Hawkeyes Combine for 6 Titles at Desert Heat, Musco

CORALVILLE, Iowa – University of Iowa track and field combined to win six titles at the Musco Twilight and Desert Heat Classic on Saturday night.

At the Francis X. Cretzmeyer Track in Coralville, freshman Isabel Evans secured the 100-meter hurdle event title, clocking a 14.22. In the women’s 3,000 meters, Rowan Boulter grabbed the win in a personal-best 10:07.11.

In the field, sophomore Bryce Ruland opened the field events with the men’s discus title, launching a lifetime-best 58.02-meter throw. The distance improved his eighth place all-time mark in Iowa history. Senior Wisdom Williams scored a win in the shot put, landing a mark of 15.37 meters.

Freshman Landon Prince made his Iowa discus debut, recording a 50.35-meter throw to finish fourth overall, while sophomore Duke Faley rounded out the Hawkeyes’ performances in sixth with a 49.98-meter effort. Later on, Ruland picked up another personal best in the men’s shot put, hitting the 18.03-meter mark and finishing third overall.

The men’s 800 meters featured a pair of lifetime bests from freshmen Owen Wolfe (1:51.27) and Spencer Alf (1:51.84), who finished third and fourth, respectively.

At the Desert Heat Classic in Tucson, David Akhalu and the men’s 4x400 relay were event winners. Akhalu ran a lifetime best of 45.05 to win the 400-meter title and move to fourth in school history. Tyrese Miller, Landon Fontenot, Prior Ochonogor and Terrick Johnson teamed up to speed to a 3:06.35 finish. The women’s group of Izzy Zahn, Olicia Lucas, Alivia Williams and Damaris Mutunga clocked Iowa’s ninth-quickest mark in school history and placed second overall in 3:32.14. 

The Hawkeyes continued their strong showing in the 4x100 relays. Darwin Jimenez, Jordan Gross, Jaylin Holmes and Kalen Walker tied the school record with a second-place finish of 38.64 in the men’s relay. The women’s 4x100 quartet of Jailya Ash, Alexandria Edison, Alivia Williams and Holly Duax matched Iowa’s third-fastest time of 44.04 to place fourth.

“We had a terrific meet on Saturday in Arizona,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “The men’s 4x1 got us started with a school record and the No. 4 time in the NCAA. The men's and women’s 400 groups had an incredible meet. David had an outstanding performance and showcased his talent as one of the top 400 meter runners and freshman in the NCAA. After Alivia, Izzy and Damaris had great 200-meter races, they finished the evening with a great 4x4 and impressive splits.”

Kalen Walker (10.19) and Darwin Jimenez (10.23) earned top-five finishes in the men’s 100 meters. Walker earned second and Jimenez took home fourth.

Princess Uche led the Hawkeyes in the 400 meters. Uche moved to seventh on the program’s all-time list with her silver-medal time of 52.10. More highlights from the 400 meters included Tyrese Miller’s 45.88 personal record that updated his time of 10th on Iowa’s all-time list. Landon Fontenot (45.92) and Austin Rowswell (46.66) sprinted personal bests, as well. 

“Princess had a super impressive race, running a huge PR and almost breaking 52 seconds,” Woody continued. “She keeps building and getting better every meet. Tyrese had another impressive 45 second open 400 time and Landon had a breakthrough and PR. He broke 46 for the first time in his career.”

Iowa had top five finishes in both the 400-meter hurdle races. Ochonogor took second in 49.88, while Vaughn DeVaughn III wound up on Iowa’s top-10 list at 50.43 and finished third. On the women’s side, Ali Frandsen crossed the line in 58.94 and placed fifth.

"Prior and Vaughn competed very well in the 400 hurdles," Woody added. "Prior is very close to running 49-low and Vaughn had his best race at Iowa in the 400 hurdles. He is close to running 49 seconds."

Terrick Johnson raced well to take fourth in the 800 meters. Johnson ran 1:46.87 and posted Iowa’s third-fastest time in school history. Caleb Levy finished in 1:48.28 and updated his personal best.

“Terrick had a huge race on Saturday, running one of the top 800 times at Iowa and setting himself up well as we approach the Big Ten Championships,” said Woody.

Iowa’s long jumpers performed well in Tucson. Emmanuel Njoku landed 7.59 meters and claimed second in the men’s edition. Lovisa Ulvenstam grabbed fifth overall and set a personal record of 6.13 meters. Her new best is seventh all-time at Iowa.

Iowa finished with 10 top-10 record book adjustments in Arizona. 

Up Next: Iowa concludes its regular season at the Cyclone Twilight in Ames on May 8.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Musco Twilight
Men’s 100 Meters
13. Tyler Kenaga - 11.47

Women’s 100 Meters
11. Isabel Evans - 12.58

Women’s 100-Meter Hurdles
1. Isabel Evans - 14.22

Men’s 110-Meter Hurdles
3. Tyler Kenaga - 14.79 

Men’s 200 Meters
17. Tyler Kenaga - 22.95, PR

Men’s 400 Meters
5. Sal Capaldo - 48.67, PR

Men’s 800 Meters
3. Owen Wolfe - 1:51.27, PR
4. Spencer Alf - 1:51.84, PR

Women’s 800 Meters
6. Lily Johannes - 2:14.51

Men’s 1,500 Meters
4. Kyle Montgomery - 3:58.15, PR
7. Armaan Chopra - 4:01.68

Women’s 3,000 Meters
1. Rowan Boulter - 10:07.11, PR

Men’s Discus
1. Bryce Ruland - 58.02 meters (190’ 4”), PR + 8th at Iowa
4. Landon Prince - 50.35 meters (165’ 2”)
6. Duke Faley - 49.98 meters (163’ 11”)

Men’s Pole Vault
6. Sal Capaldo - 4.30 meters (14’ 1.25”)

Men’s Shot Put
3. Bryce Ruland - 18.03 meters (53’ 7.75”), PR 
6. Landon Prince  - 16.35 meters (59’ 2.00”)

Women’s Shot Put
1. Wisdom Williams - 15.37 meters (50’ 5.25”)

Desert Heat Classic
Men’s 100 Meters
2. Kalen Walker - 10.19
4. Darwin Jimenez - 10.23
11. Jordan Gross - 10.37

Women’s 100 Meters
30. Lovisa Ulvenstam - 12.13

Women’s 100-Meter Hurdles
9. Jailya Ash - 13.73 

Women’s 200 Meters
7. Alivia Williams - 23.40
11. Izzy Zahn - 23.64
14. Damaris Mutunga - 23.74, PR
15. Alexandria Edison - 23.76

Men’s 400 Meters
1. David Akhalu - 45.05, PR + 4th at Iowa
5. Tyrese Miller - 45.88, PR + 10th at Iowa
6. Landon Fontenot - 45.92, PR
14. Austin Rowswell - 46.66, PR
21. Jackson Johannes - 47.89

Women’s 400 Meters
2. Princess Uche - 52.10, PR + 7th at Iowa
8. Izzy Zahn - 53.05, PR
10. Olicia Lucas - 53.26
14. Arianna Williams - 54.08, PR

Men’s 400-Meter Hurdles
2. Prior Ochonogor - 49.88
3. Vaughn DeVaughn III - 50.43, 10th at Iowa

Women’s 400-Meter Hurdles
5. Ali Frandsen - 58.94

Men’s 800 Meters
4. Terrick Johnson - 1:46.87, PR + 3rd at Iowa
12. Caleb Levy - 1:48.28, PR
13. Ryan Schreiner - 1:49.64
18. Derek Leicht - 1:50.86

Women’s 800 Meters
7. Caila Lyons - 2:07.52

Men’s 4x100 Relay
2. Jimenez, Gross, Holmes, Walker - 38.64, Tied 1st at Iowa
5. Nyenati, Fontenot, DeVaughn III, Akhalu - 39.84

Women’s 4x100 Relay
4. Ash, Edison, Al. Williams, Duax - 44.04, Tied 3rd at Iowa

Men’s 4x400 Relay
1. Miller, Fontenot, Ochonogor, Johnson - 3:06.35

Women’s 4x400 Relay
2. Zahn, Lucas, Al. Williams, Mutunga - 3:32.14, 9th at Iowa

Men’s Long Jump 
2. Emmanuel Njoku - 7.59 meters (24’ 11”)

Women’s Long Jump 
5. Lovisa Ulvenstam - 6.13 meters (20’ 1.50”), PR + 7th at Iowa