Knepp, Nwachukwu Named April Student-Athletes of the Month

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa student-athletes Luke Knepp (men’s track and field) and Chioma Nwachukwu (women’s track and field) were named April’s Student-Athletes of the Month, the Iowa Student-Athlete Advisory Committee announced on Friday. 

Knepp, a freshman from Bettendorf, Iowa, played a key role in an impressive month for the Hawkeyes, highlighted by a standout performance at the Drake Relays. He claimed victory in the collegiate 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 8:43.84, earning a flag at the Blue Oval and delivering Iowa’s first-ever collegiate win in the event. At the Bryan Clay Invitational, Knepp clocked 8:39.54 securing the second-fastest time in program history. He currently ranks No. 3 overall in the Big Ten and is the No. 2 freshman nationally in the event.

Nwachukwu, a freshman from Asaba, Nigeria, delivered a dominant month with record-setting performances and conference recognition. At the Tom Jones Invitational in Florida, she set a program record in the 400 meters with a time of 51.26. She also anchored the 4x400-meter relay team to a school-record time of 3:30.92. At the Drake Relays, Nwachukwu anchored the 4x400 relay squad to a title-winning time of 3:31.13, helping Iowa’s women capture their first Drake Relays Cup since 2019. On April 23, she was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Nwachukwu is currently the top-ranked freshman and No. 2 overall in the 400 meters.

The University of Iowa track and field team begins competition at the 2025 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships today at 2:00 p.m. in Eugene, Oregon, with events continuing throughout the weekend.