The Iowa track and field team is scheduled compete in yet another relay competition in their outdoor season. The squad will head to the west coast, and take their talents to the Mt. Sac Relays.
The team last competed at the Florida Relays in which a number of personal bests and wins were achieved. In addition to that, on April 10, the U.S. Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association ranked the Iowa men’s team No. 25 in the nation. A number of athletes are also ranked individually, including Aaron Mallett, who is tied for second in the 110-meter hurdles and 20th in the 400-meter hurdles, Kevin Lewis at No. 19 in the 10,000 meters, and No. 20 James Harrington in the 200 meter.
It was the track Hawk’s first relay event of the outdoor season and this time around Iowa director of Track and Field Joey Woody is expecting much more. After their time in Walnut, the team will compete at the Drake Relays.
“This is one of our bigger invitational meets of the year,” Woody said. “This gives us more opportunities to prepare our athletes to run rounds and run multiple races.
“Relays are like a big figure of our program.”
Competing alongside the Hawkeyes will be a number of Division I competitors including — Iowa State, Indiana, and Purdue.
The team will be competing in a number of open events including the — 100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter, 800-meter, and 1500-meter run. The athletes will also be performing in its most popular relay events — the 4-by-1 and the 4-by-4.
At the Florida Relays, the men’s 4-by-1 squad had some baton exchange trouble during the race. Woody is hoping this week’s training will prepare them not only for this weekend, but for the remaining fierce competitions it will face.
“I think we can run a lot faster,” Woody said. “That’s a team that should be running a time of mid-to-low 39 by the end of the season, so this will be a great opportunity for us to do that. I think we’ll be fine this weekend.”
The men’s 4-by-1 squad feature Mallett, Harrington, Brendan Thompson, and Vinnie Saucer.
Mallett, who will also be competing in the men’s 100-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles, and 4-by-4 relay, believes his teammates are prepared for another challenge.
“Since Florida we’ve been training really hard,” Mallett said. “Sometimes we get too comfortable when we run a really fast time, or get ranked so high in the nation. But we have to keep pushing the battery, pushing the envelope, keep the training high, and don’t settle.
Perhaps, the squad may be able to finish with a time of mid-to-low 39, as Woody expects.
With this, Thompson believes with the relay squad’s training and consistent handoffs in practices; they’ll be able to give their head coach exactly what he desires.
“This is a really big opportunity for us to put up a big time against some other top tier teams,” Thompson said. “We’d really like to break 40 seconds this weekend so we can make a statement in the conference as well as secure a spot in the regional meet
“We’ve all been putting a lot of work in and are looking forward to see how it pays off.”
