By Adam Hensley
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The Iowa men’s track and field team wrapped up competition this past weekend at the Meyo Invitational in South Bend, Indiana, with some personal bests.
No team scores were kept.
The Meyo Invitational was Hawkeye Michael Melchert’s first race since running the fourth-best mile time in school history at the Big Four Duals. At Notre Dame, sophomore Melchert ran the 3,000 meters in 8:08.57, the fourth-best time in school history.
“[Melchert] gives us some options when we get to the Big Ten Championships,” Iowa Director of Track & Field Joey Woody said in a release. “He has good speed, so those [longer] distances — where a lot of times they’re sit-and-kick races — could end up being a good fit for him, not only in the 3K but also looking at the 5K.”
Aside from placing 12th overall at the Meyo, Melchert’s time was also a personal best in the 3,000 meters.
Brook Price, another distance runner for the Hawkeyes, was Iowa’s best finish in the mile at 47th. However, Price ran a college-best time of 4:15.16.
Before the Meyo, Iowa head coach Layne Anderson believed that his distance runners would be prepared to run personal bests. His runners did not disappoint him.
Pavlo Hutsalyuk ran a personal best in the 800 meters. The freshman from Chicago finished in 1:52.11 and placed 14th.
In the field events, two Hawkeyes earned personal records.
Freshman Peter Andreano competed in the high jump. The Minooka, Illinois native cleared 6-9.5, earning him 10th.
In the shot put, Reno Tuufuli hit 57-1, finishing fourth and as Iowa’s top athlete in the throws.
The 1,600-meter relay ran its best time this season. Mitch Wolff, Brendan Thompson, DeJuan Frye, and Mar’yea Harris finished third with a time of 3:10.04.
Previously, Harris ran in the 400 meters and finished in 47.35, good for seventh place. But Woody was more impressed with Harris’ time in the relay group.
“Mar’yea didn’t run any faster in the open 400, but he anchored our 4×400 in a 45.6,” Woody said in a release. “That’s a pretty amazing split to catch us back up. Even though we didn’t win, we did improve on our time, and I do feel that we have a lot of up-sides in that relay. I still think we can run 3:07, which will give us a shot to not only win the Big Ten Championships but to qualify for the national meet.”
With the Big Ten Championships coming up Feb. 26-27, it’s crucial for athletes to find their strides.
The Hawkeyes’ next competition will occur Feb. 12 and 13. One group will travel to Ames for the Iowa State Classic, and another will travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the Tyson Classic.
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