Arboleda Sets School Record, Hawkeyes Claim 5 Event Wins to Close Outdoor Opener

ORLANDO, Fla. – University of Iowa freshman Maria Arboleda posted a program record in her debut in the high jump on Saturday afternoon. Arboleda cleared 1.87 meters to win the event.

“We had another great day today opening up with a big win in the women’s 4x100 relay against some great competition,” Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “The throwers continue their fantastic weekend with more great performances in the discus today. The entire throws group had a super impressive weekend with a ton of personal-best’s and winning performances. It was great to see Ethan compete near his personal-best in the high jump and come out with a victory. Kai started his outdoor season with a big win and one of his fastest times in the 110-meter hurdles in the prelims and matched that time in the finals even though he clipped the last hurdle and almost went down.”

Arboleda highlighted the action at the UCF Black and Gold Invitational with an all-time record that also ranks first in the NCAA in the high jump. In the men’s high jump, freshman Ethan Glyde closed out his outdoor debut with a first-place finish. He hit the 2.09 meter mark to secure the win for the Hawkeyes.

In the men’s discus, freshman Bryce Ruland secured the win for the Hawkeyes with a mark of 55.75 meters. That mark lands Ruland tenth all-time at Iowa. Freshman Duke Faley took home the bronze with a 52.89-meter mark. To close out the top ten for the Hawkeyes, junior Walker Whalen hit the 50.07-meter mark. 

Sophomore Sydnie Smith had an impressive day in her outdoor season opener in the women’s discus with a personal best. The Bexley, Ohio, native finished with a 50.52-meter mark, good for eighth all-time at Iowa.

Sophomore Kai Graves-Blanks breezed through the men’s 110-meter hurdles prelims with a 13.92. He took the win in the finals with the same time, securing the gold for the Hawkeyes. Sophomore Kalil Johnson finished with a 14.35 in the prelims to send him to the finals, where he finished sixth with a time of 14.48. 

In the women’s 4x100 relay, the team of Holly Duax, Olicia Lucas, Brynley McDermott and Lia Love took home first place, clocking in with a time of 44.63.

Up Next: The Hawkeyes travel to Texas for the Texas Relays in Austin and the Texas State Invitational in San Marcos. A group of Hawkeyes will head to Normal, Illinois, for the Redbird Challenge.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Men’s 100 Meters
47. Miles Granjean - 11.09

Women’s 100 Meters
10. Holly Duax - 11.76

Men’s 110-Meter Hurdles Prelims
1. Kai Graves-Blanks - 13.92, Q
7. Kalil Johnson - 14.35, q
11. Drew Dillard - 14.49
13. Tyler Kenaga - 14.56

Men’s 110-Meter Hurdles Finals
1. Kai Graves-Blanks - 13.92
6. Kalil Johnson - 14.48

Women’s 100-Meter Hurdles
22. Lillian Harden - 14.53
27. Carlee Rochford - 14.75

Men’s 400 Meters
5. Terrick Johnson - 47.00
29. Braedin Zondervan - 48.70

Men’s 800 Meters
19. Derek Leicht - 1:51.90
24. Carson Lane - 1:52.26

Women’s 4x100 Relay
1. Duax, Lucas, McDermott, Love - 44.63

Women’s 4x400 Relay
12. Rickertsen, Frandsen, Kohler, Wirth - 3:47.62

Men’s High Jump
1. Ethan Glyde - 2.09 meters (6’ 10.25”)
6. Drew Dillard - 2.06 meters (6’ 9”)

Women’s High Jump
1. Maria Arboleda - 1.87 meters (6’ 1.50”), 1st at Iowa

Women’s Triple Jump
7. Jeanne Le Goff - 12.25 meters (40’ 2.25”)

Women’s Discus
2. Sydnie Smith - 50.52 meters (165’ 9”), PR + 8th at Iowa

Men’s Discus
1. Bryce Ruland - 55.75 meters, 10th at Iowa
3. Duke Faley - 52.89 meters
8. Walker Whalen - 50.07 meters