Elexis Guster and 1,600-meter relay team will compete at the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships.
By Connor Sindberg
Coming off a fifth-place finish in the Big Ten Championships, the women’s track team will transition to the outdoor season, but first, some members will compete in the final indoor event of the season; the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Alabama.
Qualifying for two events, the Hawkeyes will compete in the 400 meters and 1,600-meter relay. The sprinters have scored the majority of the points all season, and it’s only fitting that they will represent the team once again.
Competing in the 400 meter is standout Big Ten champion Elexis Guster. The Atlanta native’s time of 52.36 ranks eighth nationally. At today’s NCAA championships, Guster hopes to continue her recent momentum to achieve All-American status.
“She’s somebody who’s ranked in the top eight in the national meet,” Iowa Director of Track & Field Joey Woody said. “She’ll be an All-American if she finishes top eight. She’s set herself up for a great finish to the indoor season.”
After her 400-meter Big Ten championship run Feb. 26-27, Guster is not finished yet. She hopes to achieve the same goals her coach set out for her.
“My goal definitely is to place top eight in the [400 meters],” Guster said. “I want to be a first-team All-American, and get a medal, and be there with the top athletes in the country.”
Guster has had an excellent indoor season, finishing first in numerous competitions and events, including the 200 meters, 400 meters, and 600 meters. She started the season off with a bang, finishing in first at the Jan. 9 Border Battle and Jan. 23Big Four Duals. A top-eight finish this weekend would put the icing on the cake.
Joining Guster at the NCAA competition will be the 1,600-meter relay team. Senior MonTayla Holder, freshman Briana Guillory, junior Alexis Hernandez, and Guster are the first 1,600-meter Hawkeye women’s relay to qualify for an indoor national meet. The quartet owns the 12th-fastest time in the nation and Hawkeye record with a time of 3:32.93.
“I think we have the girls that can get top-eight in the relays,” Woody said. “The team is really coming on strong; every single week we’ve gotten better and better, and we had some great splits at the [Big Ten Championships].”
Guster shares that confidence.
“Once we fix some of the minor things we need to work on, we can definitely compete with the top teams, and I believe we’re going to break the school record again,” she said.
Along with breaking a school record, Woody has his eyes set on high finishes.
“Our goal for the women’s side is to get an opportunity for Elexis to be a first team All-American and to get the relay team to place top eight and be first team All-Americans,” Woody said.