Women’s 4x400 Relay Team Sets School Record

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Iowa women’s 4x400-meter relay team capped off day two of competition at the Tyson Invitational by setting a new school record Saturday afternoon.

The quartet of Olicia Lucas, Alivia Williams, Damaris Mutunga and Gabby Cortez clocked a program-record time of 3:29.69. The mark ranks 11th nationally. 

“We had some ups and downs today, but we closed with a huge performance by the women’s relay team that set a school record and is now nationally ranked,” Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “Olicia ran a terrific lead-off leg to set up Alivia, who ran her fastest split ever, on the second leg to keep the relay with the pack. Damaris followed with an incredible third leg and another 51 split to keep us in the hunt. Gabby delivered an exceptional anchor leg with her fastest sprint ever to bring us home and break the school record.”

“Overall, I’m proud of how our team competed,” Woody added. “We’ve had a lot of great performances over the last two weeks, and we’re looking forward to getting back home, resting some of our athletes, tuning up others and preparing for the Big Ten Championships in two weeks.”

At the Tyson Invite in Arkansas, junior Rosemary Arthur clocked a personal-best 4:49.05 in the mile, while at the BU David Hemery Valentine Invite in Boston, Julia Gehl and Jalyssa Blazek also secured lifetime bests in the event. 

Alexandria Edison clocked a time of 23.91 in the women’s 200 meters, just shy of her personal best at the Tyson Invite. In the women’s shot put in Arkansas, senior Wisdom Williams recorded a throw of 15.39 meters to finish ninth overall.

In Boston, junior Clare Kelly led the Hawkeyes in the women’s 800 meters with a time of 2:08.99. Senior Jalyssa Blazek followed with a personal-best time of 2:13.74.

Up Next: The Hawkeyes return home to host the Iowa Open on Friday, Feb. 20. Groups will also travel to Fayetteville for the Arkansas Qualifier on Friday, Feb. 20, and to South Bend, Indiana, for the Alex Wilson Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 21.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Tyson Invitational
Men’s 200 Meters University
32. Olaolu Olatunde - 21.61

Women’s 200 Meters University
31. Alexandria Edison - 23.91
33. Izzy Zahn - 23.94

Women’s Mile
12. Rosemary Arthur - 4:49.05, PR

Men’s 4x400 Relay
7. Akhalu, Ochonogor, Johnson, Johannes - 3:08.81

Women’s 4x400 Relay
6. Lucas, Williams, Mutunga, Cortez - 3:29.69, 1st at Iowa 

Women’s Shot Put
9. Wisdom Williams - 15.39 meters (50’ 6”)

BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational
Women’s 800 Meters
17. Clare Kelly - 2:08.99
59. Jalyssa Blazek - 2:13.74, PR
91. Julia Gehl - 2:17.23

Women’s Mile Open
57. Julia Gehl - 4:51.43, PR 
71. Jalyssa Blazek - 4:53.06, PR
112. Clare Kelly - 4:57.79

Women’s 5,000 Meters Open
103. Elena Torres 16:59.29
122. Rowan Boulter - 17:24.21