his final attempt, Curtiss fired his best throw to enter the qualifying zone.
Sophomore Mike Stein launched the javelin 61.98 meters and placed 21st in the qualifier round. The Milford, Iowa, native closes his season as a first-team All-American, Big Ten Champion and Iowa’s school record holder.
HEAR FROM DIRECTOR OF TRACK AND FIELD JOEY WOODY
“Austin had a really good opening day. He had an awesome long jump on his third attempt and had a huge PR on his final attempt in the shot put. His high jump didn’t go well, but he came back and put together a really good 400 race to finish day one on a high note with momentum. Mike didn’t have the best performance, but I told him this doesn’t take away from the tremendous sophomore season he had as the Big Ten Champion, meet record holder, and NCAA first-team All-American. Nik had some decent throws early, but finally connected on his last throw to punch his ticket to the finals.”
UP NEXT: Competition begins on Saturday at noon with West’s resumption of the decathlon. Kalen Walker races in the qualifier round of the 100 meters at 8:20. Curtiss enters the ring for the final of the shot put at 8:40.
HAWKEYE RESULTS
Austin West (Decathlon)
10. 100 meters – 10.78
6. Long Jump – 7.33 meters (24’ 0.75”), SB
5. Shot Put – 15.09 meters (49’ 6.25”), PR
9. High Jump – 1.92 meters (6’ 3.50”)
3. 400 meters – 46.91
Mike Stein (Javelin)
Qualifier Round
21. 61.98 meters (203’ 4”)
Nik Curtiss (Shot Put)***
Qualifier Round
12. 19.79 meters (64’ 11.25”)
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
Austin West (Decathlon)
110-meter hurdles (Noon)
Discus (1:10 p.m.)
Pole Vault (3:15 p.m.)
Javelin (7:15 p.m.)
1,500 meters (9:35 p.m.)
Kalen Walker (100 Meters)
Qualifier Round (8:20 p.m.)
Nik Curtiss (Shot Put)
Finals (8:40 p.m.)