Johnson Shatters School Record to Close Weekend

TIFFIN, Ohio. – University of Iowa track and field sophomore Ryan Johnson crushed his previous program record at the Robinson Family Open in Tiffin, Ohio, with a 24.59-meter throw. Johnson’s heave is the second-farthest in NCAA D1 in 2025.

“I thought we competed very well today overall and continued our progress from yesterday,” Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “The men’s team was led by Ryan Johnson’s spectacular performance in the weight throw at Tiffin. We had a few personal-bests in the men’s 200 today with a really good race by Jaylin Holmes. The women all ran well in the 200 today with a personal-best by Lia to finish second at Texas Tech and a big indoor personal-best by Holly at Arkansas. I thought Ali competed well in the 800 meters, coming up a little short of getting another personal-best.”

“The men's and women's 4x400 relays didn't quite go as planned with the men getting tripped up and unfortunately didn't finish the race. The women also had a mishap with the first exchange which threw off our rhythm and didn't give us an opportunity to improve from last week. Damaris still finished with a very impressive 51.74 relay split. The 400 group overall had a great weekend so they will be very motivated heading into the championship season to show that their 4x400 relays can compete against the best in the NCAA.”

Johnson climbs to fourth in NCAA division one history with his throw of 24.59 meters. He also ranks fifth among all NCAA competitors all time in the men’s weight throw. Junior Sean Smith finished in second place with a 21.71-meter toss, while sophomore Austin Busch picked up third at 20.98 meters. Junior Walker Whalen achieved a personal-best 19.54 meters. 

On the women’s side, the Hawkeyes dominated the shot put and weight throw with first place finishes in both events. Junior Wisdom Williams collected the gold with a 15.75-meter finish. Sophomore Sydnie Smith secured first in the weight throw (17.94 meters), with freshman Peyton Wilson (17.60 meters) taking second.

At the Jarvis Scott Open, senior Lia Love updated her lifetime best in the women’s 200-meter invitational. She clocked a 23.38, good for second place. Love remains fourth all-time at Iowa.

Senior Jaiden Itson made her mark in the women’s 600 yards with a time ranked eighth at Iowa. Itson’s 1:23.80 secured her fifth place.

At the Tyson Invitational, sophomore James Fingalsen cracked into the program-best list with a 1:49.10 finish in the 800-meter invitational. 

Sophomore Clare Kelly achieved personal bests in the women’s 800 meters (2:10.27) and the mile (4:56.34). Juniors Derek Leicht and Ellie Rickertsen also claimed career bests to close out the weekend. Leicht clocked in at 1:52.51 in the men’s 800-meter open, while Rickertsen finished 25.58 in the 200-meter open.

The Hawkeyes had two more personal bests in the men’s and women’s 200 meters. Juniors Jaylin Holmes (21.36) and Holly Duax (23.71) finished the race within the top 25 with career best times.

Up Next: The Hawkeyes host the Iowa Open on February 21st. Iowa also travels to the Matador Qualifier in Lubbock, Texas, and the Arkansas Qualifier in Fayetteville, Arkansas. 

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Tyson Invitational
Women’s 200 meters
14. Holly Duax - 23.71, PR
60. Ali Frandsen - 25.45

Men’s 200 meters
23. Jaylin Holmes - 21.36, PR

Women’s 800-meters Invitational
7. Alli Bookin-Nosbisch - 2:04.05
16. Grace Bookin-Nosbisch - 2:08.63

Men’s 800-meters Open
24. Derek Leicht - 1:52.51, PR
42. Caleb Levy - 2:03.09

Men’s 800-meters Invitational
18. Ryan Schreiner - 1:48.87
22. James Fingalsen - 1:49.10, PR, 10th at Iowa

Men’s Mile
40. Carson Lane - 4:10.72

Women’s 4x400 Relay
5. Nwachukwu, Williams, Lucas, Mutunga - 3:31.62
9. Cortez, Duax, Bookin-Nosbisch, Frandsen - 3:37.80

Men’s 4x400 Relay
12. Miller, Holmes, Pugh, Zondervan - 3:10.16

Women’s Triple Jump Open
9. Jeanne Le Goff - 12.79 meters 

Women’s Triple Jump Invitational
7. Daniela Wamokpego - 13.13 meters

Men’s Triple Jump
6. Precious Irivi - 14.85 meters

Women’s High Jump 
7. Pauline Bikembo - 1.65 meters (5’ 5”)

Men’s High Jump
14. Ethan Glyde - 2.00 meters (6’ 6.75”)

Women’s Shot Put
34. Annie Wirth - 10.48 meters (34’ 4.75”)

Men’s Shot Put
35. Sal Capaldo - 11.65 meters (38’ 2.75”)

Jarvis Scott Open
Women’s 200-meters Open
31. Ellie Rickertsen - 25.58, PR

Men’s 200-meters Open
17. Miles Granjean - 21.78

Women’s 200-meters Invite
2. Lia Love - 23.38, PR, 4th at Iowa
6. Alexandria Edison - 23.88
19. Brynley McDermott - 24.47

Women’s 600 yards
5. Jaiden Itson - 1:23.80, 8th at Iowa

BU Hemery Valentine Invitational
Women’s 800 meters
48. Clare Kelly - 2:10.27, PR

Women’s Mile
129. Clare Kelly 4:56.34, PR

Women’s 5,000 meters
75. Elena Torres - 16:34.86
86. Miriam Sandeen - 16:44.64
130. Hillary Trainor - 17:14.11

Robinson Family Open
Men’s Shot Put
3. Bryce Ruland - 16.70 meters
9. Duke Faley - 15.23 meters

Women’s Shot Put
1. Wisdom Williams - 15.75 meters

Men’s Weight Throw
1. Ryan Johnson - 24.59 meters, PR, 1st at Iowa
2. Sean Smith - 21.71 meters
3. Austin Busch - 20.98 meters
5. Bryce Ruland - 20.18 meters
8. Walker Whalen - 19.54 meters, PR

Women’s Weight Throw
1. Sydnie Smith - 17.94 meters
2. Peyton Wilson - 17.60 meters