TORRANCE, Calif. -- University of Iowa junior Nathan Mylenek broke the 3,000-meter steeplechase school record set by Deacon Jones in 1956 on Friday at the Mount SAC Relays.
Mylenek cruised in the top three through the whole race. After the last barricade, he pushed past an Arizona opponent to place second and finishing in 8:38.53 and breaking Jones’ record (8:47.40) by nearly 10 seconds.
“We finished the night breaking the oldest school record we have in the steeplechase by Nate Mylenek. It was a great day for Iowa track and field,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “We had some all-time top performances in the 800 meters and top-five national marks.”
The all-time movement continued throughout the day at the Bryan Clay Invitational from the 800-meter group. Junior Matt Manternach led the men with a 1:46.93 finish, winning the 800 meters and improving on the all-time list three spots to rank second at Iowa.
Juniors Tysen VanDraska and Nolan Teubel also moved up on the all-time record list. VanDraska moved into seventh (1:48.75), and Teubel broke onto the all-time list at ninth (1:48.75) behind his older brother William Teubel (1:48.60).
On the women’s side, junior Taylor Arco broke onto the Hawkeyes’ top-10 list, ranking third all-time after running 2:06.06 in the 800 meters.
“So far, we’ve had three school records this weekend, and we are looking to add to some more top-NCAA marks tomorrow,” Woody said.
TOP FINISHES
Manternach and Mylenek’s finishes were just two of the Hawkeyes’ top-three finishes of the day. Iowa added three second-place finishes from Anthony Williams (110-meter hurdles, 13.94), Carter Lilly (800 meters, 1:47.52), and Briana Guillory (200 meters, 23.67). Aubrianna Lantrip and Amanda Carty placed third in the high jump (1.75 meters, 5-8 3/4) and long jump (6.08 meters, 19-11 1/2), respectively, to round out the Hawkeyes’ seven top finished.
PERSONAL BESTS
16 additional Hawkeyes set personal best marks. Freshman Kylie Latham and Jessica McKee ran big races, shaving nearly 20 seconds and a minute off their previous bests, respectively. The Hawkeyes also set the following personal best marks:
Cooper Koenig - long jump (7.17 meters, 23-6 1/4)
Sydney Winger - 100 hurdles (14.19)
Kylie Morken - 100 hurdles (14.58)
Josh Braverman - 100 meters (11.07)
Talia Buss - 400 meters (55.48)
Alexis Gay - 400 meters (56.42)
Mika Cox - 400 meters (57.32)
Addie Swanson - 400 hurdles (1:01.04)
Carly Donahue - 400 hurdles (1:01.33)
Tia Saunders - 800 meters (2:08.94)
Lindsay Welker - 800 meters (2:15.01)
Kylie Latham - 5,000 meters (17:22.10)
Jessica McKee - 5,000 meters (17:35.80)
Karson Sommer - 1,500 meters (3:49.52)
Noah Healy - 1,500 meters (3:51.07)
Anna Hostetler - 1,500 meters (4:32.86)
FINAL DAY IN CALI
The Hawkeyes continue the Mt. SAC Relays and Beach Invitational on Saturday. Full events schedules are linked on hawkeyesports.com/trackschedule.