Johnson, Lyons Secure B1G Honors

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa’s Ryan Johnson and Caila Lyons earned Big Ten Athlete of the Week recognition, the league announced on Wednesday afternoon. 

Johnson, a junior from Springboro, Ohio, earned the Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week honor after delivering a historic performance in the weight throw at the Hawkeye Invitational on Jan. 9. He became the fourth-best weight thrower in NCAA Division I history, firing a 24.85-meter throw to move into the DI lead and update Iowa’s school, facility and meet record. Johnson is fifth in overall collegiate history. On the national scene, he is the 11th-best performer in US history and 12th-best individual in the world all-time. 

Lyons was named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week after collecting two wins at the Hawkeye Invitational on Jan. 10. Lyons captured the 600-meter title in 1:31.12, a performance that ranks her as the No. 4 freshman nationally in the event. She also anchored Iowa’s 4x400 relay that claimed the meet title in 3:50.92, posting the fastest split over all Hawkeyes. Lyons sealed the victory at the line with a 55.50 split, capping a standout weekend for the Hawkeye freshman.

Johnson and Lyons join Jordan Gross, Dymonde Nave, Blake Nyenati and Izzy Zahn, who have also earned Big Ten Athlete of the Week recognition this season.

Iowa track and field returns to action on Friday, Jan. 16, traveling to the Arkansas Invitational.