University of Iowa Athletics
Ray Varner - Men's Track & Field - University of Iowa Athletics

Ray Varner

Position Hurdles
Class So.
Hometown Wadsworth, Ill.
High School Warren Township

2009 — Indoor – anchored 1,600-meter relay that led team and ran NCAA provisional qualifying 3:09.62 at Last Chance Qualifier… that time ranks 10th on Iowa[apos]s all-time best performers list… ran lead leg on 1,600-meter relay that placed eighth (3:14.73) and second leg on team-leading distance medley relay that placed ninth (9:52.52) at Big Ten Championships … the distance medley relay time ranks fourth on Iowa’s all-time best performers list… led team in 400 meters (47.75)… ran collegiate bests in 60-meter hurdles (8.46) at Iowa Open and 200 meters (22.08) at Iowa State Classic… Outdoor – placed sixth in 400-meter hurdles (51.21) at NCAA Midwest Regional to earn all-region honors after running a collegiate-best 50.54 in the prelims… that time led team and ranks fifth all-time at Iowa… ran a 50.81 in 400-meter hurdles at NCAA Championships prelims and 53.03 in semifinals… qualified for regional meet in 400-meter hurdles (51.00) and as part of team-leading 1,600-meter relay (3:08.81)… placed third in 400-meter hurdles at Big Ten Championships (51.16)… anchored 1,600-meter relay that placed fourth at Drake Relays in 3:11.46… won 400-meter hurdles at Illinois Invite (51.29), and placed second at John McDonnell Invite (51.00) and Drake Relays (51.80), and third at Sun Angel Classic (51.53) and Tiger Track Classic (51.82)… letterwinner.

2008 — Indoor – led team in 400 meters (47.66) and anchored team-leading 1,600-meter relay (3:10.74)… ran collegiate best 400 meters (47.66) at Last Chance Qualifier… that time ranks seventh in school history… his collegiate-best 60-meter hurdles time of 8.45 ranks 10th in school history… placed sixth in 400 meters (48.52) and anchored fourth-place finishing 1,600-meter relay (3:15.12) at Big Ten Championships… Outdoor – all-region honoree, placing eighth in 400-meter hurdles with a season-best and team-leading 51.07 at NCAA Midwest Regional… ran on fifth-place 1,600-meter relay at Big Ten Championships… placed eighth in 400-meter hurdles (51.27) at Drake Relays and first at Musco Twilight X (52.16) … letterwinner.

2007 — Indoor – placed ninth in 400 meters (48.14) at Big Ten Championships… season-best times were 8.73 in 60-meter hurdles, 22.26 in 200 meters and 1:22.24 in 600 meters… Outdoor – qualified for NCAA regional in 400-meter hurdles with a collegiate-best 50.99 at for sixth place at the Big Ten Championships… that time led team and ranks seventh in school history… placed ninth in that event at NCAA regional (52.93), earning all-region honors… ran third leg on 1,600-meter relay that placed sixth (3:08.97) at Big Ten Championships… letterwinner.

High School — 2006 Nike all-American, placing fifth in 400-meter hurdles (53.16)… won state 300-meter hurdles title (37.29) and placed second in 110-meter hurdles (14.59) senior year… won conference titles in 200 meters (21.8), 110-meter hurdles (14.24) and 300-meter hurdles (38.3) senior year… three-year all-conference selection… all-state, team MVP and team captain senior year… lettered two years in football… three-year honor roll student… coached by Bill Dawson.

Personal — born July 21, 1987… son of Ray and Liz Varner… health and sport studies major.

Varner’s Collegiate Best Times

Event Time Meet Date
60 Hurdles(I) 8.46 Iowa Open 1/17/09
110 Hurdles(O) 15.25 at Illinois Invite 5/2/09
200 Meters(I) 22.08 at Iowa State Classic 2/13/09
400 Meters(I) 47.66 at Last Chance Qualifier 3/8/08
400 Hurdles(O) 50.54 at NCAA Regional 5/29/09
600 Meters(I) 1:22.23 at Jack Johnson Classic 1/26/08