Iowa track and field athlete Kalen Walker improves his own 60-meter school record

Walker closed out the Black and Gold Invitational on top.

Mia Boulton, Sports Reporter

January 27, 2024

Iowa’s Kalen Walker smiles after setting a meet and personal record time of 6.59 in the men’s 60-meter dash during the Jimmy Grant Alumni Invitational at the Hawkeye Indoor Track Facility on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. The Hawkeyes hosted Western Illinois and Wisconsin, competing in events including the pentathlon, weight throwing, field events, and various running events at the indoor track.

Fourth-year sprinter Kalen Walker closed out Iowa’s last home meet of the month with a bang. Walker broke his previous 60-meter school record with a time of 6.58. His race earned him a new personal best and meet title.

“He’s a showman,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody told Hawkeye Sports. “[Walker] is running well, and he was able to get the crowd into it. He executed a number of things well today.”

In the same race, third-year Kaleba Jack ran a personal-best time of 6.96.

Fourth-year hurdler Grant Conway set a new best in the 60-meter hurdles. Conway clocked in at 7.68 and took first place in the event.

“It was impressive for [Conway] to open up with a massive PR, especially a national qualifying-type mark like that,” Woody told Hawkeye Sports. “He’s had to battle through some injuries, so to see him succeed and be confident right now is great. Grant has trusted the process the entire way.”

Third-year Lauren McMahon was the only member of the mid-distance squad to set a new personal record on Saturday. McMahon’s race of 2:23.76 earned her a seventh-place finish in the 800-meter race.

The distance squad found success of their own with two personal records. In the mile, second-year Hayden Kuhn ran a 4:14.02 and placed ninth. In the women’s 3000-meter race, third-year Kaitlin Knape bettered her best, clocking in at 11:10.65.

Up next

The track and field program will part ways and travel across the country next week. Athletes will compete in the New Mexico Collegiate Classic in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Meyo Invitational in South Bend, Indiana, and the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa.

About the Contributors

Mia Boulton, Sports Reporter

she/her/hers

Mia Boulton is a freshman at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism & Mass Communication, as well as exploring a possible double major in Sports Media. She works at the Daily Iowan as a sports reporter. Outside of the Daily Iowan, Mia has been a photographer for her hometown newspaper, The Record.

Grace Smith, Senior photojournalist and filmmaker

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Grace Smith is a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa double majoring in Journalism and Cinematic Arts. In her four years at The Daily Iowan, she has held the roles of photo editor, managing summer editor, and visual storyteller. Outside of The Daily Iowan, Grace has held an internship at The Denver Post and pursued freelance assignments for the Cedar Rapids Gazette and the Des Moines Register.