Walker Wins 60 Meters at New Mexico Collegiate Classic

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – University of Iowa track and field senior Kalen Walker won the 60 meters with a season-best 6.55 on Saturday at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic.

Overall, Iowa’s sprinters had stellar performances in the 60 meters. Walker posted his fastest time of the season to win the event. In the semifinals, junior Darwin Jimenez ran a 6.52 to move to second on Iowa’s all-time list and third nationally, while Walker finished close behind (6.56). Senior Holly Duax picked up a personal best time of 7.35 in the 60 meter semifinals, ranking fourth all-time at Iowa. 

“We had a tremendous showing as a team here in New Mexico,” Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “We had a ton of PRs and season bests, multiple top 10 all-time marks, and an individual champion today with Kalen in the 60 meters. To be able to run three rounds in one day, especially after racing last Sunday (at Millrose) and traveling across the country, shows his resilience, maturity, and trust in me to adjust after last weekend.”

“Darwin did a terrific job executing his race in the semifinals of the 60 meters to move up the NCAA list. We decided to play it safe and not race him in the finals,” Woody said. “Holly had a great day running a personal best in the 60 meters, especially after her breakout PR last night in the 200 meters. She’s really starting to execute things well and be more consistent in her races.” 

Senior Vaughn DeVaughn III advanced to the 60-meter hurdles final after improving his time from the prelims in the semifinals. In the semis, DeVaughn crossed the line in 7.81, a lifetime best that ranks tenth at Iowa, to cruise to the finals. DeVaughn ultimately placed seventh in 7.87. Junior Blake Nyenati started the 60-meter hurdles with a personal-best 7.69, good for fifth in program history.

“Vaughn had a great day today in the 60-meter hurdles running very consistent times in each round,” Woody added. “I think he can run 7.6-mid very soon.”

In the women’s hurdles, Jailya Ash posted the program’s 10th-fastest time of 8.39 in the prelims. Dymonde Nave qualified on time in 8.47. Ash and Nave advanced to the semifinals and finished 11th and 15th, respectively.

In the men’s 400 meters, six Hawkeyes recorded personal bests. Senior Tyrese Miller led the way and cracked into the all-time list with a 46.65 finish. The mark ranks ninth in program history and placed him 12th in a stacked field of competitors. David Akhalu ran 47.00 in his 400-meter debut. For the women, Chioma Nwachukwu took home the bronze with a personal-best 51.93, moving her to third all-time at Iowa. Teammates Damaris Mutunga (53.01), Izzy Zahn (53.48) and Olicia Lucas (53.52) rounded out the top ten, with Zahn and Lucas each posting personal bests.

“The men’s and women’s 400 meter group had great performances today, including Tyrese who is really starting to find his rhythm to break 46 this season,” Woody commented. “I was very impressed with David’s performance in the 200 and 400 meters this weekend, running his first meet ever on a banked track. He’s going to continue to improve over these next few weeks as he gets more comfortable racing indoors. Jailya and Dymonde are also starting to put some great things together in their hurdle races and are inching their way to some big time drops.”

Freshman Lovisa Ulvenstam made her mark in the program record book with a 12.47-meter leap in the women’s triple jump. That finish ranks 10th all-time at Iowa and secured Ulvenstam seventh place in the competition.

Sal Capaldo and Will Davidson wrapped up the men’s heptathlon. Overall, Capaldo totaled 5,423 points to place fifth. Davidson finished with 4,928 points, good for ninth. Capaldo placed second in the 60-meter hurdles with an 8.20, while Davidson earned the bronze with a personal-best 8.30. Over the two days of competition, Davidson recorded lifetime bests in the long jump, shot put, and 60-meter hurdles.

The meet closed with the 4x400 relays. The Hawkeyes’ group of Damaris Mutunga, Izzy Zahn, Olicia Lucas and Chioma Nwachukwu posted the program’s ninth-best time of 3:33.80 and finished fourth. Iowa’s squad of Jackson Johannes, Jaylin Holmes, Prior Ochonogor and Austin Rowswell finished second overall in 3:10.72 to set the team’s fastest mark of the year. 

“I thought overall both the men and women competed very well this weekend against some of the best competition in the NCAA,” said Woody. “I still believe we need to continue to challenge ourselves and have higher expectations in all events when we compete in high profile meets like this. We’re very excited to keep building on this momentum as we prepare for next weekend at Arkansas and Boston.”

Up Next: The Hawkeyes travel to the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston, Massachusetts. Action begins Feb. 13 and runs through Feb. 14.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Men’s 60 Meters Prelims
2. Kalen Walker - 6.61, Q
9. Darwin Jimenez - 6.59, Q
12. Jordan Gross - 6.71, Q
21. Jaylin Holmes - 6.82, q

Men’s 60 Meters Semifinals
1. Darwin Jimenez - 6.52, Q, PR + 2nd at Iowa
3. Kalen Walker - 6.56, Q
10. Jordan Gross - 6.66
16. Jaylin Holmes - 6.77

Men’s 60 Meters Finals
1. Kalen Walker - 6.55

Women’s 60 Meters Prelims
12. Holly Duax - 7.38, Q, =PR

Women’s 60 Meters Semifinals
10. Holly Duax - 7.35, PR + 4th at Iowa

Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles Prelims
1. Blake Nyenati - 7.69, Q, PR + 5th at Iowa
8. Vaughn DeVaughn III - 7.86, Q
12. Tyler Kenaga - 7.98, q

Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles Semifinals
7. Vaughn DeVaughn III - 7.81, q, PR + 10th at Iowa
11. Tyler Kenaga - 8.01
16. Blake Nyenati - 8.16

Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles Finals
7. Vaughn DeVaughn III - 7.87

Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles Prelims
13. Jailya Ash - 8.39, q, Tied 10th at Iowa
15. Dymonde Nave - 8.47, q
17. Isabel Evans - 8.54
26. Natalie Harris - 8.84

Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles Semifinals
11. Jailya Ash - 8.40
15. Dymonde Nave - 8.55

Men’s 400 Meters
12. Tyrese Miller - 46.65, PR + 9th at Iowa
16. David Akhalu - 47.00
18. Terrick Johnson - 47.04, PR
26. Austin Rowswell - 47.51, PR
36. Prior Ochonogor - 47.71, PR
37. Jackson Johannes - 47.84, PR
38. Landon Fontenot - 47.94
50. Nicholas Gorsich - 49.36, PR

Women’s 400 Meters
3. Chioma Nwachukwu - 51.93, PR + 3rd at Iowa
5. Damaris Mutunga - 53.01
8. Izzy Zahn - 53.48, PR
10. Olicia Lucas - 53.52, PR
28. Caila Lyons - 55.49
37. Ali Frandsen - 56.87

Men’s 4x400 Relay
2. Johannes, Holmes, Ochonogor, Rowswell - 3:10.72
6. Fontenot, Miller, Akhalu, Johnson - 3:13.68

Women’s 4x400 Relay
4. Mutunga, Zahn, Lucas, Nwachukwu - 3:33.80, 9th at Iowa

Women’s Triple Jump
7. Lovisa Ulvenstam - 12.47 meters (40’ 11”), PR + 10th at Iowa

Men’s Heptathlon
5. Sal Capaldo - 5,423 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”)
2. 60-meter Hurdles - 8.20
8. Pole Vault - 4.30 meters (14’ 1.25”)
6. 1,000 Meters - 2:51.89

9. Will Davidson - 4,928 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”)
3. 60-meter Hurdles - 8.30, PR
10. Pole Vault - 3.90 meters (12’ 9.50”)
12. 1,000 Meters - 3:11.57