Hawkeyes Open Weekend with 5 Updates to All-Time List

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Iowa track and field freshman Emmanuel Njoku was crowned long jump champion and entered Iowa's all-time best list at the Tyson Invitational on Friday. 

“I was happy to see Emmanuel compete well today and win the open. He’s starting to put some great things together in competition and is going to have a big breakthrough performance very soon," Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. "We had a great day at Texas Tech with multiple finalists in a very competitive sprint meet. I think Paige was really close to putting together a 8.0x type race and we’ve been seeing some great signs in training and her races. I was proud of the consistency Kai had today and competed well for three rounds. I thought Lily had another great weekend coming off her best performance of the year last week."

“I was excited to see a big breakout for Kalil today who ran right off of his personal-record. Lia got things started off today with a big season-best and getting back to the form she had at this time last year. We decided to scratch the finals so she can feel ready for a great 200 tomorrow. At Arkansas, the 400 group continues to perform at an extremely high level. Damaris and Chioma ran phenomenal races and are proving to be two of the best 400 runners in the country and they are both two of the best freshman in the NCAA in any event. Olicia had a huge PR performance and continues to make big strides each week. Gabby and Ali both had great PR races as well. The men had a very good day as well with some personal-best performances. Zidane competed well to win his heat and is very close to a big breakthrough. Landon had a terrific race for his first 400 of the season.”

The Hawkeyes traveled to three meets across the country today, including the Jarvis Scott Open, Tyson Invitational and BU Hemery Valentine Invitational. 

Njoku highlighted the action in Arkansas with a first-place finish in the long jump. His 7.69 meter (25’ 2.75”) jump ranks fifth all-time at Iowa and is a personal best. On the women’s side, Maud Zeffou-Poaty set a personal record of 6.27 meters (20’ 7”), updating her all-time ranking of fourth at Iowa.

The women’s 400-meter invitational saw two freshman phenoms update the Iowa all-time best list. Damaris Mutunga and Chioma Nwachukwu now rank third and fourth respectively. Mutunga’s time of 52.14 placed sixth and is a personal-best. Nwachukwu's 52.25 finish is also a personal-best, good for eighth place. Hawkeyes Olicia Lucas (53.86) and Gabby Cortez (54.55) also picked up career-best times in the invitational.

In the men’s 400-meter invitational, senior Zidane Brown finished eighth with a personal-best of 46.53. Junior Terrick Johnson also clocked in a career-best 47.10.

At the BU Hemery Valentine Invitational, junior Brayden Burnett cracked into the all-time list with a 14:06.81 finish in the 5,000 meters. Burnett’s time ranks 8th all-time at Iowa. Junior Will Ryan finished the day with a personal-best 14:14.27. 

At Texas Tech, Paige Magee and Lillian Harden both qualified for the 60-meter hurdles finals. Magee was the top collegiate finisher with a time of 8.20, while Harden finished 8.28 to secure third place. On the men’s side, Kai Graves-Blanks secured his spot in the finals, finishing fifth with a time of 7.80.

Up Next: The Hawkeyes continue competition at the Tyson Invitational, Jarvis Scott Open and BU Hemery Valentine Invitational while throws begin action at the Robinson Family Open in Tiffin, Ohio. 

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Tyson Invitational
Women’s 60 meters
4. Holly Duax - 7.48

Women’s 60-meter hurdles
20. Carlee Rochford - 8.93
23. Annie Wirth - 9.01

Men’s 60-meter hurdles 
13. Sal Capaldo - 8.44

Women’s 400 meters
11. Arianna Williams - 55.04, PR
16. Ali Frandsen - 55.47, PR

Women’s 400-meter Invitational
6. Damaris Mutunga - 52.14, PR, 3rd at Iowa
8. Chioma Nwachukwu - 52.25, PR, 4th at Iowa
23. Alivia Williams - 53.31
30. Olicia Lucas - 53.86, PR 
34. Gabby Cortez - 54.55, PR 

Men’s 400 meters
19. Braedin Zondervan - 48.11

Men’s 400 meters Invitational
8. Zidane Brown - 46.53, PR 
19. Isaac Lewis - 47.04
22. Terrick Johnson - 47.10, PR
23. Landon Fontenot - 47.21
25. Tyrese Miller - 47.39
29. James Fingalsen - 47.86
30. Josh Pugh - 47.88

Women’s Long Jump
8. Maud Zeffou-Poaty - 6.27 meters (20’ 7”), PR, 4th at Iowa 

Men’s Long Jump
1. Emmanuel Njoku - 7.69 meters (25’ 2.75”), PR, 5th at Iowa
17. Sal Capaldo - 7.04 meters (23’ 1.25”)

Jarvis Scott Open
Women’s 60 meters
3. Lia Love - 7.27, Q
27. Alexandria Edison - 7.63, PR

Women’s 60-meter semi
8. Lia Love - 7.33, q

Women’s 60-meter hurdles
5. Paige Magee - 8.35, Q
6. Lillian Harden - 8.36, Q

Women’s 60-meter hurdles semi
4. Paige Magee - 8.27, q
5. Lillian Harden - 8.32, q

Women’s 60-meter hurdles final
2. Paige Magee - 8.20
3. Lillian Harden - 8.28

Men’s 60 meter hurdles
7. Kai Graves-Blanks - 7.84, Q
10. Kalil Johnson - 7.99, q
18. Tyler Kenaga - 8.09, q
32. Drew Dillard - 8.44

Men’s 60 meter hurdles semi
7. Kai Graves-Blanks - 7.81, q
9. Kalil Johnson - 7.85 
20. Tyler Kenaga - 8.17

Men’s 60 meter hurdles final
5. Kai Graves-Blanks - 7.80

Women’s 400 meters
29. Jaiden Itson - 56.44
46. Ellie Rickertsen - 58.15

Men’s 400 meters
54. Miles Granjean - 49.28

BU Hemery Valentine Invitational
Men’s 1 mile
182. Carson Houg - 4:10.33, PR

Men’s 3,000 meter 
107. Luke Knepp - 8:07.33

Men’s 5,000 meters
101. Brayden Burnett - 14:06.81, PR, 8th at Iowa
126. Will Ryan - 14:14.27, PR
128. Miles Wilson - 14:15.42