Hawkeyes Win 11 Titles at Jimmy Grant Invite

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa track and field won 11 titles at the season-opening Jimmy Grant Invitational on Saturday. 

The Hawkeyes were victorious in each of the 60-meter hurdle races. Junior Blake Nyenati climbed into Iowa’s top 10 with a 7.73 personal record. Alabama State transfer and senior Vaughn DeVaughn III finished in second in 7.85 for his new best. Both Hawkeyes posted times that landed in the nation’s top-10. Nyenati’s time was fifth, while DeVaughn III notched the tenth-fastest time in the country. On the women’s side, Iowa claimed the top three spots. In her Hawkeye debut, junior Dymonde Nave won the title in 8.44. UConn transfer and senior Jailya Ash placed second in 8.53. Freshman Isabel Evans grabbed third in 8.65.

“This meet gives us a good measuring stick for where we are as a program,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “It also gives us a chance to see our newcomers and give them a taste of what it’s like to compete in the Iowa uniform in front of a great crowd. I was really pleased with Blake and Vaughn, especially in the hurdles, being able to step in there and run PRs right off the bat. On the women’s side, Dymonde was impressive in her first meet of the year. Our sprints and hurdles group will make huge improvements this year.”

At the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Center, the Iowa throwers claimed three titles. Junior Ryan Johnson won the men’s weight throw with a Jimmy Grant Invite meet record of 23.95 meters. His mark ranks second nationally. Senior Sean Smith placed second at 21.86 meters for the country’s third-longest throw. Junior Austin Busch completed the trifecta of Hawkeyes that broke the 20-meter barrier with his 20.74-meter throw. Busch finished third in the event and holds the nation’s ninth-longest throw. Senior Walker Whalen earned fifth place at 19.28 meters. 

Sophomore Peyton Wilson won the women’s title in her season debut with an 18.04-meter personal record. Senior Wisdom Williams was the winner in the shot put at 15.38 meters.

“The throws had a great day today,” Woody continued. “They battled through some things and they were able to step into the ring and put together some good performances. Ryan (Johnson) has big goals for the indoor season and he’s a phenomenal athlete.”

In her collegiate debut, freshman Lovisa Ulvenstam won the triple jump on her first leap at 12.37 meters.

The Hawkeyes performed well in the combined events. Junior Carlee Rochford won the pentathlon with a personal-best 4,036 points. The total moved Rochford into the program’s record book at fifth all-time. The New Hampton, Iowa, native notched lifetime bests in the long jump (5.74 meters), shot put (12.91 meters) and 800 meters (2:23.29). 

Senior Sal Capaldo finished second and moved to fifth all-time at Iowa in the heptathlon with 5,625 points. He cleared his previous personal best of 5,408 points. The native of Polk City, Iowa, used personal bests in the pole vault (4.60 meters), shot put (12.65 meters) and 1,000 meters (2:48.48) to highlight his performance.

“I am really proud of Carlee and Sal,” Woody added. “They competed well and had some big PRs. There is still a lot there, which is exciting. Both of them will see some big improvement between now and when we hit another multi in February.”

Elsewhere on the track, sophomore Julia Gehl won the women’s mile in 4:56.64. Senior Jalyssa Blazek was second in 5:04.35. In the men’s 3,000 meters, senior Hayden Kuhn took charge and won in 8:13.50. Freshman Izzy Zahn used a meet record of 38.14 to claim the women’s 300-meter title.

Senior Holly Duax was the top collegiate finisher in the 60 meters, clocking a 7.41. Dymonde Nave made her debut in the black and gold and finished fourth overall in 7.70. On the men’s side, Nyenati and DeVaughn III set lifetime bests in the finals with a 6.78 and 6.85, respectively.

Up Next: Iowa hosts the Hawkeye Invitational on Jan. 10.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Men’s 60 Meters Prelims
3. Jordan Gross - 6.77, q
4. Blake Nyenati - 6.82, q, PR
6. Vaughn DeVaughn III - 6.85, q, PR

Men’s 60 Meters Finals
3. Blake Nyenati - 6.78, PR
4. Vaughn DeVaughn III - 6.85, PR

Women’s 60 Meters Prelims
2. Holly Duax - 7.44, Q
3. Alexandria Edison - 7.53, q, PR
4. Jailya Ash - 7.65, Q
6. Dymonde Nave - 7.67, q
9. Olicia Lucas - 7.74
16. Isabel Evans - 7.99

Women’s 60 Meters Finals
2. Holly Duax - 7.41
4. Dymonde Nave - 7.70

Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles Finals
1. Blake Nyenati - 7.73, PR + 7th at Iowa, 5th in DI
2. Vaughn DeVaughn III - 7.85, PR, 10th in DI

Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles Finals
1. Dymonde Nave - 8.44
2. Jailya Ash - 8.53
3. Isabel Evans - 8.65

Men’s 300 Meters Finals
3. Jordan Gross - 33.49
6. Austin Rowswell - 34.21

Women’s 300 Meters Finals
1. Izzy Zahn - 38.14, Meet Record
2. Alexandria Edison - 38.50, PR

Men’s 600 Meters Finals
4. Jackson Johannes - 1:20.98
7. Nicholas Gorsich - 1:21.70
8. Evan Osler - 1:27.93

Women’s 600 Meters Finals
1. Damaris Mutunga - 1:29.03
2. Leanna Lewis - 1:30.32
3. Arianna Williams - 1:32.18, PR
6. Lily Johannes - 1:37.94

Men’s 1,000 Meters Finals
2. Carson Lane - 2:25.69, PR
3. Derek Leicht - 2:26.70, PR
4. Owen Wolfe - 2:26.90
5. Spencer Alf - 2:28.74
6. Armaan Chopra - 2:28.79

Women’s 1,000 Meters Finals
2. Rosemary Arthur - 2:48.13, PR
3. Clare Kelly - 2:52.63, PR
4. Caila Lyons - 2:54.00
5. Grace Boleyn - 2:57.23

Women’s Mile Finals
1. Julia Gehl - 4:56.64
2. Jalyssa Blazek - 5:04.35

Men’s 3,000 Meters Finals
1. Hayden Kuhn - 8:13.50

Women’s 3,000 Meters Finals
6. Ellie Rathe - 10:30.24
7. Rowan Boulter - 10:36.84

Men’s 4x400-Meter Relay Finals
2. Miller, Gorsich, DeVaughn III, Leicht - 3:15.99

Women’s 4x400-Meter Relay Finals
1. Nwachukwu, Lewis, Mutunga, Kelly - 3:40.17
2. Lucas, Zahn, Lyons, Boleyn - 3:46.76

Women’s Triple Jump
1. Lovisa Ulvenstam - 12.37 meters (40’ 7”)

Men’s Weight Throw
1. Ryan Johnson - 23.95 meters (78’ 7”), 2nd in D1, Meet Record
2. Sean Smith - 21.86 meters (71’ 8.75”), 3rd in D1
3. Austin Busch - 20.74 meters (68’ 0.50”), 9th in D1
5. Walker Whalen - 19.28 meters (63’ 3.25”)

Women’s Weight Throw
1. Peyton Wilson - 18.04 meters (59’ 2.25”), PR

Men’s Shot Put
9. Duke Faley - 15.67 meters (51’ 5”)

Women’s Shot Put
1. Wisdom Williams - 15.38 meters (50’ 5.50”)

Men’s Heptathlon
2. Sal Capaldo - 5,625 points, PR + 5th at Iowa

1. 60 Meters - 7.00
2. Long Jump - 7.05 meters (23’ 1.75”)
3. Shot Put - 12.65 meters (41’ 6”), PR
2. High Jump - 1.96 meters (6’ 5”)
2. 60-meter hurdles - 8.20, PR
2. Pole Vault 4.60 meters (15’ 1”), PR
2. 1,000 Meters - 2:48.48, PR

Women’s Pentathlon
1. Carlee Rochford - 4,036 points, PR + 5th at Iowa

1. 60-meter hurdles - 8.66, PR
3. High Jump - 1.64 meters (5’ 4.50”)
1. Shot Put - 12.91 meters (42’ 4.25”), PR
1. Long Jump - 5.74 meters (18’ 10”), PR
2. 800 Meters - 2:23.29, PR