Jimenez Debuts, Sprints to 2nd on All-Time List

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa track and field sprinter Darwin Jimenez won the Track Guy Foundation 60 Meters in 6.56 on Saturday evening at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational inside the Hawkeye Indoor Track Facility. In his debut, Jimenez rose to second all-time in program history.

“Welcome to Iowa, Darwin,” Iowa Track and Field Director Joey Woody said. “He’s been working his tail off, knowing that he wanted to be ready for this moment. Today’s performance was impressive. Darwin is a super person and has a great relationship with his teammates.”

Jimenez opened with a 6.65 in the prelims, qualifying for the final and recording the third-fastest time in Iowa history. He was joined in the final by teammates Kalen Walker, Jordan Gross and Jaylin Holmes. 

Jimenez capped off his stellar debut by winning the event in 6.56 and improving his personal best from earlier in the day to move into second all-time at Iowa. Gross also ran a lifetime best in 6.65, earning third place and the fourth-fastest mark in program history.

“Our men’s sprints group pushes each other every day. Kalen hadn’t raced in a long time, but I was excited about his performance in his first meet. Jordan is a super competitive guy. When the lights are on and the gun goes off, he shows up. He’s been that way his entire career and that’s why we loved him out of high school.”

On the women’s side, Holly Duax, Alexandria Edison and Jailya Ash cruised to the finals, each winning their individual heats. Duax closed the night as the top collegiate finisher in 7.43.

“Holly is right off of her PR,” Woody said. “She was really bringing it today, even after not getting off to her best start. Those starts will come together over the next couple weeks and she is geared up to break 7.30.”

In the men’s 60-meter hurdles, junior Blake Nyenati took the gold, crossing the line in 7.80. Senior Vaughn DeVaughn III cracked into the all-time list with his second-place finish in the finals. DeVaughn clocked a personal-best 7.82, which ranks tenth at Iowa. 

Junior Carlee Rochford had a standout day in the women’s edition of the Track Guy Foundation 60-meter hurdles, setting and improving program records throughout the prelims and finals. Rochford started the day with an 8.38, which ranked ninth at Iowa. She ultimately shaved off .04 seconds in the finals and claimed the title in 8.34. She now ranks eighth in school history.

“Carlee ran 8.34, which is one of the top times in the country as a multi and she’s been getting better every week,” added Woody. “Blake and Vaughn are great competitors and are pushing each other to get better every single week.”

The Hawkeyes posted four all-time marks in the program record book on Saturday.

Elsewhere on the track, the women’s 4x400 relay team of Olicia Lucas, Izzy Zahn, Gabby Cortez and Chioma Nwachukwu secured the title in 3:36.64.

The Hawkeye freshmen had a solid day, including Jackson Johannes who secured the 400-meter title by clocking a 48.38. In the women’s triple jump, Lovisa Ulvenstam earned the title with a personal-best 12.43-meter jump.

Senior Tyrese Miller picked up the John Raffensperger 400-meter title in 47.06. In the Track Guy Foundation Men’s 800-meter race, Owen Wolfe secured the silver (1:51.64). Clare Kelly finished fourth in 2:13.66 in the women’s 800 meters.

The men’s and women’s mile combined for nine personal bests. Seniors Hayden Kuhn (4:09.41), Brayden Burnett (4:10.13) and Will Ryan (4:10.36) led Iowa in the Douglas Kirk Koon Memorial Mile. Rowan Boulter (5:09.42) and Audra Soderlind (5:17.12) notched lifetime bests in the women’s mile.

Pole vaulters Sal Capaldo (4.70 meters) and Will Davidson (4.10 meters) cleared personal bests to conclude the evening.

Iowa celebrated the careers of 30 seniors in front of a capacity crowd on Saturday evening.

Up Next: The Hawkeyes travel to the Meyo Invitational in South Bend, Indiana, on Jan. 30-31. Sprinter Kalen Walker will compete in the Millrose Games in New York City on Feb. 1.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Track Guy Foundation Men’s 60 Meters Prelims
1. Kalen Walker - 6.65, Q
2. Darwin Jimenez - 6.65, Q, 3rd at Iowa
5. Jordan Gross - 6.75, Q
6. Jaylin Holmes - 6.80, q
15. Blake Nyenati - 6.92

Track Guy Foundation Men’s 60 Meters Finals
1. Darwin Jimenez - 6.56, PR + 2nd at Iowa
2. Kalen Walker - 6.65
3. Jordan Gross - 6.65, PR + 4th at Iowa
7. Jaylin Holmes - 6.81

Women’s 60 Meters Prelims
3. Holly Duax - 7.46, Q
5. Alexandria Edison - 7.61, Q
7. Jailya Ash - 7.64, Q
10. Dymonde Nave - 7.70
13. Olicia Lucas - 7.74
17. Isabel Evans - 7.92
39. Natalie Harris - 8.08

Women’s 60 Meters Finals
2. Holly Duax - 7.43
5. Alexandria Edison - 7.54
6. Jailya Ash - 7.66

Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles Prelims
1. Blake Nyenati - 7.88, Q
2. Vaughn DeVaughn III - 7.90, Q
9. Tyler Kenaga - 8.13
13. Sal Capaldo - 8.22

Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles Finals
1. Blake Nyenati - 7.80
2. Vaughn DeVaughn III - 7.82, PR + 10th at Iowa

Track Guy Foundation Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles Prelims
2. Carlee Rochford - 8.38, q, PR + 9th at Iowa
5. Jailya Ash - 8.43, Q
6. Isabel Evans - 8.45, q, PR
7. Dymonde Nave - 8.45, q
21. Natalie Harris - 9.26

Track Guy Foundation Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles Finals
1. Carlee Rochford - 8.34, PR + 8th at Iowa
4. Dymonde Nave - 8.43
6. Jailya Ash - 8.53
7. Isabel Evans - 8.53

Men’s 400 Meters
1. Jackson Johannes - 48.38

John Raffensperger Men’s 400 Meters
1. Tyrese Miller - 47.06

Track Guy Foundation Men’s 800 Meters
2. Owen Wolfe - 1:51.64

Women’s 800 Meters
4. Clare Kelly - 2:13.66

Douglas Kirk Koon Memorial Men’s Mile
5. Hayden Kuhn - 4:09.41, PR
6. Brayden Burnett - 4:10.13, PR
7. Will Ryan - 4:10.36, PR
11. Miles Wilson - 4:12.00, PR
20. Armaan Chopra - 4:17.44, PR
22. Luke Knepp - 4:18.64

Women’s Mile
4. Rowan Boulter - 5:09.42, PR
11. Audra Soderlind - 5:17.12, PR 
15. Ellie Rathe - 5:21.43

Jerry Hassard Women’s Mile
9. Julia Gehl - 4:56.26, PR
12. Jalyssa Blazek - 4:58.23, PR
14. Elena Torres - 5:00.68
17. Hillary Trainor - 5:06.48

Women’s 4x400 Relay
1. Lucas, Zahn, Cortez, Nwachukwu - 3:36.64
8. Edison, Johannes, Kelly, Blazek - 3:56.47

Larry Donlea Men’s 4x400 Relay
2. Fontenot, Gross, Johannes, Miller - 3:13.28
5. DeVaughn III, Holmes, Leicht, Wolfe - 3:15.59

Men’s Pole Vault
7. Sal Capaldo - 4.70 meters (15’ 5”), PR
19. Will Davidson - 4.10 meters (13’ 5.25”), PR

Women’s Triple Jump
1. Lovisa Ulvenstam - 12.43 meters (40’ 9.50”), PR