Johnson Earns Second-Team All-Big Ten Honors

LINCOLN, Neb. – University of Iowa track and field junior Ryan Johnson earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in the men’s hammer throw to open the 2026 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday evening.

Johnson earned Big Ten runner-up honors in the men’s hammer throw with a mark of 73.94 meters, securing second-team All-Big Ten recognition. He improved on last year’s fourth-place finish to claim the runner-up spot this season. Senior Sean Smith (64.18 meters) and junior Austin Busch (61.98 meters) also posted top-15 finishes for the Hawkeyes in the event.

Senior Sal Capaldo opened day one of the men’s decathlon with a first-place finish in the 100 meters before recording a personal best in the long jump. Capaldo clocked a 10.57 in the 100, just shy of his lifetime best, to begin the Big Ten Championships. He followed that performance by soaring 7.11 meters in the long jump and setting a new personal best. He finished the first five events in fourth place with 3,993 points.

“I thought we had a really good first day today,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “Sal got things started for the men in the first event of the decathlon, winning the 100 meters and getting the ball rolling. Ryan kept that momentum going with a great effort, finishing runner-up in the hammer throw in a very tough and competitive field.”

After one day of competition, the Hawkeyes are in fifth place in both the men’s and women’s team races.

In the women’s javelin, senior Lizzy Korczak earned a bronze-medal finish with a throw of 51.81 meters. Korczak matched her performance from last season’s Big Ten Championships, when she also placed third.

“Lizzy competed incredibly well in the women’s javelin into a tough headwind,” Woody said. “She finished on the podium again, matching her top-three finish from last season.”

On the track, sophomore Alivia Williams punched her ticket to the 200-meter finals with a 22.90 prelim performance. In the 400-meter hurdles, senior Prior Ochonogor clocked a 50.78 to advance to the finals. On the women’s side, junior Ali Frandsen also advanced with a time of 59.05.

“Alivia had a great race running her fastest all-conditions 200 meters race of her career to punch her ticket to the finals,” Woody noted. “Prior was the lone qualifier to the finals in the men’s 400-meter hurdles, but he is in a great position heading into Sunday. Ali competed very well in the 400 hurdles punching her ticket to the finals for the second year in a row. She's got a lot more in the tank and I’m excited to see her compete on Sunday.” 

Rounding out the Hawkeyes’ performances were freshman Josephine Flynt and sophomore Peyton Wilson in the women’s hammer throw. Flynt finished ninth, hitting the 58.51-meter mark, while Wilson launched a 56.64-meter throw.

“I thought Peyton and Josephine both competed well in the women’s hammer,” Woody said. “Josephine was the only freshman to make the finals, and she just barely missed out on scoring in her first Big Ten Championships.”

Up Next: The Hawkeyes continue competition at the Big Ten Championships beginning at 9:30 a.m. (CT).

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Men’s 200 Meters Prelims
10. Jordan Gross - 20.46
19. Landon Fontenot - 20.86
23. Darwin Jimenez - 20.92

Women’s 200 Meters Prelims
9. Alivia Williams - 22.90, q
12. Holly Duax - 23.11
20. Alexandria Edison - 23.65
22. Izzy Zahn - 23.87

Men’s 400-Meter Hurdles Prelims
8. Prior Ochonogor - 50.78, q
11. Vaughn DeVaughn III - 51.94
15. Jaylin Holmes - 53.43
16. Nicholas Gorsich - 53.51

Women’s 400-Meter Hurdles Prelims
9. Ali Frandsen - 59.05, q

Men’s 1,500 Meters Prelims
11. Owen Wolfe - 3:46.95
26. Carson Lane - 3:55.45
28. Spencer Alf - 3:55.99

Women’s 1,500 Meters Prelims
30. Jalyssa Blazek - 4:38.79
32. Clare Kelly - 4:43.20

Men’s 10,000 Meters Final
15. Brayden Burnett - 30:52.19

Men’s Hammer Throw
2. Ryan Johnson - 73.94 meters (242’ 7”)
11. Sean Smith - 64.18 meters (210’ 7”)
14. Austin Busch - 61.98 meters (203’ 4”)
19. Tate Joens - 60.52 meters (198’ 7”)
28. Walker Whalen - 55.52 meters (182’ 2”)

Women’s Hammer Throw
9. Josephine Flynt - 58.51 meters (191’ 11”)
12. Peyton Wilson - 56.64 meters (185’ 10”)

Women’s Javelin
3. Lizzy Korczak - 51.81 meters (169’ 11”)

Men’s Decathlon
4. Sal Capaldo - 3,993 points
1. 100 Meters - 10.57
9. Long Jump - 7.11 meters (23’ 4”), PR 
11. Shot Put - 12.18 meters (39’ 11.5”)
8. High Jump - 1.91 meters (6’ 3.25”)
3. 400 Meters - 49.15