This weekend marked one of the best in Iowa track and field history as the program broke six school records and set numerous personal best performances.

Third-year Lia Love and fourth-year Kalen Walker started the weekend at the Texas Tech-hosted Jarvis Scott Open in Lubbock, Texas, on Friday evening by setting three new school records in the 60-meter semifinals. 

Love qualified for the finals and set a new Iowa best of 7.24. Minutes later, Walker came out of the blocks and bettered his school record from 6.58 to 6.52. 

In the finals, Walker broke the 60-meter school record for the fourth time this season. Walker clocked in at 6.51 against tough competition. 

“I have known the guys from Texas Tech for a long time,” Walker told HawkeyeSports. “It’s an area where I have grown. I have a lot more respect for my competitors because I know what it takes.”

In Fayetteville, Arkansas, mid-distance duo Alli Bookin-Nosbisch and Rivaldo Marshall made history of their own in the 800-meter race. 

Bookin-Nosbisch improved her own record set last weekend by nearly a second. The fourth-year runner ran a 2:03.42 and ranks second in the Big Ten and 11th nationally.

For the men, Marshall set a new Iowa personal best of 1:46.86. He is now ranked fourth in the country and first in the Big Ten.

The last school record of the weekend was claimed by first-year Daniela Wamokpego with a triple jump of 13.24 meters. Wamokpego was also crowned champion of the event in a competitive field. 

Movement on the boards

More adjustments were made to Iowa’s record books over the weekend.

On Friday, fourth-year Grant Conway ran a 7.67 60-meter hurdles personal record that now ranks third at Iowa. A few races later, second-year Holly Duax ran the fourth-best time in school history in the 60-meter sprint with a time of 7.38.

On Saturday, fourth-year Gratt Reed made history in the 200-meter sprint. Reed’s personal best of 20.82 now ranks fourth at Iowa. 

In the 800-meter race, fourth-year Grace Bookin-Nosbisch ran a 2:07.21 to put her seventh at Iowa. 

The same race for the men ended with two all-time record changes. 

Second-year Ryan Schreiner ran his way to fifth in 800-meter school history with a time of 1:48.42. Fourth-year Nick O’Connor finished with a time of 1:48.73 and the seventh-fastest time at Iowa.

Up next

The last weekend of regular season indoor competition will be at the Iowa Open at the Hawkeye Indoor Track Facility on Friday.