The Hawkeye track and field team is finally in championship season. During this year’s Big Ten Championships (Thursday-May 14), the stars will be out in abundance, waiting to be plucked. The question on everyone’s mind is if Iowa has what it takes to win the Big Ten title. Speculation started to surface after the team was able to win the Drake Relays as a team (men’s) on April 29. If either the men or women has any shot at this feat, some of their leaders need to show up.
Men’sAaron Mallett
The men first and foremost need Mallett to take care of business. He is a senior, has a Big Ten leading time in the 110-meter hurdles, and is coming off a huge victory in that event at the Drake Relays. Everything for Mallett is aiming in the right direction. In fact, it is going so well that the Big Tens might just be practice for the wily veteran. The real cake for Mallett can be found starting on May 25 during the NCAA Championships. After all, Mallett’s 110-meter time is top four in the country. If he gets over his hurdles, this should be easy points for the Hawkeyes.
Reno Tuufuli
Tuufuli is breathing life into the Hawkeye field team. Having won numerous Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week awards this season, he more or less dominates the field every time he throws the discus. Most people know that Iowa has a lot of great relay teams, but they don’t know that they also have some of the best throwers in the nation. Tuufuli is the leader of this pack with his second-best discus throw in the Big Ten and a top-10 national rating. He single-handily adds a lot of dimension to the team, and he needs to continue to do this in order for Iowa to have any chance of winning a team title.
Women’s
Brittany Brown
Watch for Brown, because she has carried the women’s team all season long. She is has a top-10 time in the country in the 200 meters and has ran the best time for any Hawkeye in history. In layperson’s terms, Iowa currently has the best 200-meter runner in its history on its roster, and also in her prime. Just to show the versatility and effect Brown has on her team, she also runs in the Big Ten leading 4×100 meter relay. If Brown can do it all, as she has attempted all season, Iowa has a great shot of having a decent score come May 14.
Laulauga Tausaga
