University of Iowa Athletics
Throws

A.J. Curtis

Class Jr.
Hometown Brodhead, Wis.
High School Brodhead
A.J. Curtis - Men's Track & Field - University of Iowa Athletics

Career Highlights — set school discus record (202-11)… is one of only two Hawkeyes in school history and one of four student-athletes in Big Ten history to throw over 200 feet in that event… two-time all-region honoree… set school record for most times qualified for the NCAA Midwest Regional (8)… competed in discus at 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials.

2009 — Indoor – placed fourth in shot put with season-best 57-9 1/2 at Big Ten Championships… that mark ranks ninth on Iowa[apos]s all-time best performers list… placed eighth in shot put (56-7 1/4) at New Balance Invite… Outdoor – placed ninth in shot put (56-3) and 12th in discus (173-5) at NCAA Midwest Regional… qualified for regional meet in discus (176-0) and shot put (59-5 3/4), giving him the school record for most career times qualified for the regional meet with eight… runner-up in discus (170-5) at Big Ten meet, placing 12th in shot put (54-9 1/2)… placed second in discus at Illinois Invite (176-0), third at Messersmith Invite (170-4), seventh at Drake Relays (170-2) and ninth at Mesa Classic (172-8)… placed fifth in shot put at Drake Relays (58-0 1/4) and Sun Angel Classic (59-5 3/4)… academic all-Big Ten… letterwinner.

2008 — Indoor – runner-up in shot put (57-8 1/4) at UNI Open… placed eighth in that event at Big Ten Championships (56-9 1/2)… Outdoor – automatically qualified for NCAA Championships in shot put and discus with third-place finishes in both events at NCAA Midwest Regional, earning all-region honors in each event… placed third in shot put (59-8 1/4) and fifth in discus (171-7) at Big Ten Championships… that shot put mark was a collegiate-best and ranks seventh in school history… academic all-Big Ten… letterwinner… competed in discus at U.S. Olympic Trials.

2007 — Indoor – threw season-best shot put (56-10 3/4) at Iowa Invite… Outdoor – set school discus record (202-11) at Central College Invite… named men[apos]s Big Ten Field Event Athlete of the Week April 10 for that performance… previous school record (202-4) was set in 1986 by Gary Kostrubala… Curtis and Kostrubala are the only two Hawkeyes in school history and are two of four throwers in Big Ten history to throw over 200 feet in that event… that mark qualified Curtis for NCAA regional in discus… also qualified for regional in shot put (56-2) at Musco Twilight IX… runner-up in discus (172-1) and placed 11th in shot put (54-2) at Big Ten Championships, earning second team all-Big Ten honors in discus… academic all-Big Ten… letterwinner.

2006 — Indoor – placed fourth in shot put with a season-best 57-7 3/4 at Big Ten Championships… Outdoor – qualified for NCAA regional in shot put (55-11) and discus (173-11) at Musco Twilight VIII… placed eighth in discus (163-1) and ninth in shot put (54-1 3/4) at Big Ten Championships… USATF junior all-American… U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association all-academic team selection… letterwinner.

High School — seven-time conference champion… won shot put (63-11 1/4) at state meet as a senior and state discus title (180-7) junior year… team MVP and captain senior year… set school records in discus (191-9) and shot put (63-11 3/4)… lettered four years in football and three in basketball… two-time all-conference, all-area and all-state in football… National Honor Society member… WIAA scholar athlete… track coach was Gary Larsen.

Personal — born February 7, 1987… son of Mike and Geri Curtis… his sister, Amber, competed in track for the University of Nebraska… mathematics major.

Curtis’ Collegiate Best Times

Event Time Meet Date
Shot Put (O) 59-8 1/4 (18.19 m) at Big Ten Championships 5/18/08
Discus (O) 202-11 (61.84 m) at Central College Invite 4/6/07