The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

Iowa competes at Big Ten championships, crowns individual champion

The Iowa track and field team competed this past weekend at the Big Ten indoor championships in Geneva, Ohio. Both men’s and women’s teams were in attendance with the men placing 10th and the women finishing eighth.

The women’s finish was a significant improvement from last year’s 11th-place finish, but the men’s finish was a regression from last year’s seventh-place finish.

The Iowa women garnered 49.5 points — a mere 3.5 points behind the fifth-place team. On the flip side, the men only earned 30 points and were 10.5 points from ninth place.

This weekend was the first Big Ten championship for much of the young women’s team and head coach Layne Anderson was pleased with the outcome.

“Our young group gained some tremendous experience this weekend, and our women’s team really made some positive strides,” he said in a release.

Underclassmen were crucial to the team — freshman Elexis Guster and Brittany Brown both placed their events. Guster finished third in the women’s 400 meters, clocking a personal-best time and fourth all-time at Iowa.

Brown competed in both the 60 and 200 meters, finishing fourth and third in those events. Her time in the 200 of 23.63 is also third best in school history.

Though many underclassmen showed strong performances, senior Zinnia Miller recorded a school record for the triple jump, earning her fifth place.

“This is a performance this group can be proud of as we close the indoor season,” Anderson said.

A major bright spot on the weekend was Iowa’s lone Big Ten champion. junior triple-jumper Babatunde Amosu recorded a leap of 15.74 meters, which is a personal best and ranks fourth all time at Iowa. Fellow jumper Klyvens Delaunay finished third in the event with a jump of 15.67 meters.

Field events were not exactly friendly to the Hawks; freshman O’Shea Wilson faulted out of the men’s long jump.

The Black and Gold found some solace in the performance of senior captain Tevin-Cee Mincy, who matched his season and career best time of 6.73 in the 60 meters finals to finish third.

Sophomore Will Teubel was also impressive as he raced to fifth place in the 600 meters. Director of track and field Larry Wieczorek was not pleased with his team after the meet.

“We are very disappointed in the performance of the men’s team this weekend,” he said in a release.

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