Britt sets program record for Iowa track and field at NCAA Championships

The junior took silver in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Iowa hurdlers Gratt Reed, Jamal Britt, Iowa alum Aaron Mallett––who ran unattached––compete in the 60m hurdle premier final during the second day of the Larry Wieczorek Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021 at the University of Iowa Recreation Building. Reed, Britt, and Mallett finished fifth, second, and first, respectively. Due to coronavirus restrictions, the Hawkeyes could only host Big Ten teams. Iowa men took first, scoring 189, and women finished third with 104 among Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Illinois.

Isaac Goffin, Assistant Sports Editor
March 14, 2021

Junior track star Jamal Britt had a career-week by setting the Iowa school record in the 60 meter hurdles at the 2021 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

His time of 7.52 in the 60 meter hurdles gave him silver at the national meet, and his placement was the highest national finish in program history. With his great performance, Britt finished as a first-team All-American.

“I’m super proud of Jamal today,” Iowa director of track and field Joey Woody said in a release. “To come back after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the Big Ten meet to become the NCAA runner-up is a testament to his drive and determinations to be the best. He’s a great representation of our team and what we expect to do at the NCAA Championships. I can’t wait to see what Jamal and his teammates do this outdoor season.”

Britt previously broke the school record Friday to advance to the finals with a time of 7.58.

The Las Vegas native wasn’t the only Hawkeye to earn All-American honors in Fayetteville.

Senior Mallory King finished in 11th place overall and sixth place in her heat in the 800 meters with a time of 2:07.74 Friday, giving her second-team All-American honors. It was her first time competing at a national meet.

“Mallory competed tough today,” Woody said. “Unfortunately, it just wasn’t her day. I’m proud of her and what she has done this season. She came in ranked 14th and ended up 11th, so that was good to see. I know this will make her even hungrier for outdoors.”

Junior Peyton Haack, who won was Iowa’s first Big Ten heptathlon champion, finished 12th at NCAA Championships in the heptathlon and became a second-team All-American. He competed in the 60 meters, long jump, shot put, and high jump Thursday. He placed third in the 60-meters with a time of 6.96, and he set a career-best in shot put with mark of 13.44m.

On Friday, Haack participated in the 60 meter hurdles, pole vault, and 1,000 meters, and finished third in the 1,000 meters.

Austin West, a sophomore, competed in the heptathlon as well and finished in 13th place, also giving him second-team All-American.

West’s best finish on Thursday was in the 60 meter hurdles with a seventh-place finish, accomplishing the time of 7.01. His best finish Friday was in the 60-meter hurdles, where he finished sixth.

“It was a tough start to the day for Peyton with a DNF in the hurdles this morning, but he fought back and finished the day strong in the pole vault and the 1,000 meters,” Woody said Friday. “Austin had a great start in the hurdles, but unfortunately strained his hamstring during the pole vault and wasn’t able to finish the 1,000 meters. I’m really proud of both of those guys and what they accomplished this indoor season. They set the bar at the Big Ten meet and did everything they could to help us win the Big Ten team title two weeks ago.”

Wayne Lawrence Jr. was recognized with an All-American honorable mention in the 400 meters.

Iowa will compete next in the outdoor season, which is slated to begin at the end of March. The complete schedule for the outdoor season isn’t available yet.