EUGENE, Ore. – University of Iowa track and field senior sprinter Kalen Walker became an individual Big Ten champion for the first time in his career on Sunday, winning the 100 meters in 10.17 at Hayward Field.
The native of Eddyville, Iowa, led wire-to-wire and held off USC’s Eddie Nketia (10.18) to win the title. The win gained the Iowa men 10 team points.
“Kalen had a rocket start, stayed patient and drove the entire way,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “He maintained his rhythm all the way through the tape to win his first individual Big Ten title while beating a stellar field of sprinters. It was a truly amazing moment for him after battling through a lot of injuries over the last couple years.”
THE FASTEST MAN IN THE BIG TEN 🔥#Hawkeyes x #B1GTF pic.twitter.com/xrZ69RdJ97
— Iowa Track & Field/Cross Country (@IowaXC_TF) May 18, 2025
Walker became Iowa’s fifth champion in the 100 meters and first since Justin Austin was crowned in 2013. He joins two-time champion George Page (1995-96), Tim Dwight (1999) and Austin as a 100-meter Big Ten champion. Walker’s 10.17 finish was the second-fastest among the Hawkeye winners in the event.
"It feels so good," Walker said after his title. "I grew up in Iowa and always wanted to be a Hawkeye. I had no division I offers out of high school and this being my fifth year of college feels like it all led up to this moment. This is absolutely the best moment I've ever felt in athletics by far."
The Iowa men placed seventh with 59 points. The women scored 47 points and finished in eighth place. Oregon won the men’s title at its home facility, while USC claimed the women’s championship.
“It was a crazy, up and down weekend for both teams as most championships go,” Woody said. “I am extremely proud of how our men and women competed all three days. We battled through unfortunate events on the women’s side with a disqualification in the 4x100 relay and the 400 meters, but we finished with five medalists. It was a total team effort this weekend and I am proud of our staff and athletes.”
Sophomore Kai Graves-Blanks locked in a second-place finish in finals of the 110-meter hurdles with a personal best of 13.51, improving the seventh-fastest time in school history. The native of Upland, California, earned second-team all-Big Ten honors. Graves-Blanks took a significant jump as a sophomore, improving on his seventh-place finish in 2024 as a freshman.
“Kai kept his composure after a tough start and was really moving over the last five hurdles,” said Woody. “He came off the last hurdle just a little off balance, otherwise I think he would’ve been right there to win it.”
Iowa performed well in the 4x400-meter relays, earning silver medals on both sides. The women’s quartet posted the program’s fourth-fastest time in its runner-up finish of 3:31.54. Alivia Williams, Damaris Mutunga, Olicia Lucas and Chioma Nwachukwu were neck and neck with powerhouse USC for the entire race. The Hawkeyes’ 4x400-meter relay team placed second in a tightly contested race, ultimately finishing behind Ohio State. Landon Fontenot, Tyrese Miller, Terrick Johnson and Zidane Brown wrapped up the final in 3:04.63. Iowa and Ohio State fought for inside position at the final exchange, where the Buckeyes pulled ahead.
“The men’s and women’s 4x400 relays competed exceptionally well today and came up a bit short of winning both relays. They both have a lot more in the tank and will be battling to make the NCAA finals,” Woody added.
