Hawkeyes Close Out Wieczorek Invitational with Updates to Top-10 List

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa track and field made three updates to the program’s top-ten list on Saturday afternoon at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational inside the Hawkeye Indoor Track Facility.

Freshmen Lillian Harden (60-meter hurdles) and Damaris Mutunga (400 meters) entered the all-time record book in their respective events. Sophomore Kai Graves-Blanks moved to eighth on Iowa’s all-time list in the 60-meter hurdles. 

Harden opened and climbed to sixth in the 60-meter hurdles record books with an 8.26 in the finals. Mutunga won the Jimmy Grant 400-meter premier in 53.15 to hold the Hawkeyes’ sixth-fastest time. Graves-Blanks moved into sole possession of Iowa’s eighth-fastest time in the 60-meter hurdles, winning the event in 7.78.

“I’m really excited about our opportunity to continue building,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “Looking at the events on the track today, it was terrific watching Kai push himself towards becoming a national qualifier with a sub-7.80 time. Lillian opened up in her first race going 7.30 and then 7.26 in the finals. She’s a special talent. Damaris is a phenomenal athlete and we are blessed to have her as part of our program. She had a monster split in the 4x400 relay. Isaac’s split in the 4x400 of 46.1 shows what kind of year he’s going to have.”

“Next week we have great meets at Missouri and Notre Dame. That’s the thing about this sport: there are a lot of big time marks happening right now. We need to remember that Big Ten’s are in the last week of February and NCAA’s are during March. Right now, it’s all about building and establishing momentum throughout the season. We built from last week to this week and we will keep pushing these next few weeks.”

The women’s 4x400 meter relay team of Olicia Lucas, Gabby Cortez, Chioma Nwachukwu and Mutunga clocked in with a first-place time of 3:36.80. Arianna Williams, Holly Duax, Lia Love, and Ali Frandsen finished in second with 3:40.71. Fourth place belonged to the team of Jaiden Itson, Magee, Grace Bookin-Nosbisch and Claire Kohler (3:49.55). To finish out the night, the men’s 4x400 meter relay team of James Fingalsen, Nicholas Gorsich, Tyrese Miller and Isaac Lewis claimed first place with a 3:11.59. 

Senior Alli Bookin-Nosbisch and sophomore Clare Kelly shined in the 800 meters, finishing second and third, respectively. Bookin-Nosbisch was the top collegiate finisher, crossing the line in 2:04.59 and just behind former Hawkeye Mallory Lindamann. The Ottumwa, Iowa, native holds the fifth-fastest time in the nation. Kelly placed third overall in 2:12.29.

Senior Paige Magee was the top collegiate finisher and silver medalist in the Track Guy Foundation women’s 60-meter hurdles, crossing the line in 8.19. Harden set another personal best in the finals, placing third in 8.26.

The Hawkeyes collected six lifetime bests in the mile races. In the men’s Track Guy Foundation and Larry Wieczorek mile premier, Hayden Kuhn, Carson Lane, Yohana Yual, Miles Wilson and Brayden Burnett notched personal records. In the women’s Jerry Hassard mile premier, Miriam Sandeen clocked a career-best 5:10.13.

Up Next: Iowa travels to Columbia, Missouri, for the Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational and South Bend, Indiana, for the Meyo Invitational on January 31 and February 1.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Women’s 60 Meters Premier Prelims
1. Lia Love - 7.40, Q 
5. Holly Duax - 7.51, q

Women’s 60 Meters Premier Finals
3. Lia Love - 7.39
4. Holly Duax - 7.49

Track Guy Foundation Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles Prelims
2. Paige Magee - 8.25, Q
3. Lillian Harden - 8.30, Q, 6th at Iowa
14. Carlee Rochford - 8.91, PR

Track Guy Foundation Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles Finals
2. Paige Magee - 8.19
3. Lillian Harden - 8.26, PR, 6th at Iowa

Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles Prelims
1. Kai Graves-Blanks - 7.82, Q, PR, 8th at Iowa
3. Kalil Johnson - 8.00, Q
4. Tyler Kenaga - 7.99, q, PR

Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles Finals
1. Kai Graves-Blanks - 7.78, PR, 8th at Iowa
4. Kalil Johnson - 7.98
6. Tyler Kenaga - 8.04, PR

Men’s 400 Meters Open
13. Nicholas Gorsich - 51.45

Jimmy Grant Women’s 400 Meters Premier
1. Damaris Mutunga - 53.15, 6th at Iowa
5. Arianna Williams - 1:00.99

John Raffensperger Men’s 400 Meters Premier
2. Isaac Lewis - 47.59
3. Tyrese Miller - 48.14
4. James Fingalsen - 48.92

Women’s 800 Meters Premier
2. Alli Bookin-Nosbisch - 2:04.59
3. Clare Kelly - 2:12.29 
11. Ava Rush - 2:23.23

Men’s 800 Meters Premier
7. Derek Leicht - 1:53.17, PR 

Jerry Hassard Women’s Mile Premier
13. Jalyssa Blazek - 5:06.62
15. Miriam Sandeen - 5:10.13, PR
19. Audra Soderlind - 5:25.21

Track Guy Foundation & Larry Wieczorek Men’s Mile Premier
9. Hayden Kuhn - 4:10.91, PR
10. Carson Lane - 4:11.94, PR
13. Yohana Yual - 4:12.31, PR
14. Miles Wilson - 4:12.37, PR
15. Will Ryan - 4:13.08
16. Brayden Burnett - 4:13.27, PR
17. Carson Houg - 4:13.46
18. Luke Knepp - 4:17.20

Women’s 4x400 Meter Relay
1. Lucas, Cortez, Nwachukwu, Mutunga - 3:36.80
2. Ar. Williams, Duax, Love, Frandsen - 3:40.71
4. Itson, Magee, G. Bookin-Nosbisch, Kohler - 3:49.55
11. Kelly, Edison, Rush, Blazek - 3:59.31

Men’s 4x400 Meter Relay
1. Fingalsen, Gorsich, Miller, Lewis - 3:11.59