Knepp Breaks Steeplechase School Record at Stanford

STANFORD, Calif. – University of Iowa sophomore Luke Knepp set Iowa’s new school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Friday night. The Bettendorf, Iowa, native placed third in his section with the new program best of 8:34.97.

Knepp had previously held the No. 2 spot on the program list at 8:39.54. He shaved five seconds off of his time from a season ago. Teammate Hayden Kuhn ran 8:30.26 in his section to post the program’s fifth-best time.

“We had a great day across the country, led by Luke Knepp at Stanford,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “He had a huge PR and a monster performance in the steeplechase.”

Freshman Owen Wolfe and senior Jalyssa Blazek opened their outdoor seasons with strong performances in their individual sections of the 1,500 meters at the Stanford Invitational. Wolfe finished fifth in his outdoor debut with a time of 3:46.69, while Blazek secured sixth place, crossing the line in 4:31.72. 

In San Francisco at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic, junior Clare Kelly picked up a lifetime best 4:30.16 in the women’s 1,500 meters.

In Austin, senior Lizzy Korczak captured the women’s javelin title at the Texas Relays with a throw of 55.20 meters. It is her second win of the season.

“Lizzy had a great performance today to win the javelin at the Texas Relays,” Woody added. “She is building confidence and putting a great series of throws together.”

Freshman Lovisa Ulvenstam recorded a personal-best leap of 5.96 meters to finish second in the women’s long jump and placed seventh in the triple jump with a mark of 11.65 meters. Senior Wisdom Williams also claimed silver in the women’s shot put with a throw of 15.11 meters.

At the Florida Relays, sophomore Chioma Nwachukwu climbed Iowa’s all-time list in the women’s 200 meters, with a third-place finish in 22.96. That time ranks fourth in program history.

“Chioma led the women’s team with a huge PR and the No. 4 all-time mark, breaking 23 seconds with hardly any wind factored in in the 200,” said Woody. “That is going to set her up well for the 4x400 relay tomorrow and the open 400 later this month.”

Senior Prior Ochonogor led the Hawkeyes in the men’s 400-meter hurdles with a runner-up finish in 50.09. Vaughn DeVaughn III recorded a personal-best 51.00 to place ninth, while Jaylin Holmes (51.58) and Nicholas Gorsich (53.39) rounded out Iowa’s performances. Junior Ali Frandsen improved her top-ten all-time mark on the women’s side, clocking 58.63 and placing 15th overall. 

“The men’s 400 hurdle group competed hard tonight with Prior leading the way with an improvement from his opening race two weeks ago,” Woody noted. “He competed very well to finish runner up tonight. Vaughn had a huge improvement from his first outing to run 51.00 and set himself up to break 51 in his next outing. Jaylin also ran another consistent race and is close to putting a 50 second race together. Ali had a terrific race in the women’s 400 hurdles, bouncing back from a tough outing at UCF and ran the No. 10 all-time mark for our program. She is close to breaking 58 seconds soon.”

In the men’s 1,500 meters, junior Carson Lane posted a personal-best time of 3:45.49, ranking tenth all-time at Iowa. On the women’s side, Junior Rosemary Arthur also recorded a lifetime best, clocking 4:25.29.

“Across the country, Owen and Carson (Lane) both ran terrific 1,500s,” Woody continued. “That was a great opening race for Owen and he’s only going to see improvement throughout the season. Carson ran another two-second PR and is on his way to running low 3:40’s in the next few weeks.”

At the Bobcat Invitational in San Marcos, Texas, senior Sean Smith was the top collegiate finisher in the men’s hammer throw with a mark of 64.38 meters. Teammate Austin Busch placed fourth (61.20 meters) and Walker Whalen added a sixth-place finish (54.51 meters). On the women’s side, sophomore Peyton Wilson earned silver with a throw of 55.98 meters.

Up Next: Iowa continues competition at the Florida Relays and Mike Fanelli Track Classic on Saturday.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Florida Relays
Men’s 200 Meters
23. Jordan Gross - 21.17

Women’s 200 Meters 
3. Chioma Nwachukwu - 22.96, 4th at Iowa
11. Holly Duax - 23.28
24. Izzy Zahn - 24.03

Men’s 400-Meter Hurdles
2. Prior Ochonogor - 50.09
9. Vaughn DeVaughn III - 51.00, PR
13. Jaylin Holmes - 51.58
28. Nicholas Gorsich - 53.39

Women’s 400-Meter Hurdles
15. Ali Frandsen - 58.63, PR + 10th at Iowa

Women’s 1,500 Meters Invite
18. Rosemary Arthur - 4:25.29, PR

Men’s 1,500 Meters Invite
16. Carson Lane - 3:45.49, PR + 10th at Iowa

Women’s 4x100 Relay Prelims 
19. Holly Duax, Alexandria Edison, Olicia Lucas, Izzy Zahn - 45.30

Women’s 4x400 Open 
5. Arianna Williams, Leanna Lewis, Gabby Cortez, Princess Uche - 3:35.64

Men’s 4x400 Open
11. Jackson Johannes, Jaylin Holmes, Terrick Johnson, David Akahalu - 3:09.11

Texas Relays
Men’s Discus
4. Duke Faley - 53.29 meters (174’ 10”)

Women’s Javelin
1. Lizzy Korczak - 55.20 meters (181’ 1”)

Women’s Long Jump
2. Lovisa Ulvenstam - 5.96 meters (19’ 6.75”), PR

Women’s Shot Put
2. Wisdom Williams - 15.11 meters (49’ 7”)

Women’s Triple Jump
7. Lovisa Ulvenstam - 11.65 meters (38’ 2.75”)

Bobcat Invite
Men’s Hammer Throw
2. Sean Smith - 64.38 meters (211’ 2”)
4. Austin Busch - 61.20 meters (200’ 9”)
6. Walker Whalen - 54.51 meters (178’ 10”)

Women’s Hammer Throw
2. Peyton Wilson - 55.98 meters (183’ 8”)

Stanford Invite
Men’s 1,500 Meters Section 5:
5. Owen Wolfe - 3:46.69 

Women’s 1,500 Meters Section 6:
6. Jalyssa Blazek - 4:31.72

Men’s 3,000-Meter Steeplechase Section 1:
3. Luke Knepp - 8:34.97, PR + 1st at Iowa

Men’s 3,000-Meter Steeplechase Section 2:
10. Hayden Kuhn - 8:50.26, PR + 5th at Iowa

Mike Fanelli Track Classic
Men’s 1,500 Meters
21. Carson Houg - 3:51.25
37. Spencer Alf - 3:54.47

Women’s 1,500 Meters
11. Clare Kelly - 4:30.16, PR