Hawkeyes Impress in First Roadtrip of 2025

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – University of Iowa track and field won a combined six events to open its weekend at Missouri and Notre Dame on Friday evening. 

Annie Wirth highlighted the action at the Dr. Rick McGuire Invite in Columbia, Missouri, winning the pentathlon with a personal-best 3,890 points to move to sixth all-time at Iowa. Pauline Bikembo (women’s long jump), Ryan Johnson (weight throw) and Emmanuel Njoku (men’s long jump) also collected victories.

“Today was a great start to the weekend at both meets,” Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “The men and women both dominated the field in the 600 meters at Notre Dame. Damaris and Gabby both ran terrific races in a very competitive field. Terrick and James continue to show that they are two of the best 600 runners in the Big Ten by going 1-2 at Notre Dame.”

“The field events and multis showed out today at Missouri. The pentathletes did a terrific job with Annie coming out on top with a new overall PR.  She’s very close to putting together a 4,000-point pentathlon. Abraham and Sal are off to a great start on day one of the Heptathlon. Abraham had huge jumps in the long and high jumps today. Sal had a big PR in the long jump, going over 23’ for the first time. I’m excited to see them continue their momentum tomorrow. The jumpers all competed at a very high level today as well! Going 1-2 in the women’s LJ with Pauline jumping a huge PR and Emmanuel competing for the first time in an Iowa uniform getting the W and jumping over 25’.”

“As I told the team after last weekend, the track and field season is all about building momentum from meet to meet and we needed to keep it going this weekend on the road and that’s definitely what we did today. I’m excited to see what we can do tomorrow.”

Wirth used top-five finishes in four of five events on her way to the pentathlon title on Friday. Wirth won the high jump (1.78 meters) and hit a career best in the 800 meters (2:21.85) to clinch the win. Freshman Jeanne Le Goff secured a personal best with 3,591 points and placed fourth. Sophomore Carlee Rochford amassed 3,529 points to place fifth overall. 

Bikembo climbed to third in Iowa’s record books with a 6.33-meter jump to win the long jump in Columbia. Teammate Maud Zeffou-Poaty placed second with Iowa’s fourth-longest jump in school history, hitting a career-best 6.26 meters. Johnson and junior Sean Smith took the top two spots in the men’s weight throw, throwing 23.82 meters and 21.66 meters, respectively. Freshman Bryce Ruland fired 20.42 meters for a career best and eighth-longest throw in program history. In his collegiate debut, Njoku rose to the occasion and dominated a strong field of jumpers in the men’s long jump. Njoku lept 7.66 meters to land on Iowa’s all-time list at No. 6.

After day one of the men’s heptathlon, freshman Abraham Vogelsang leads the Hawkeyes in second place overall with 3,292 points. Sal Capaldo is in fifth at 3,009 points. 

The Hawkeyes shined in the 600 meters, securing victories in both the men’s and women’s events. Freshman Damaris Mutunga claimed first place with an all-time best of 1:27.77, which ranks second at Iowa. She improved on her previous all-time best, which ranked third. Junior Gabby Cortez also had an impressive day, setting a personal best of 1:28.40, which moves her into fifth on Iowa’s all-time list.

On the men’s side, junior Terrick Johnson took gold with a time of 1:17.27. Sophomore James Fingalsen finished second at 1:17.79, while freshman Nicholas Gorsich clocked in with a personal best of 1:21.12, good for eighth place.

In the distance medley relay, the team of Clare Kelly, Arianna Williams, Grace Bookin-Nosbisch and Elena Torres finished third with a time of 11:36.88. Derek Leicht, Braedin Zondervan, Caleb Levy and Carson Houg recorded a 9:58.77, also placing third.

Up Next: The Hawkeyes resume competition in South Bend and Columbia tomorrow, with action beginning at 9:00 a.m. (CT) at the Meyo Invite.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Dr. Rick McGuire Invite
Women’s 200 Meters
21. Maud Zeffou-Poaty - 25.35

Women’s Long Jump
1. Pauline Bikembo - 6.33 meters, PR, 3rd at Iowa
2. Maud Zeffou-Poaty - 6.26 meters, PR, 4th at Iowa

Men’s Long Jump
1. Emmanuel Njoku - 7.66 meters (25’ 1.75”), 6th at Iowa

Men’s Weight Throw
1. Ryan Johnson - 23.82 meters (78’ 1.75”)
2. Sean Smith - 21.66 meters (71’ 0.75”)
5. Austin Busch - 20.89 meters (68’ 6.50”)
6. Bryce Ruland - 20.42 meters (67’), PR, 8th at Iowa
16. Walker Whalen - 17.75 meters (58’ 3”)

Women’s Weight Throw
5. Alivia Bauer - 19.41 meters (63’ 8.25”)
10. Wisdom Williams - 17.94 meters (58’ 10.25”)
19. Sydnie Smith - 16.69 meters (54’ 9.25”)
20. Peyton Wilson - 16.61 meters (54’ 6”)

Women’s Pentathlon
1. Annie Wirth - 3,890 points, PR, 6th at Iowa
4. Jeanne Le Goff - 3,591 points, PR
5. Carlee Rochford - 3,529 points

60-meter hurdles
3. Carlee Rochford - 8.88, PR
4. Annie Wirth - 8.89
9. Jeanne Le Goff - 9.29

High Jump
1. Annie Wirth - 1.78 meters (5’ 10”)
2. Jeanne Le Goff - 1.75 meters (5’ 8.75”), PR, 9th at Iowa
5. Carlee Rochford - 1.63 meters (5’ 4.25”)

Shot Put
3. Carlee Rochford - 11.04 meters (36’ 2.75”)
4. Annie Wirth - 10.50 meters (34’ 5.50”)
15. Jeanne Le Goff - 7.37 meters (24’ 2.25”), PR

Long Jump
4. Jeanne Le Goff - 5.37 meters (17’ 7.50”)
5. Carlee Rochford - 5.31 meters (15’ 5.25”)
6. Annie Wirth - 5.30 meters (17’ 4.75”)

800 Meters
1. Jeanne Le Goff - 2:21.50, PR
2. Annie Wirth - 2:21.85, PR
10. Carlee Rochford - 2:39.42

Men’s Heptathlon
2. Abraham Vogelsang - 3,292 points
5. Sal Capaldo - 3,009 points
12. Canaan Burnett - 2,624 points

60 meters
3. Sal Capaldo - 7.05
4. Abraham Vogelsang - 7.13
12. Will Davidson - 7.23
16. Canaan Burnett - 7.32

Long Jump
1. Abraham Vogelsang - 7.45 meters (24’ 5.50”)
3. Sal Capaldo - 7.10 meters (23’ 3.50”), PR
13. Canaan Burnett - 6.40 meters (21’)
– Will Davidson - DNS

Shot Put
3. Abraham Vogelsang - 13.26 meters (43’ 6”)
6. Sal Capaldo - 12.21 meters (40’ 0.75”)
16. Canaan Burnett - 10.08 meters (33’ 1”), PR

High Jump
2. Abraham Vogelsang - 2.05 meters (6’ 8.75”)
5. Sal Capaldo - 1.87 meters (6’ 1.50”)
5. Canaan Burnett - 1.87 meters (6’ 1.50”)

Meyo Invite
Women’s 600 Meters
1. Damaris Mutunga - 1:27.77, PR, 2nd at Iowa
2. Gabby Cortez - 1:28.40, PR, 5th at Iowa
10. Jaiden Itson - 1:33.91
20. Ava Rush - 1:38.75

Men’s 600 Meters
1. Terrick Johnson - 1:17.27
2. James Fingalsen - 1:17.79
8. Nicholas Gorsich - 1:21.12, PR
11. Josh Pugh - 1:21.67

Men’s 5,000 Meters
26. Kyle Montgomery - 14:37.91

Women’s Distance Medley Relay
3. Kelly, Williams, Bookin-Nosbisch, Torres - 11:36.88

Men’s Distance Medley Relay
3. Leicht, Zondervan, Levy, Houg - 9:58.77