Hawkeyes Crown 2 Champions on Day 1 of B1G Championships

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Freshman Pauline Bikembo and sophomore Ryan Johnson were crowned champions of their respective events on Friday afternoon at the Big Ten Indoor Championships inside the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

At the end of the first day of competition, the men’s team is in fourth place with 24 points. The women’s team has 11 points in eighth place.

Bikembo set Iowa’s school record with 4,330 points in the women’s pentathlon on her way to the conference title. Johnson became Iowa’s first-ever men’s weight thrower to win the Big Ten title.

Bikembo used a balanced performance to win the event and became Iowa’s first Big Ten pentathlon champion since 2019. The freshman from Saint Lue La Foret, France, placed first in the high jump at 1.79 meters. She was second in the long jump with a mark of 6.10 meters. A fourth-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles (8.56) and a pair of eighth-place results in the shot put and 800 meters helped Bikembo accumulate her career high in points. Bikembo scored the Hawkeyes ten team points. Annie Wirth staked a spot at the podium, finishing eighth with a personal-best 3,941 points to move to sixth all-time at Iowa.

In his debut season with the Hawkeyes, Johnson made the ultimate mark, winning the program’s first conference men’s weight throw title at 24.38 meters. The final three throws of Johnson’s series were his best, surpassing the 23.50 mark each time. The sophomore from Springboro, Ohio, held off Nebraska’s Henry Zimmerman to win the event. Sean Smith (21.83 meters) and Austin Busch (21.05 meters) also scored for the Hawkeyes, placing fifth and eighth, respectively.

Also in his rookie campaign, long jumper Emmanuel Njoku claimed the silver medal at 7.72 meters. The native of Benin City, Nigeria, rose to fifth in program history on his final jump. Heading into his final attempt, Njoku was in a tie for third place at 7.56 meters. He broke through and moved into sole possession of second with his new career best of 7.72 meters. Freshman Abraham Vogelsang scored a point for Iowa in the long jump with a 7.47-meter mark, while also recording Iowa’s third-best pole vault mark at 5.15 meters. 

The Hawkeyes had 13 athletes qualify for the finals on Saturday, highlighted by junior Gabby Cortez, who finished first in the women’s 600 meters with a time of 1:28.67. Senior Alli Bookin-Nosbisch was close behind, clocking in at 1:29.02 to also advance to Saturday’s competition. Also advancing in the men’s 60-meter hurdles, sophomore Kai Graves-Blanks finished third matching his personal best time of 7.78.

In the women’s 400-meter prelims, freshman phenoms Chioma Nwachukwu and Damaris Mutunga posted impressive times, securing their spots in the finals. Nwachukwu moved up in the program all-time list with a 52.07, good for third at Iowa.

Veterans Austin Kresley (60 meters, 200 meters) and Paige Magee (60-meter hurdles) will compete in the finals of their respective events on Saturday.

The men’s heptathlon will wrap up on Saturday, as well. Sal Capaldo finished day one in fifth place with 3,109 points after strong performances in the 60 meters (6.98) and high jump (2.00 meters).

Up Next: Iowa track and field concludes the Big Ten Championships with action starting at 9:20 a.m. (CT) at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Men’s 60 Meters Prelims
7. Austin Kresley - 6.66, q

Women’s 60 Meters Prelims
14. Lia Love - 7.37
22. Holly Duax - 7.57
25. Alexandria Edison - 7.62, PR 

Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles Prelims
3. Kai Graves-Blanks - 7.78, Q, =PR
8. Kalil Johnson - 7.92, q
9. Tyler Kenaga - 7.98, PR
14. Drew Dillard - 8.13, PR

Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles Prelims
5. Paige Magee - 8.20, q
11. Lillian Harden - 8.40

Men’s 200 Meters Prelims
9. Austin Kresley - 21.05, q
19. Jaylin Holmes - 21.44

Women’s 200 Meters Prelims
10. Lia Love - 23.41
17. Holly Duax - 23.80
18. Alexandria Edison - 23.98

Men’s 400 Meters Prelims
8. Landon Fontenot - 46.73, q, PR
9. Zidane Brown - 46.76
11. Josh Pugh - 46.97
13. Tyrese Miller - 46.99
15. Isaac Lewis - 47.21

Women’s 400 Meters Prelims
3. Chioma Nwachukwu - 52.07, q, PR, 3rd at Iowa
5. Damaris Mutunga - 52.73, q
9. Alivia Williams - 53.20
17. Olicia Lucas - 55.00
19. Arianna Williams - 55.37

Men’s 600 Meters Prelims
5. Terrick Johnson - 1:16.98, q, PR, 9th at Iowa
6. James Fingalsen - 1:17.22, q, PR
9. Caleb Levy - 1:17.74, PR

Women’s 600 Meters Prelims
1. Gabby Cortez - 1:28.67, q
2. Alli Bookin-Nosbisch - 1:29.02, q
12. Jaiden Itson - 1:32.16
17. Ali Frandsen - 1:33.23

Men’s 800 Meters Prelims
11. Ryan Schreiner - 1:48.70

Women’s 800 Meters Prelims
7. Alli Bookin-Nosbisch - 2:06.29, Q
19. Grace Bookin-Nosbisch - 2:11.22
21. Clare Kelly - 2:13.13

Men’s 5,000 Meters
20. Brayden Burnett - 14:20.23
24. Miles Wilson - 14:22.84
29. Will Ryan - 14:41.21

Women’s 5,000 Meters
25. Miriam Sandeen - 16:59.84
29. Hillary Trainor - 17:10.66, PR

Women’s Distance Medley Relay
12. Kelly, Williams, Bookin-Nosbisch, Torres - 11:46.08

Men’s Pole Vault
10. Abraham Vogelsang - 5.15 meters (16’ 10.75”), PR, 3rd at Iowa

Men’s Long Jump
2. Emmanuel Njoku - 7.72 meters (25’ 4”), PR, 5th at Iowa
8. Abraham Vogelsang - 7.47 meters (24’ 6.25”), PR, 

Women’s Long Jump
11. Maud Zeffou-Poaty - 6.07 meters

Men’s Weight Throw
1. Ryan Johnson - 24.38 meters
5. Sean Smith - 21.83 meters
8. Austin Busch - 21.05 meters
10. Bryce Ruland - 20.13 meters
15. Walker Whalen - 19.79 meters, PR

Women’s Weight Throw
24. Peyton Wilson - 17.58 meters, PR 
26. Alivia Bauer - 16.78 meters
30. Sydnie Smith - 16.51 meters

Women’s Pentathlon
1. Pauline Bikembo - 4,330 points, PR, 1st at Iowa
8. Annie Wirth - 3,941 points, PR, 6th at Iowa
15. Carlee Rochford - 3,631 points, PR

60m Hurdles
4. Pauline Bikembo - 8.56
16. Carlee Rochford - 8.86, PR
20. Annie Wirth - 8.95

High Jump
1. Pauline Bikembo - 1.79 meters (5’ 10.5”), PR, tied 4th at Iowa
2. Annie Wirth - 1.76 meters (5’ 9.25”) 
8. Carlee Rochford - 1.67 meters (5’ 5.75”)

Shot Put
8. Pauline Bikembo - 12.36 meters (40’ 6.75”), PR
14. Carlee Rochford - 10.81 meters (35’ 5.75”)
16. Annie Wirth - 10.71 meters (35’ 1.75”)

Long Jump
2. Pauline Bikembo - 6.10 meters (20’ 0.25”)
12. Annie Wirth - 5.57 meters (18’ 3.25”), PR
17. Carlee Rochford - 5.27 meters (17’ 3.5”)

800 Meters
7. Annie Wirth - 2:21.94
8. Pauline Bikembo - 2:22.10
16. Carlee Rochford - 2:32.88

Men’s Heptathlon
5. Sal Capaldo - 3,109 points
14. Canaan Burnett - 2,569 points

60 Meters
3. Sal Capaldo - 6.98, PR
13. Canaan Burnett - 7.30, PR

Long Jump
8. Sal Capaldo - 6.96 meters (22’ 10”)
12. Canaan Burnett - 6.71 meters (22’ 0.25”), PR

Shot Put
8. Sal Capaldo - 12.11 meters (39’ 8.75”)
15. Canaan Burnett - 9.43 meters (30’ 11.25”)

High Jump
3. Sal Capaldo - 2.00 meters (6’ 6.75”)
13. Canaan Burnett - 1.76 meters (5’ 9.25”)