Wakenight, Washington Lead Team USA Squads

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa assistant coaches Jason Wakenight and Taylor Washington coached two Team USA groups to record-breaking performances at a pair of summer championship meets in August.

Wakenight, also the Iowa track and field program’s recruiting coordinator, was named Team USA’s head coach for the FISU Games in Lima, Peru. Wakenight coached the team to 18 gold, 14 silver and seven bronze medals. Mid-distance runner Terrick Johnson anchored the 4x400 relay to the win. Over the course of the entire FISU Games, Team USA won with 205 total medals, including 96 golds. 39 medals came from Wakenight’s track and field team.

In Eugene, Oregon, Washington assisted in coaching Team USA’s relays at the World Athletics U20 Championships. Four relays earned gold medals, including the men’s 4x100, men’s 4x400, mixed 4x400 and women’s 4x400.

The mixed 4x400 relay ran 3:15.31, which was a World U20 best. The men’s 4x100 relay posted a 38.16 to set the World U20 record. The mixed 4x100 grabbed bronze in what was the best performance ever by a U.S. team (41.39).

Overall, Washington’s work with the relay teams helped Team USA win a record-setting 24 medals at the championships.