University of Iowa Athletics
Sprints/Mid Distance

Bethany Praska

Class Fr.
Hometown Longmont, Colo.
High School Longmont Christian
Bethany Praska - Women's Track & Field - University of Iowa Athletics

2011 — Indoor – All-American, placing seventh in 800 meters (2:07.24) at NCAA Championships… set school record in 800 meters (2:05.01) in NCAA prelims… Big Ten 600-meter champion, running a team-leading and collegiate-best 1:28.14 in finals… that time ranks second all-time at Iowa… ran third leg on school record-setting 1,600-meter relay (3:36.97) at Iowa State Last Chance Meet… anchored 1,600-meter relay to second-place finish (3:37.58) at Big Ten Championships… ran on 1,600-meter relays that posted the top four times in Iowa school history… ran second leg on distance medley relay that placed second at Razorback Invite in 11:24.47, which ranks fourth all-time at Iowa… won 800 meters at Iowa State Classic (2:06.20) and Iowa Open (2:10.22) , and 600 meters at Jack Johnson Classic (1:28.75)… Outdoor – two-time Big Ten Champion, winning 800 meters (2:05.63) and running lead leg on winning 1,600-meter relay (3:36.51) that set facility record… set school record in 800 meters (2:05.46) with win at War Eagle Invite… won 400 meters with collegiate-best 54.01 at Musco Twilight XII, which ranks fifth all-time at Iowa… placed 13th in 800 meters (2:06.18) at NCAA West Regional… ran lead leg on school record-setting 1,600-meter relay that placed fourth at Drake Relays in 3:35.93… ran lead leg on 1,600-meter relay that placed 11th at NCAA West Regional (3:37.27) and 22nd at NCAA Championships (3:38.98), earning honorable mention All-America honors… anchored school record-setting sprint medley relay to Drake Relays title in 3:48.63… Iowa’s female Big Ten Medal of Honor winner… academic all-Big Ten… letterwinner.

2010 — Indoor – led team in 600 (1:29.35) and 800 meters (2:08.54)… provisionally qualified with 800-meter time… placed fourth at Big Ten meet in 600 meters (1:29.35)… ran lead leg on team-leading 1,600-meter relay (3:44.29), which ranks ninth all-time at Iowa… won 800 meters at Husker Invite (2:11.85)… Outdoor – led team in 800 meters with season-best 2:10.85 at Sun Angel Classic… anchored team-leading 1,600-meter relay at Tiger Track Classic (3:39.88), which ranks eighth all-time at Iowa… ran third leg on 1,600-meter relay at NCAA West Regional (19th, 3:41.66)… anchored team-leading sprint medley relay at Drake Relays (3:56.53), which ranks second all-time at Iowa… ran third leg on fourth-place 3,200-meter relay at Drake Relays (8:54.45), which ranks seventh all-time at Iowa… ran season-best in 400 meters at CCU Shamrock (56.05)… academic all-Big Ten… letterwinner.

2009 — Indoor – led team in 400 meters (56.42), 600 yards (1:23.12) and 600 meters (1:31.33)… the 600 yards time ranks fourth all-time at Iowa… placed sixth in 600 meters (1:31.80) at Big Ten meet… ran season-best 56.42 in 400 meters at Meyo Invite… Iowa’s women’s track Big Ten Sportsmanship award winner… Outdoor – ran second legs on team-leading 1,600-meter (3:48.22) and distance medley relays (12:11.56)… the 1,600-meter relay placed sixth at Big Ten meet… ran season bests in 200 (25.91) and 400 meters (57.08) at Illinois Invite… academic all-Big Ten… letterwinner.

2008 — Indoor – ran season-best 1:34.66 in 600-meter prelims at Big Ten meet… ran 400 meters at Jack Johnson Classic (58.57), Meyo Invite (57.70) and ISU Classic (58.60)… Outdoor – ran lead leg on 1,600-meter relay that led team (3:44.21) and placed sixth at Big Ten Championships… ran on team-leading 3,200-meter relay (9:14.66) at Drake Relays… ran season-best 400 meters (57.25) at Sun Angel Classic… also ran 400 meters at Auburn Classic (58.42), Iowa Invite (58.00), Musco Twilight X (57.79) and Big Ten Championships (57.40)… letterwinner.

High School — three-time state champion and two-time runner-up… three-time all-state and all-region, earning all-conference honors twice… team MVP and conference track athlete of the year as a sophomore… six-time district champion and three-time runner-up… five-time conference champion and three-time runner-up… set school record in 400 meters (55.7)… other best times were 12.9 in 100 meters, 25.13 in 200 meters and 21:21 in 800 meters… three-time state Junior Olympics champion… coach was Tim McIntire… two-time letterwinner in volleyball, earning all-state honorable mention and second team all-league honorable mention honors senior year… set school kill record in volleyball… also lettered in soccer… four-year honor roll student and academic letterwinner… Colorado High School Athletic Association athletic academic first team senior year.

Personal — born June 10, 1989… daughter of Mark and Kathy Praska… pre-physical therapy major.

Praska’s Collegiate Bests
Event Time Meet Date
60 Meters (I) 8.17 Iowa Open 1/17/09
200 Meters (O) 25.69 at Shamrock Invitational 3/22/08
400 Meters (I) 56.05 at Shamrock Invitational 3/20/10
400 Meters (O) 54.01 Musco Twilight XII 4/23/11
600 Yards (I) 1:23.12 at Iowa State Classic 2/13/09
600 Meters (I) 1:28.14 at Big Ten Championships 2/27/11
800 Meters (I) 2:05.01 at NCAA Championships 3/11/11
800 Meters (O) 2:05.46 at War Eagle Invitational 4/16/11