SOUTH BEND, Ind. – University of Iowa Track and Field senior Alli Bookin-Nosbisch improved her 800-meter school record on Saturday at the Meyo Invitational. The senior from Ottumwa, Iowa, shaved her program best down to 2:04.20. 

“Today’s meet really got me rolling,” Bookin-Nosbisch said. “I got pretty boxed in early, and I was not able to get out as fast as I would have liked. I believe there is more in the tank. I’m excited for next weekend and have so much momentum heading into Arkansas.”

“Alli has been having a tremendous year,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “That’s her first 800 of the year and I think she has more in the tank. Her training has been incredible. It’s great to get that school record updated on the board. She can take it to an even higher level next week.”

Her twin sister, Grace Bookin-Nosbisch, joined Iowa’s top-10 list with a 2:08.09 mark that ranks eighth in the Hawkeye record book. In total, ten Hawkeyes recorded career bests at the Meyo Invitational, including eight new PRs in the 800 meters. 

On the men’s side, senior Nick O’Connor placed fifth in the 800-meter championship, running 1:50.55 for a new personal best. Sophomore Ryan Schreiner was close behind with a personal-best 1:51.08.

Four more Hawkeyes set PRs in open 800-meter races, including senior Katie Moore, sophomore Lily Johannes, sophomore Jalyssa Blazek and sophomore Derek Leicht. 

Iowa’s additional personal bests at Meyo came in the distance races. Freshman Cameron Kalaway improved to 5:06.86 in the open women’s mile, while junior Yohana Yual ran 8:21.88 in the men’s championship 3,000 meters. 

Elsewhere, junior Miya Brines placed fourth in the 60-meter hurdles with an 8.58 mark. Brines was one of seven Hawkeyes to place inside the top ten in a final at the Meyo Invitational.

In Albuquerque, redshirt sophomore Chloe Larsen completed a strong weekend by moving into tenth on Iowa’s all-time list in the 400-meter race. After climbing to third in the 600 meters yesterday, Larsen doubled up with a 54.20 personal best to lead the Hawkeyes in the 400 meters. Additionally, sophomore Gabby Cortez (55.11) and freshman Olicia Lucas (55.22) posted career bests.

The men’s 400-meter group notched three personal records courtesy of freshmen Josh Pugh (47.40) and James Fingalsen (47.64), along with sophomore Tyrese Miller (48.13). The women’s 4×400-meter relay team of sophomore Audrey Biermann, Magee, Larsen and senior Nylah Perry ran a 3:34.24 to post the program’s sixth-fastest time.

The hurdle units were Iowa’s strength on day two, qualifying four hurdlers to the finals. On the women’s side, seniors Paige Magee and Tionna Tobias won their preliminary heats with times of 8.18 and 8.35, respectively. In the finals, Magee finished fourth in 8.12, while Tobias notched a personal-record 8.15 to claim fifth.

Seniors Gratt Reed and Grant Conway led the men’s hurdle squad into the finals with automatic qualifications of 7.77 and 7.81, respectively. Conway ended his weekend in fifth with a 7.77 in the finals, while Reed was right behind in seventh with a 7.82.

In Ames, the throws group was led by senior Kat Moody clinched another shot put title with a 16.63-meter mark. Senior Jamie Kofron finished second in the women’s weight throw with a 19.32-meter toss, while sophomore Sean Smith claimed fourth for the men following his 20.94-meter throw.

HEAR FROM DIRECTOR OF TRACK AND FIELD JOEY WOODY
“It was great to get four Hawkeyes in the hurdle finals this morning. I was excited to see Gratt get back into that 7.7 range. Grant is getting back into racing and is doing very well. Those two continue building their confidence. Tionna is firing on all cylinders, especially by setting that PR in the hurdles after coming off of a late night yesterday. Paige had an incredible start and I believe she will be in the 7.9’s very soon. Then she turned around and ran a 52.21 split in the 4×4. Our entire 400 group competed very well this weekend. Overall, we have momentum heading in the right direction. We need to keep competing. Our young group got great experience in a tough environment. We want to be in the fire with the best programs in the country. Let’s keep building.”

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes travel to the Jarvis Scott Open in Lubbock, Texas, the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the Windy City Invite in Chicago on Feb. 9-10.

ANN ARBOR, Michigan – The second ranked University of Iowa Men’s wrestling program fell on Friday evening to Michigan, 24-11, at the Crisler Center.

The Wolverines won the first five weights before intermission. The Hawkeyes won three matches and got bonus points in the 197-pound bout.

At 125 No. 12 Michael DeAugustino rode out fifth-ranked Drake Ayala in the first tiebreaker to get things started in the win column for the Wolverines.

Fourth-ranked Dylan Ragusin put together a 5-2 decision over No. 18 Cullan Schriever at 133. 19th ranked Sergio Lemley tallied an upset win at 141 with a 14-2 major decision over top-ranked Real Woods.

At 149 No. 6 Austin Gomez defeated Victor Voinovich III winning a 5-1 decision before 12th ranked Will Lewan sent Michigan to the break with a, 16-0, lead after one second of riding time gave him a 2-2 win in TB1 over No. 2 Jared Franek.

After the intermission Michael Caliendo got the Hawkeyes on the board with a 9-4 win over Beau Mantanona at 165.

At 174 third-ranked Shane Griffith won via major decision over No. 8 Patrick Kennedy, 12-1.

Aiden Riggins recorded a win for the Hawkeyes at 184 defeating Joseph Walker, 6-5.

Iowa got bonus points at 197 from Zach Glazier who remained undefeated on the year beating Bobby Striggow, 19-4. Glazier recorded a takedown right before the buzzer sounded to notch the technical fall.

Michigan’s Lucas Davidson closed out the night with a 11-2 major decision over Bradley Hill.

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes host No. 1 Penn State on Friday, Feb. 9, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena beginning at 8 p.m. (CT).

It is Super Bowl week and two former Iowa college stars will lead the San Francisco 49ers against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 58 in Las Vegas. Less than two years after being the final pick in the draft former Iowa State star Brock Purdy will try to quarterback the 49ers to their first Super Bowl victory since 1995.

Standing in their way is quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the defending champion Chiefs, who beat the 49ers 31-20 four years ago.

The 49ers rallied to win playoff games over Green Bay and Detroit to win the NFC Championship.

Former Iowa star and 49ers tight end George Kittle says they will need a better start than they had in their two playoff wins.

Kittle says rallying against the Chiefs would not be easy.

Kittle says Purdy’s mobility takes the San Francisco offense to a different level.