Iowa’s track and field programs want to build on its recent success, this time on a bigger stage. The Hawkeyes head to Lawrence, Kansas, for the West Regional Championships on May 26-28.

The men’s squad enters the meet ranked 33rd in the country, while the women sit at 54th.

In their first of three championship meets, the Hawkeyes dazzled people in Lincoln, Nebraska, during the Big Ten Championships. The men finished fourth and the women placed sixth.

The 4×400 relay of Alexis Hernandez, Briana Guillory, MonTayla Holder, and Elexis Guster dominated in record-setting fashion. Their first place time of 3:31.22 broke the school record.

Guillory, the Big Ten Track and Field Freshman of the Year, also won the 200 meters.

The men’s relays shone as well. Vinnie Saucer Jr, Christian Brissett, James Harrington, and Aaron Mallett proved they owned the top 4×100-relay spot in the conference. In what was a tight battle against Nebraska throughout the race, the Hawkeyes prevailed, snagging first-team All-Big Ten honors.

Looking at the regional, the field events have the potential to make some noise, especially in the men’s high jump and discus.

Senior jumper Kevin Spejcher was a major surprise for the Hawkeyes at the Big Ten Championships. The senior cleared 2.18 meters to become the Big Ten champion in the event. Reno Tuufuli (discus) enters this meet as the Hawkeye’s top-seeded individual following his second-place finish in the conference championship.

Once the regional meet concludes, the Hawkeyes will have some time off. Their third and final championship meet, the NCAA Championships, will begin on June 8.

-Adam Hensley