Nwachukwu Earns B1G Award

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa track and field’s Chioma Nwachukwu was named the Big Ten Women’s Freshman of the Week, the league announced on Wednesday.

The freshman from Asaba, Nigeria, set a school record in the women’s 400-meter invite at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in Gainesville, Florida, clocking a time of 51.26 seconds. She also ran the final leg of the 4x400-meter relay, helping the team to a school record time of 3:30.92.

Nwachukwu is currently the top-ranked freshman in the NCAA in the 400 meters and is ranked second overall in the Big Ten. The school record relay team of Olicia Lucas, Damaris Mutunga, Alivia Williams, and Nwachukwu is ranked fourth in the Big Ten and within the top 20 nationally.

This marks the fourth Freshman of the Week honor for the Hawkeyes during the outdoor season. Maria Arboleda, Duke Faley and Bryce Ruland have each received the recognition earlier this season. Nwachukwu previously earned the honor on February 12 during the indoor season, following an impressive performance at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic.

The Hawkeyes return to competition this week, traveling to the Drake Relays and the Kip Janvrin Open, with the action starting Wednesday, April 23 through Saturday, April 26.