Knepp Heads to Eugene on Steeplechase School Record

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Iowa sophomore Luke Knepp reset the program record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships in Eugene on Friday night at John McDonnell Field.

Knepp broke the school record for the second time this season, placing fifth overall and earning an automatic qualification in 8:30.52. His time was four seconds better than his previous best, which was set at the Stanford Invite this year. Knepp is Iowa’s first steeplechase athlete to qualify to the national meet since Nathan Mylenek in 2021. 

“I was so happy for Luke tonight, qualifying to his first NCAA championship in the steeplechase,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “He got out in a great spot and stayed in great position until the final two laps, when he moved up into top-three position with a great finish. Along the way, he obliterated his school record.”

Including Knepp, Iowa qualified three individuals and two relays to the national meet in June.

In the 400 meters, David Akhalu placed third out of heat one to earn the auto-bid. In his debut at the NCAA preliminaries, the freshman finished in 45.36 and placed sixth overall. 

“David came back in the 400 meters and ran a great first 100 to get out in a great position,” Woody added. “He maintained his rhythm into the curve and had a great kick to finish top three with an auto Q to Eugene in his second event of the day.”

The Hawkeyes’ 4x100 team of Jaylin Holmes, Darwin Jimenez, Jordan Gross and David Akhalu opened the events on the track and passed the stick in 38.99 to earn an auto-bid to Eugene. The quartet posted the program’s third-fastest time and crossed the line third from heat one. Overall, the team placed seventh.

“The men’s 4x1 kept the momentum going with a great race to finish top three and get an auto Q to Eugene,” Woody continued. “That was the first time we ran that group of guys together and they all set each other up extremely well. Jaylin got the stick moving and handed off in a great position with Darwin in second, who was flying down the backstretch to set up Jordan in third.  Jordan ran a tremendous curve to set up David, who ran a terrific finish to keep us in the top three.”

Iowa’s 4x400 team of Landon Fontenot, Zidane Brown, Tyrese Miller and Terrick Johnson posted the program’s No. 10 time in school history and advanced to the next round in Eugene. Miller ran the fastest slip in leg three, clocking a 44.80. Overall, the group finished seventh.

“The men’s 4x4 ran another great race, running our season’s best time even without David to finish second in our heat and qualify to Eugene,” Woody said.

Sophomore Bryce Ruland qualified for his first ever NCAA Championships after finishing seventh in the discus. Ruland’s opening throw of 57.66 was enough to qualify to the national meet.

“I’m so happy for Bryce punching his ticket to the NCAA Finals in Eugene,” Woody added. “He had a great first throw, which finished second overall in his flight. Then, it was a waiting game for the final flight. Thankfully, it was enough to hang on for seventh overall.”

Gross also competed in the 200 meters and was one spot away from advancing through the quarterfinals. The freshman finished 13th in 20.68. Vaughn DeVaughn III and Prior Ochonogor were quarterfinalists in the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles, respectively, but came up just short in their pursuit of advancing.

“The rest of the guys ran great today and just didn’t have enough to get through,” Woody concluded. “I thought Jordan ran a great race and just missed qualifying to Eugene by one spot.  He’s had a tremendous season as a freshman and I’m very excited to see what he can do at nationals on that relay. Prior had a great season and I am so proud of what he accomplished. I believe he has been really close to putting a 48 second race together and hopefully he will have an opportunity to do that this summer. Vaughn had a tremendous season as a Hawkeye. He scored a lot of points indoors and outdoors at the Big Ten meet and just came up short this weekend.”

Up Next: The Hawkeyes conclude the NCAA West First Rounds with the women’s quarterfinals on Saturday. Action begins at 5 p.m. (CT) with the 4x100 relay.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Men’s 100 Meters Quarterfinals
15. Darwin Jimenez - 10.23

Men’s 110-Meter Quarterfinals
21. Vaughn DeVaughn III - 13.83

Men’s 200 Meters Quarterfinals
13. Jordan Gross - 20.68

Men’s 400 Meters Quarterfinals
8. David Akhalu - 45.36, Q

Men’s 400-Meter Hurdles Quarterfinals
20. Prior Ochonogor - 50.98

Men’s 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
5. Luke Knepp - 8:30.52, Q, PR + 1st at Iowa
40. Hayden Kuhn - 9:05.93

Men’s 4x100 Relay
7. Holmes, Jimenez, Gross, Akhalu - 38.99, Q, 3rd at Iowa

Men’s 4x400 Relay
7. Fontenot, Brown, Miller, Johnson - 3:03.20, Q + 10th at Iowa

Men’s Discus
7. Bryce Ruland - 57.66 meters (189’ 2”), q