The Iowa State men’s and women’s track and field teams once again split up in a weekend of meets that led to a few PRs and further advancement in the Cyclone record book.
Distance takes on talent at Bryan Clay Invite
Starting Wednesday night in the women’s open 3,000 meter steeplechase, senior Kiki Connell raced to sixth with a PR of 10:17.80, moving her to fifth all-time in school history.
Freshman Joash Ruto and redshirt sophomore Quinton Orr followed up in the men’s 3,000 meter steeplechase invite with top-25 finishes. Orr placed 24th, running an 8:44.74, while Ruto placed third, running an 8:27.22 and advanced to second in school history in the event.
Closing the night, junior Said Mechaal and freshman Robin Kwemoi Bera placed fifth and sixth in the 10,000 meter run, respectively. Mechaal ran a PR of 27:48.08 and advanced to second in school history, while Kwemoi Bera ran a 27:56.79, good enough for fourth in school history.
Thursday was all about the 5,000 meter run for the Cyclones. In the women’s open sections, redshirt freshman Aspen Fulbright placed 26th with a 17:37.54 in section one. In section two, freshman Olivia Verde placed 16th with a time of 16:53.34.
Redshirt freshman Mya Trober placed 21st in section three with a time of 16:58.03. In the invite sections, freshman Sydney Morrell placed 16th in section four with a time of 16:42.42, while sophomore Maelle Porcher placed fourth in section two, ran a PR of 15:42.77, and moved to fourth in school history.
Freshmen Allen Bonnesen and Isaac Rivera each ran PRs in the men’s open B heat. Bonnesen clocked a 14:12.58 for seventh and Rivera ran a 14:18.23 to finish 19th.
The Cyclones closed action on Friday with the 1,500 meter run. In the women’s open 1,500 meter run, sophomore McKinley Wheeler placed 21st with a time of 4:29.90 and freshman Josie Baker placed 27th and ran a 4:34.22.
In the women’s 1,500 invite, redshirt junior Bella Heikes ran to 15th in a time of 4:17.41. That PR put her fourth in the Cyclone record books. Close behind her was freshman Becca Heitzig, coming in 20th in a time of 4:18.82. Redshirt junior Riley Beach came in at 72nd in 4:22.86, while Trober came in at 116th of the 132 who finished, running a 4:28.49.
On the men’s side in the 1,500 invite, junior Nathan Pestka placed 100th, running a 3:48.23, followed up by junior Hanibal Haile, who placed 104th in 3:48.75 and sophomore Ernie Mattson, placing 132nd in 3:58.08.
In the elite 1,500, junior Emanuel Galdino placed 16th, running a 3:41.55 and sophomore Devan Kipyego finished in 3:42.11, good enough for 17th.
Sprinters and field specialists compete at Kansas Relays
In the hammer throw, the Cyclone men had three throwers in the top five, and all moved into the top-five all-time spots in the Cyclone history books.
Redshirt junior Zach Verzani threw a PR of 213-4, placing third in the meet and second in school history. Junior Cam Jones followed up with a fourth place PR of 211-10, third in school history and redshirt sophomore Garret Wagner placed fifth with a PR of 205-0 and fifth in school history.
In other field events, redshirt freshman Ella O’Neall placed fifth in the women’s shot put with a throw of 45-10 ¾ and in the women’s high jump, freshman Maia Denge-Hagen placed second with a jump of 5-5.
In the men’s discus, Jones placed fourth, throwing 180-4. One inch behind him was senior Daniel Norris, placing fifth. Freshman Brandon Fischer placed 12th behind a throw that went 171-10.
The success from Jones and Fischer carried over into shot put as Jones placed fourth with a throw of 60-1 and Fischer placed 17th at 47-5. Alongside them, Wagner placed 10th, throwing 52 ½.
In the women’s long jump, freshman Amari Laing placed fourth, jumping 18-11 ¾, while in the men’s javelin, sophomore Nathan Vincent placed 12th, throwing 170-3.
Both Cyclone men’s and women’s 4×100 meter relay teams qualified for and placed second in the finals. The women’s team did so in 46.44, while the men did so in 40.56.
Freshman Brooklyn Sandvig, one of the women’s relay members, placed second in the 200 meter dash and ran a 23.65 to advance to fourth all-time in school history. Sophomore Mikey McClain, one of four on the men’s 4×100 team, won the men’s 200 meter dash in a time of 20.68 and moved up to third in school history.
All three of Iowa State’s hurdle finalists placed in the top 10 in their events. Freshman Riyah Burns took second in the women’s 100 meter hurdles in a time of 14.12, and sophomore Grayson Hartman followed up with a time of 14.80 in the men’s 110 meter hurdles. In the men’s 400 meter hurdles, freshman Aidan Jacobsen placed eighth in a time of 55.34.
Looking Ahead
Wednesday marks the start of the prestigious Drake Relays that will take place at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. This will be the 115th year of the event, as the Cyclones will look to take on the best of the best in the nation. The meet will run through Saturday as Iowa State will aim to build off the PRs and historic records set.
