The Iowa track and field team competed in yet another relay competition, traveling to Walnut, California, to compete at the Mt. SAC Relays April 17-18.
Some members of the squad not only notched personal records but broke some school marks as well.
Most notably, junior Lake Kwaza broke the school record in the women’s 100 meters. She crossed the line in 11.40 to top the previous school mark of 11.45. The junior’s time ranks seventh nationally and first in the conference.
Sophomore Brittany Brown finished at 11.53 to earn ninth place, third on Iowa’s all-time list.
Freshman Carter Lilly added his name to Iowa’s all-time list, finishing seventh in the men’s 800 meters. His time of 1:50.12 is now the ninth-fastest time in that event.
Senior Jack Eckert and redshirt freshman William Dougherty competed in the men’s decathlon, with Eckert earning 7,094 points and finishing first in one of two sections. His mark is now second on Iowa’s all-time list. Dougherty finished ninth in his section, earning 6,735 points. His mark ranks fifth on Iowa’s all-time list.
The men’s 1,600-meter relay squad of Mitch Wolff, Brendan Thompson, Aaron Mallett, and Brennan Davey ran a season-best time of 3:08.93.
“It was a big breakthrough race for the 4×4,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said in a release. “That type of performance was right around the corner for them. They all ran close to their best times, although I know more is in the tank. Mitch got the relay out in front, and we were able to have a clean lead from there.”
Mallett also competed in his signature event — the men’s 110-hurdles, finishing ninth with a time of 13.77.
“I was very happy to see Aaron run a good time today with what was not a great technical race,” Woody said in a release. “He beat some highly ranked athletes head-to-head, which always leads to great performances down the line.”
Sophomores Elexis Guster and Brittany Brown showed up in their events. Guster finished sixth in the women’s 400 meters, with a season-best time of 53.30. Her mark is tops in the conference and 19th nationally.
Brown finished eighth in the women’s 200 meters with a season-best time of 23.14. Her mark is 11th nationally.
“Brittany beat some great athletes today," Woody said in a release. "She set herself up well in the Big Ten and the NCAAs. Elexis was also a highlight for the women, running one of her best times ever and matching the performance she ran here last season when she was a Big Ten champion.”
The sophomores also joined Kwaza and junior MonTayla Holder in the women’s 400-meter relay, which finished seventh at 44.93. They now have the sixth-fastest time in school history, and their mark is third in the Big Ten.
The Hawkeyes will return to action at the Drake Relays in Des Moines Wednesday through April 26.
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