University of Iowa Athletics
Erik Sowinski - Men's Track & Field - University of Iowa Athletics

Erik Sowinski

Position Mid Distance
Class Sr.
Hometown Waukesha, Wis.
High School West

2012 — Indoor – All-American, placing third in 800 meters at NCAA Championships (1:48.93)… qualified for NCAA Championships in 800 meters, posting the sixth-best time (1:47.62) in the event field… Big Ten champion and all-Big Ten honoree, winning 800 meters in 1:47.90… ran a school and meet record 1:47.62 in Big Ten 800-meter prelims… ran third leg on distance medley relay that placed third at Big Ten Championships with a school record-setting 9:45.41… anchored 1,600-meter relay that placed sixth at Big Ten meet (3:10.52)… set school record in 600 meters (1:16.91) with win at Adidas Classic… anchored team-leading 1,600-meter relay at ISU Qualifier (3:09.34)… won invitational 800 meters (1:48.58) at Razorback Invite and 1,000 meters (2:24.51) at New Year’s Classic… placed eighth in invitational 800 meters (1:49.23) at Husky Invite… Outdoor – All-American, placing second in 800 meters at NCAA Championships with a school record-setting 1:45.90… ran 1:46.09 in NCAA 800-meter prelims, which was fastest time in prelim race… broke own school record in 800 meters three times during season… placing second in 800 meters at NCAA West Preliminary (1:47.12)… placed third in 800 meters (1:47.18) at Big Ten Championships, running a 1:46.88 in prelims that broke his own school record… won 800 meters at LSU Invite, setting a then-school and meet record of 1:47.02… previous school record of 1:47.64 was set by Bill Frazier in 1962… placed third in 400 meters with a team-leading and collegiate-best 46.81… anchored team-leading 1,600-meter relay to fourth-place finish at Big Ten meet in 3:05.77, which ranks seventh all-time at Iowa… placed second in 800 meters (1:47.83) at Musco Twilight XIII… anchored team-leading sprint medley relay to second place (3:17.25) and ran third leg on team-leading distance medley relay that placed fifth (9:41.59) at Drake Relays… the sprint medley time ranks second and the distance medley time ranks third all-time at Iowa… Capital One Track & Field Academic All-District honoree… Iowa[apos]s Big Ten[apos] Medal of Honor winner… academic All-Big Ten… letterwinner

2011 — Indoor – two-time All-American, placing fourth in 800 meters (1:49.47) and running third leg on 1,600-meter relay that placed fourth at NCAA Championships (3:07.16)… ran third leg on 1,600-meter relay that won Big Ten title (3:12.13) and set school record of 3:06.66 at Last Chance Qualifier… placed second in 800 meter at Huskie Invite with a season-best 1:47.98, earning automatic NCAA bid… runner-up in 800 meters at Big Ten Championships (1:50.34) and placed third at Razorback Invite (1:48.75)… ran second leg on winning 1,600-meter relay at Razorback Invite (3:07.84), which ranks fourth all-time at Iowa… ran third leg on distance medley relay that placed fifth at Big Ten Championships in 9:57.44, which ranks eighth all-time at Iowa… placed third with season-best 600 meters (1:18.50) at Jack Johnson Classic… Outdoor – placed 15th in 800 meters with a collegiate-best 1:47.83 at NCAA Championships, earning second team All-America honors… that time led team and ranks third all-time at Iowa… ran third leg on team-leading 1,600-meter relay that placed 10th at NCAA Championships in 3:05.64, earning second team All-America honors… that time ranks sixth all-time at Iowa… runner-up in 800 meters (1:48.58) and ran third leg on 1,600-meter relay that placed second (3:06.70) at Big Ten Championships, helping team to first Big Ten title since 1967… ran third leg on 1,600-meter relay that placed sixth in 3:07.58 at NCAA West Regional… anchored school record-setting sprint medley relay that won at Drake Relays in 3:16.18… anchored school record-setting 3,200-meter relay to runner-up finish at Drake Relays in 7:23.77… won 800 meters at LSU Invite (1:48.15), Sun Angel Classic (1:48.32) and Musco Twilight XII (1:48.80)… academic all-Big Ten… letterwinner.

2010 — Indoor – set then-school record in 800 meters with a provisional qualifying 1:48.90 at ISU Classic… ran lead leg on team-leading 1,600-meter relay with a season-best provisional qualifying time of 3:09.83 at Meyo Invite… 1,600-meter relay earned second team all-Big Ten honors (3:12.00)… led team in 600 meters with a season-best 1:18.38 at Big Ten Championships, placing fourth in that event (1:18.50)… won 800 meters at Razorback Invite (1:50.09) and placed second at Meyo Invite (1:49.21) and NCAA Qualifier (1:48.99)… won 600 meters at Iowa Open (1:19.63)… Outdoor – All-American, running on 1,600-meter relay that placed seventh at NCAA Championships in a team-leading 3:05.61… that time ranks fifth all-time at Iowa… ran third leg on 1,600-meter relay that qualified for NCAA Championships (3:05.84)… anchored team-leading 1,600-meter relay that placed second at Drake Relays (3:05.73) and Big Ten Championships (3:07.75)… earned second team all-Big Ten honors… led team in 800 meters with season-best 1:48.56 at Sun Angel Classic… anchored sprint medley relay squad that placed second at Drake Relays (3:17.74), which ranks second all-time at Iowa… ran season-best 400 meters at Razorback Invite (47.72)… won the 800 meters at the Tiger Track Classic (1:49.66) and Musco Twilight XI (1:50.53)… academic all-Big Ten… letterwinner.

2009 — Indoor – set then-school record in 600 meters (1:18.05) in Big Ten prelims, placing eighth with a 1:19.10 in finals… ran season-best 1:51.39 in 800 meters at Last Chance Qualifier… also ran 800 meters at Meyo Invite (1:52.70), Iowa State Classic (1:52.82), Razorback Invite (1:54.22) and Iowa Open (1:55.22)… Outdoor – qualified for NCAA Midwest Regional as part of team-leading 1,600-meter relay (3:08.81)… ran second leg on 1,600-meter relay that placed fourth at Drake in 3:11.46 and third leg on 3,200-meter relay that placed 11th at Drake Relays in 7:33.08, which ranks third in school history… ran second leg on the team-leading distance medley relay (10:02.91) at Drake Relays… ran season-best 800 meters (1:51.10) at John McDonnell Invite… letterwinner.

High School — won state 800-meter title (1:54.29), anchored state champion 3,200-meter relay (7:50.96) and ran on fifth-place 1,600-meter relay (3:22.08) senior year… five-time all-conference, earning all-state honors in track twice… two-time track team MVP… two-time conference champion, winning 400 (49.46) and 800 meters (1:56.33) senior year… set school records in 400 (49.46) and 800 meters (1:54.29), and as part of 3,200-meter (7:50.96) and sprint medley relays (3:28.15)… ran on sprint medley relay that placed fourth (3:28.15) and 3,200-meter relay that placed 19th at Nike Outdoor Nationals… lettered two years in basketball, earning all-conference honors… captained track and cross country teams as a senior, and basketball team three years… National Honor Society member… four-year honor roll student… Brady academic all-star and WIAA scholar athlete as a senior… academic all-state in cross country as a senior… coaches were Josh Johnson, Bill Megna and Tom Lahiff.

Personal — born December 21, 1989…son of Bryan and Jane Sowinski… integrative physiology major.

Sowinski’s Collegiate Bests
Event Time Meet Date
400 Meters (O) 46.81 at Arkansas Spring Invitational 3/31/12
600 Meters (I) 1:16.91 at Adidas Classic 1/21/12
800 Meters (I) 1:47.62 at Big Ten Championships 2/24/12
800 Meters (O) 1:45.90 at NCAA Championships 6/8/12
1,000 Meters (I) 2:24.15 New Year[apos]s Classic 1/14/12