Hawkeyes Take Down 2 School Records at Iowa State, New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – University of Iowa track and field concluded the New Mexico Collegiate Classic and Iowa State Classic with record-setting performances from Ryan Johnson in the weight throw and the women’s 4x400 relay team of Alivia Williams, Chioma Nwachukwu, Damaris Mutunga, and Olicia Lucas.

In Albuquerque, Williams, Nwachukwu, Mutunga and Lucas crushed Iowa’s 4x400 relay record with a time of 3:30.42. The quartet now holds the fifth-fastest time nationally. In Ames, Johnson cruised past his previous school record of 24.00 meters with two throws over the 24-meter mark. He saved his best throws for last, completing his series with 24.13 and 24.15 marks to win the weight throw title at the Iowa State Classic. Johnson’s new school record of 24.15 holds as the third-best throw in the nation.

Across both meets, Iowa tallied 14 collegiate bests and nine updates to the all-time list.

“We had a terrific day in Albuquerque with a ton of PR’s and all-time top 10 performances, including destroying the women’s 4x400 school record,” Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “The men’s and women’s 400 groups were amazing this weekend. Almost every female who ran the 400 had a PR today and five of the seven men won their heat in the 400, with a big PR by Isaac. Both 4x400’s competed extremely well against some of the best competition in the country. Kai and Lily had great hurdle races today, both making the finals in one of the best fields in the country. Lily came through with a huge PR and top 3 performer all-time at Iowa as a true freshman. I'm extremely proud of our team this weekend and we made some big moves on the NCAA and Big Ten performance list.”

Both the men’s and women’s 400 meters saw impressive performances in New Mexico. Freshman Isaac Lewis led the men’s group with a personal best, finishing with a time of 46.67, which ranks seventh all-time at Iowa. On the women’s side, three Hawkeyes made their mark on the all-time list. Nwachukwu (52.46) now sits in fourth, while Mutunga and Williams hold the fifth and eighth spots, respectively. Lucas (54.16) and Gabby Cortez (54.68) tallied personal bests.

On the men’s side, Josh Pugh, Lewis, Terrick Johnson and Zidane Brown posted a 3:05.31, which stands as the fifth-best time in Iowa history.

In the 60-meter hurdles, freshman Lillian Harden set a personal best with a time of 8.16, landing her fourth all-time at Iowa and ranking in the top 20 nationally. Sophomore Kai Graves-Blanks represented the Hawkeyes in the men’s hurdles final, placing seventh in 7.90.

To finish out the night, junior Wisdom Williams fired a 15.92 meters to take second place and update her previous all-time best. Williams ranked fifth with a 15.88 meter mark before her performance at Iowa State. Freshman Bryce Ruland finished the day with a personal-best 17.42 meters, good for second place.

Up Next: Iowa travels to four meets over the Feb. 14-15 weekend. The Hawkeyes return to the Jarvis Scott Open in Lubbock, Texas, and the Tyson Invite in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Iowa heads to Boston for the David Hemery Valentine Invite and the Robinson Family Open in Tiffin, Ohio.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
New Mexico Collegiate Classic
Women’s 60 meters prelims
14. Lia Love - 7.47, Q
26. Holly Duax - 7.47
42. Alexandria Edison - 7.73

Women’s 60 meters semis
22. Lia Love - 7.44

Men’s 60-meter hurdles prelims
11. Kai Graves-Blanks - 8.00, q
12. Kalil Johnson - 8.04, q
16. Tyler Kenaga - 8.11, q

Men’s 60-meter hurdles semis
8. Kai Graves-Blanks - 7.81, q
13. Kalil Johnson - 7.97
16. Tyler Kenaga - 8.09

Men’s 60-meter hurdles finals
7. Kai Graves-Blanks - 7.90

Women’s 60-meter hurdles prelims
5. Paige Magee - 8.31, Q
9. Lillian Harden - 8.34, Q

Women’s 60-meter hurdles semis
5. Lillian Harden - 8.27, Q
16. Paige Magee - 8.51

Women’s 60-meter hurdles finals
5. Lillian Harden - 8.16, PR, 4th at Iowa

Men’s 400 Meters
10. Isaac Lewis - 46.67, PR, 7th at Iowa
17. Zidane Brown - 46.96
19. Terrick Johnson - 47.22, PR
22. Tyrese Miller - 47.40
23. Josh Pugh - 47.54
30. Jaylin Holmes - 48.11, PR
34. Braedin Zondervan - 48.29

Women’s 400 Meters
3. Chioma Nwachukwu - 52.46, PR, 4th at Iowa
7. Damaris Mutunga - 52.49, PR, 5th at Iowa
8. Alivia Williams - 53.11, PR, 8th at Iowa
19. Olicia Lucas - 54.16, PR
22. Gabby Cortez - 54.68, PR
29. Ali Frandsen - 55.56

Men’s 4x400 Relay
4. Pugh, Lewis, Johnson, Brown - 3:05.31, 5th at Iowa

Women’s 4x400 Relay
3. Al. Williams, Nwachukwu, Mutunga, Lucas - 3:30.42, 1st at Iowa
8. Ar. Williams, Cortez, Duax, Frandsen - 3:38.85

Iowa State Classic
Women’s 800 Meters
16. Cameron Kalaway - 2:15.69, PR

Women’s Mile
16. Clare Kelly - 5:08.33

Men’s Mile
15. Yohana Yual - 4:12.53

Women’s 3,000 Meters
17. Jalyssa Blazek - 10:17.75
20. Marissa Long - 10:26.12

Men’s Shot Put
2. Bryce Ruland - 17.42 meters (57’ 2”), PR 
6. Duke Faley - 15.97 meters (52’ 4.75”)

Women’s Shot Put
2. Wisdom Williams - 15.92 meters (52’ 2.75”), PR, 5th at Iowa

Men’s Weight Throw Invite
1. Ryan Johnson - 24.15 meters (79’ 2.75”), PR, 1st at Iowa
4. Sean Smith - 21.10 meters (69’ 2.75”)
5. Austin Busch - 20.89 meters (68’ 6.50”)

Men’s Weight Throw Open
3. Walker Whalen - 18.99 meters (62’ 3.75”)

Women’s Weight Throw
4. Alivia Bauer - 18.29 meters (60’ 0.25”)
6. Peyton Wilson - 17.74 meters (58’ 2.50”), PR
7. Sydnie Smith - 17.37 meters (57’)