Johnson Shatters School Record in Ames

AMES, Iowa – University of Iowa junior Ryan Johnson shattered his own school record in the weight throw Friday afternoon at the Iowa State Classic in Ames. Johnson fired a 24.99-meter throw to secure the title and personal best.

Johnson’s mark was the fourth-best collegiate performance of all time. It was the 15th-best performance in US and world history. Johnson recently broke into the national and world record lists at the Hawkeye Invitational, where he set meet and facility records and a then-school record of 24.85 meters.

“Ryan made another good step today towards the type of form we know he’s capable of getting to,” Iowa throws and associate head coach Ray Robinson said. “It’s a lot of fun any time you are talking about all-time world lists. I’m really proud that he opened up well and moved from there. We both know he’s capable of even more, which is exciting.”

Senior Sean Smith earned the bronze, launching a 21.17-meter throw, while redshirt junior Austin Busch rounded out the top five with a 21.08-meter toss. On the women’s side, redshirt sophomore Peyton Wilson broke into the program's all-time list with a 18.51-meter throw, a personal best that ranks ninth in school history. 

The women’s shot put was dominated by senior Wisdom Williams who claimed the title with a 15.81-meter toss.

In the women’s 3,000 meters, senior Rowan Boulter clocked a personal-best time of 10:00.14, securing fifth place.

"At Iowa State, Ryan continued to show his dominant form this season with another huge PR and one of the all-time best performances in world history," Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. "I thought Peyton and Wisdom both had a great meet. Peyton is showing great form and improvement every meet. Wisdom is competing extremely well this indoor season. It is impressive that she's still undefeated this late in the year."

In the men’s and women’s 200 meters at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic in Albuquerque, the Hawkeyes set seven personal bests and updated the all-time list three times. The women were led by sophomore Alivia Williams, who finished third in 23.33 in the open 200. That time ranks third in program history. Holly Duax (23.45) and Izzy Zahn (23.56) set personal bests in the 200-meter invite to wind up on Iowa’s all-time list. Duax is seventh in program history, while Zahn enters at 10th. 

Freshman Jordan Gross continued his strong rookie campaign with a seventh-place finish and a 20.91 mark on the men’s side of the 200-meter invite. Gross moved up to eighth in school history. Senior Jaylin Holmes crossed the line in 21.08 in the open 200, good for 10th all-time at Iowa in the men’s edition of the race. 

Every Hawkeye hit a personal best in the men’s 600 meters, including senior Prior Ochonogor, who clocked 1:19.86 to finish fifth. Redshirt sophomore Nicholas Gorsich, redshirt freshman Jackson Johannes and freshman Jashua Anglo all rounded out the top 10 with lifetime bests.

In his season debut, Emmanuel Njoku claimed the silver medal in the long jump. Njoku hit 7.67 meters on his fifth attempt. 

"We had a tremendous day one in New Mexico with a ton of PRs and season bests," Woody said. "I'm proud of how our athletes stepped up and competed today. I told them I could feel an explosion of huge performances coming this weekend and they just needed to focus and execute their events. The women were led by Alivia's performance in the 200, landing at No. 3 on the all-time list and Holly moving up the top-10 list. The men were led by Jordan Gross, who improved his PR by .40 seconds and is starting to solidify himself as one of the best freshman sprinters in the country. I was proud of Emmanuel, who came out for his first competition and put up one of the best marks of his career. He had a great series of jumps."

After day one of the men’s heptathlon, senior Sal Capaldo sits in fifth with 3,043 points. Capaldo finished third in the 60 meters (7.06) and the long jump (7.05 meters). Teammate Will Davidson closed out the night with 2,875 points, picking up two personal bests in the long jump (6.59 meters) and the shot put (13.36 meters).

The Hawkeyes made seven updates to the all-time list and achieved 17 personal bests.

Up Next: The Hawkeyes wrap up action in Albuquerque tomorrow with multi events beginning at 10:20 a.m. (CT). Events continue on the track at 10:45.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
New Mexico Collegiate Classic
Men’s 200 Meters
10. Jaylin Holmes - 21.08, PR + 10th at Iowa
16. David Akhalu - 21.22
32. Vaughn DeVaughn III - 21.47, PR

Men’s 200 Meters Invitational
7. Jordan Gross - 20.91, PR + 8th at Iowa

Women’s 200 Meters 
3. Alivia WIlliams - 23.33, PR + 3rd at Iowa
21. Olicia Lucas - 24.07, PR

Women’s 200 Meters Invitational
9. Holly Duax - 23.45, PR + 7th at Iowa
11. Izzy Zahn - 23.56, PR + 10th at Iowa 

Men’s 600 Meters
5. Prior Ochonogor - 1:19.86, PR
7. Nicholas Gorsich - 1:19.95, PR
8. Jackson Johannes - 1:20.28, PR
10. Jashua Anglo - 1:20.91, PR

Women’s 600 Meters
2. Princess Uche - 1:31.35, PR
4. Caila Lyons - 1:31.40
7. Ali Frandsen - 1:35.61

Men’s Long Jump
2. Emmanuel Njoku - 7.67 meters (25’ 2”)

Men’s Heptathlon
5. Sal Capaldo - 3,043 points
3. 60 Meters - 7.06
3. Long Jump - 7.05 meters (23’ 1.75”)
10. Shot Put - 11.72 meters (38’ 5.5”)
4. High Jump - 1.96 meters (6’ 5”)

9. Will Davidson - 2,875 points
4. 60 Meters - 7.07
9. Long Jump - 6.59 meters (21’ 7.5”), PR
4. Shot Put - 13.36 meters (43’ 10”), PR
11. High Jump - 1.78 meters (5’ 10”)

Women’s Pentathlon
Carlee Rochford
3. 60-meter Hurdles - 8.50 
4. High Jump - 1.58 meters (5’ 2.25”)
Shot Put - DNS

Iowa State Classic
Men’s 800 Meters
30. Spencer Alf - 1:54.42

Men’s Mile
17. Armaan Chopra - 4:18.15

Women’s 3,000 Meters
5. Rowan Boulter - 10:00.14, PR 
10. Miriam Sandeen - 10:13.59

Men’s 5,000 Meters
10. Ethan Eichhorn - 14:59.73

Women’s Shot Put
1. Wisdom Williams - 15.81 meters (51’ 10.5”)

Men’s Weight Throw
1. Ryan Johnson - 24.99 meters (82’ 0”), PR + 1st at Iowa
3. Sean Smith - 21.17 meters (69’ 5.5”)
5. Austin Busch - 21.08 meters (69’ 2”)
9. Walker Whalen - 18.92 meters (62’ 1”)

Women’s Weight Throw
4. Peyton Wilson - 18.51 meters (60’ 8.75), PR + 9th at Iowa