Hawkeyes Set 3 School Records in Florida

Gainesville, Fla. – The University of Iowa track and field team wrapped up a strong weekend of competition by setting three program records in Florida on Saturday afternoon. Fifth-year senior Kalen Walker broke his own school record in the 100 meters, freshman Chioma Nwachukwu set a new program best in the 400 meters, and the women’s 4x400-meter relay team posted the fastest time in school history.

“I was very pleased overall with our performances today,” Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “It was very exciting to see Kalen (Walker) back in action for the first time this season in an Iowa uniform, and he didn’t disappoint by breaking his own school record in the 100 meters. His time is top 10 in the NCAA this season and is one of a few that is under the legal 2.0 wind.”

At the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in Gainesville, Walker clocked a personal-best 10.06 in the 100-meter invite, improving on his previous record of 10.09 and finishing fifth overall.

Nwachukwu recorded a school-record time of 51.26 in the women’s 400-meter invite, placing seventh and achieving a new personal best. Fellow freshmen Damaris Mutunga (52.13) and Alivia Williams (52.92) also notched personal bests in the event. Mutunga’s time ranks seventh all-time at Iowa.

The women’s 4x400-meter relay team of Olicia Lucas, Mutunga, Williams, and Nwachukwu clocked a program-best 3:30.92 to finish 13th overall. The quartet previously held the number two spot in school history with a time of 3:31.55.

In the women’s 4x100-meter relay, the team of Holly Duax, Lucas, Williams, and Lia Love ran 44.29, ranking fifth all-time at Iowa.

“I was very thrilled with how well Lia (Love) and Holly (Duax) ran in the 100 meter with Lia (Love) finishing top eight overall,” Woody added. “Holly had a huge personal best that will give her lots of confidence going into these next few. The women sprinters started us off on a high note in the 4x100-meter relay running the fifth fastest all-time at Iowa for the first time they’ve ran together this year.”

“The women’s 400-meter group all ran terrific races today led by Chioma’s school record. Kai (Graves-Blanks) and Tyler (Kenaga) had terrific prelim races in the 110-meter hurdles with a huge personal best by Tyler and Kai winning his heat against the NCAA indoor 60-meter hurdle champion,” Woody said. “Unfortunately, there was a lot of bumping in the finals and Kai lost his balance and ran into the hurdles. The women’s 4x400-meter relay team finished the day on another high note breaking another school record and setting them up well going into the next few meets.”

At the Kansas Relays, senior Drake Woody threw a personal-best 59.70 meters in the javelin. 

At the Mt. Sac Relays, freshman Maria Arboleda earned silver in the women’s high jump elite, clearing 1.85 meters. In the women’s 800 meters, senior Alli Bookin-Nosbisch was the top collegiate finisher with a time of 2:03.60.

Up Next: The Hawkeyes travel across the state of Iowa to compete in the Drake Relays in Des Moines and the Kip Janvrin Open in Indianola. Action begins Thursday, April 24.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Kansas Relays
Women’s 800 Meters
8. Lily Johannes - 2:20.67

Men’s Javelin
5. Drake Woody - 59.70 meters (195’ 10”), PR

Men’s Shot Put
9. Bryce Ruland - 17.16 meters (56’ 3.75”)

Women’s Discus
8. Sydnie Smith - 48.32 meters (158’ 6”)

Tom Jones Invite
Men’s 100 Meters
30. Miles Granjean - 10.73

Men’s 100 Meters Invite
5. Kalen Walker - 10.06, PR + 1st at Iowa

Women’s 100 Meters Invite
7. Lia Love - 11.38
18. Holly Duax - 11.47

Women’s 400 Meters Invite
7. Chioma Nwachukwu - 51.26, PR + 1st at Iowa
14. Damaris Mutunga - 52.13, PR + 7th at Iowa
21. Alivia Williams - 52.92, PR
30. Olicia Lucas - 54.39

Men’s 400 Meters Invite
10. Zidane Brown - 46.14 
15. Landon Fontenot - 46.36
18. Tyrese Miller - 46.63
24. Josh Pugh - 46.95

Men’s 110-Meter Hurdles Invite Prelims
4. Kai Graves-Blanks - 13.66, Q
13. Tyler Kenaga - 14.02, PR
17. Kalil Johnson - 14.17

Women’s 4x100-Meter Relay
11. Duax, Lucas, Al. Williams, Love - 44.29, 5th at Iowa

Men’s 4x100-Meter Relay
17. Johnson, Walker, Granjean, Brown - 39.93

Women’s 4x400-Meter Relay
13. Lucas, Al. Williams, Mutunga, Nwachukwu - 3:30.92, PR + 1st at Iowa

Mt. Sac Relays
Women’s 800 Meters Elite
2. Alli Bookin-Nosbisch - 2:03.60
8. Gabby Cortez - 2:08.66

Men’s 800 Meter Elite
8. Ryan Schreiner - 1:48.29
11. Terrick Johnson - 1:48.90, PR
12. James Fingalsen - 1:48.91, PR
23. Caleb Levy - 1:52.14

Women’s High Jump Elite
2. Maria Arboleda - 1.85 meters (6’ 0.75”)

Women’s Triple Jump Elite
4. Daniela Wamokpego - 12.94 meters (42’ 5.5”)