Track and Field Notebook: Hawkeye Invitational

THIS WEEK

The Hawkeyes will begin the new year at home, hosting the Hawkeye Invitational on Friday and Saturday. Weight throw and shot put will take place on Friday, starting at 1:00pm inside the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex and Saturday’s action will begin at 11:00am at the Hawkeye Indoor Track Facility.

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG

Results can be found on the live results link on the track and field schedule page at hawkeyesports.com. Updates and results will also be posted on the team's official 'X' account (iowaXC_TF).

2024-25 NEWS

• Returning All-American Daniela Wamokpego kicked off 2025 with a 13.32-meter mark in the triple jump, updating Iowa’s program record and tying the national lead.
• In the weight throw, Sean Smith set a new school record that ranks third nationally while Alivia Bauer defended her weight throw title. Sophomore Wisdom Williams cracked into Iowa’s top-10 list in her weight throw debut.
• Six Hawkeyes won events in their debuts, including Alivia Williams (300 meters), Terrick Johnson (600 meters), Damaris Mutunga (600 meters), Luke Knepp (3,000 meters), Ethan Glyde (high jump) and Pauline Bikembo (pentathlon). Bikembo (4,229 points) and Mutunga (1:28.19) rose to second and third all-time at Iowa in their respective events and Knepp’s finish was the sixth fastest time in program history.
• The women's pentathlon was led by Bikembo who was the Hawkeyes top finisher in every event with a final 4,229 points, ranking second all-time at Iowa and in Division 1. Sophomore Annie Wirth earned a personal record in the long jump (5.53 meters) and finished second on the day, claiming a personal record and sixth all-time ranking at Iowa.
• Junior Sal Capaldo finished first for the Hawkeyes in the men’s pentathlon with a total of 3,660 points, setting a personal record in shot put (12.58 meters) and matching his long jump personal record (6.75 meters).
• ​​The women’s 4x400 team of Arianna Williams, Holly Duax, Alli Bookin-Nosbisch and Chioma Nwachukwu recorded a time that ranks fourth nationally (3:39.19).
• Junior Tyrese Miller and sophomore Olicia Lucas both set personal records in the 300 meters.

LAST TIME OUT

At the Jimmy Grant Alumni Invitational, two Hawkeyes set school records along with nine updates to the all-time list. Junior Sean Smith set a new school record in the men’s weight throw, hitting 22.49 meters on his final throw while Daniela Wamokpego tallied a 13.32-meter mark in the triple jump, updating Iowa’s program record and tying the national lead. Six Hawkeyes won events in their debuts, including Alivia Williams (300 meters), Terrick Johnson (600 meters), Damaris Mutunga (600 meters), Luke Knepp (3,000 meters), Ethan Glyde (high jump) and Pauline Bikembo (pentathlon). Bikembo (4,229 points) and Mutunga (1:28.19) rose to second and third all-time at Iowa in their respective events. Knepp’s 8:05.72 is the sixth fastest time in program history. Austin Busch bettered his all-time best at Iowa, moving up to the third all-time with a 21.32-meter finish in the weight throw.

HAWKEYE INVITE 2024

Last season, the Hawkeyes closed out the Hawkeye Invitational with two school records and 11 updates to the Iowa all-time top-10 standings. Kalen Walker and Paige Magee posted school records in their respective events. Walker ran 6.60 in the 60-meter preliminaries to better his previous school record and in the finals finished with a time of 6.59 to secure 1st all-time. In the 60-meter hurdles, Magee (8.07) moved from second in the Iowa-all time standings into a tie for first. Lia Love finished second in program history, while Holly Duax improved to fifth in the 60-meter. Magee also ran a personal-best (7.45) in the 60-meter preliminaries, good for seventh in Hawkeye history. In the weight throw, Sean Smith set a facility record finishing second all-time while Austin Busch threw 10th all-time. Alivia Bauer threw for a personal best (19.94 meters) in the women's weight throw with a fifth all-time mark. Daniela Wamokpego rounded out the historic night with a 13.12 meter (43’ 0.5”) triple jump, ranking second on Iowa’s top-10 list.

B1G ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Three Hawkeyes earned B1G Athlete of the Week awards following their performance at the Jimmy Grant Alumni Invitational. Sean Smith won the men’s field athlete of the week honor by setting a new school record in the weight throw. His finish ranked third nationally (22.49-meters). Daniela Wamokpego was named co-field athlete of the week after crushing Iowa’s program record in the triple jump with a 13.32-meter mark. Her finish tied the national lead and was a personal record. Pauline Bikembo won freshman athlete of the week honors after her first-place finish in the pentathlon (4,229 points) which ranks second all-time at Iowa and in Division 1.

HAWKEYES IN THE TOP 10

Heading into the New Year, the Hawkeyes have 14 athletes ranked in the top 10 nationally. In the 600 meters, Damaris Mutunga, Alli Bookin-Nosbisch, Chioma Nwachukwu, Terrick Johnson and James Fingalsen crack the top 10. In the pentathlon, Pauline Bikembo, Annie Wirth, Sal Capaldo, Canaan Burnett and Will Davidson rank among the best nationally. The weight throw sees two Hawkeyes in the top 10, Sean Smith and Austin Busch. In the 4x400 relay, the team of Williams, Duax, Bookin-Nosbisch, Nwachukwu rank among the best. Daniela Wamokpego is tied for first nationally in the triple jump and Austin Kresley lands in the top 10 in 60 meters.

SCHOOL-RECORD HOLDERS

Iowa returns six student-athletes that set school records during the 2023-24 indoor season.

• Lia Love: Women’s 60 meters (7.24)

• Kalen Walker: Men’s 60 meters (6.51)

• Paige Magee: Women’s 60-meter hurdles (7.99)

• Alli Bookin-Nosbisch: Women’s 800 meters (2:03.42)

• Sean Smith: Men’s Weight Throw (22.28 meters)

• Daniela Wamokpego: Women’s Triple Jump (13.24 meters)

THE WALKER & KRESLEY DUO

Three-time All-American and NCAA runner-up, Kalen Walker is primed for a standout fifth year with the Hawkeyes. Walker took silver in the 60 meters at the 2024 NCAA Championships (6.59). At the Jarvis Scott Open, Walker set a school record of 6.51, which holds as the program's top time heading into 2025. He was also the B1G runner-up in the 60 meters, matching his school record in the prelims. Walker claimed victories at both the Black & Gold and Jimmy Grant Invites in the 60 meters, setting meet and then-school record times. Alongside Walker, Austin Kresley is aiming to bounce back from an injury. Kresley holds the second all-time best time in the 60 meters at Iowa with a time of 6.64. Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Khullen Jefferson and Joe Stein are two Hawkeyes to watch in the sprints unit.

PAIGE NOTES

Senior Paige Magee set a school record in the 60-meter hurdles at the 2024 Big Ten Indoor Championships, becoming the first Hawkeye to run sub-eight. Magee raced 7.99 in the prelims, tying for the best time in the Big Ten and seventh nationally. Magee placed second in the finals at the conference meet, contributing to 22 points across three events (2nd in 60mH, 2nd in 4x400m, 3rd in 200m). Magee earned a bid to the NCAA Championships, where she was a second-team All-American in the 60-meter hurdles. Prior to last season, the Iowa record stood at 8.07, which Magee busted on three occasions.

THE BOOKIN-NOSBISCH CLUB

Twins Alli and Grace Bookin-Nosbisch have spilled serious ink in the annals of the Iowa record book. Alli sits atop the indoor 800 meters column with her 2:03.42 set at the Tyson Invite a season ago; she bettered her own record twice during indoor season. Grace ranks seventh in the same category with a 2:07.21 set in 2024. In the indoor distance-medley relay, the duo shares real estate on the top line. Both were members of the 11:15.07 school-record team at Big Tens last season. In the outdoor 800 meters, Alli ranks second with a time of 2:04.37, with Grace one step behind in fourth at 2:05.49. Both marks were set in 2023. The Hawkeyes return a veteran, upperclassmen core of women's middle distance runners, including Gabby Cortez, Jaiden Itson and Lily Johannes.

MULTI-IMPACT OF CAPALDO & WIRTH

Junior Sal Capaldo recorded a collegiate-best 5,279 points in the heptathlon at the B1G Championships in 2024, ranking sixth all-time at Iowa. On the women’s side, sophomore Annie Wirth led the pack with a collegiate-best 3,870 points at the Big Ten Championships, which also ranks sixth all-time at Iowa. Wirth holds Iowa's fourth best mark in the high jump (1.79 meters), set at the Big Ten Championships. Led by coach Hadrien Choukroun, the multis unit enters the season with a talented group of young athletes. Hawkeyes to watch include returners Precious Irivi, Carlee Rochford, Maud Zeffou-Poaty and Daniela Wamokpego.

UPDATING THE ALL-TIME LISTS

This season, the Hawkeyes have made nine updates to the top-10 lists:

• Women’s 600-meters: Damaris Mutunga (3rd)
• Men’s 3,000 Meters: Luke Knepp (6th)
• Women’s Triple Jump: Daniela Wamokpego (1st)
• Women's Long Jump: Pauline Bikembo (5th)
• Women's Weight Throw: Wisdom Williams (10th)
• Men's Weight Throw: Sean Smith (1st), Austin Busch (3rd)
• Women’s Pentathlon: Pauline Bikembo (2nd), Annie Wirth (6th)

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes will be back home for the Larry Wieczorek Invitational on January 24-25.