GENEVA, Ohio -- Senior Jahisha Thomas became the conference’s undisputed horizontal jumper, senior Brittany Brown repeated in the 200 meters, and Briana Guillory grabbed her first Big Ten Indoor title as the University of Iowa track and field team completed the Big Ten Indoor Championships on Saturday.
After becoming the first Hawkeye in program history to win the long jump, Thomas returned on Saturday to become the second Hawkeye to win the triple jump with a personal best 13.22 meters, joining Renee White, who won in 2008.
“It was a rough season at the beginning, but God has impeccable timing and today I really had to compete because there was great competition,” Thomas said. “I was always thinking of winning them both. I was thinking it into existence and train like you’re going to win both.”
Brown won the 200 meters to repeat as champion in the event with a time of 23.20. Brown’s victory makes her the first Hawkeye to repeat an indoor conference championship since Kineke Alexander (400 meters, 2006-07).
“This indoor season has been really long and tough,” Brown said. “I’ve been battling stuff off the track and to be able to defend my title is great. I am happy to be here, to defend it and be healthy.”
Guillory finished runner-up in the 200 meters to Brown and won a Big Ten title of her own in the 400 meters, the first indoor championship of her career with a time of 52.08.
“Not taking anything away from Brittany because she is a great competitor, but if I had executed my race a little better than I think I would have been even closer to Brittany in the 200 meters,” Guillory said.
Guillory Iowa’s first Big Ten Champion in the 400 meters since Elexis Guster in 2016.
“Having Elexis as a training partner freshman year was very helpful because I knew I had to step into her shoes this year.”
Junior Mar’yea Harris held the highest finish on the men’s side with a runner-up finish in the 400 meters.
RELAY WARRIORS
The meet ended with the women’s and men’s 1,600 meter relays where the women and men both placed third and both set the second best times in school history.
The women’s relay of Sheridan Champe, Briana Guillory, Brittany Brown, and Sarah Plock clocked a time of 3:33.31.
The men’s team of Collin Hofacker, DeJuan Frye, Bradford Garron, and Harris recorded a 3:05.33.
TEAM SCORES
The women placed the highest since 2016 with a fifth place finish and 74 points, their highest point total since 2007, while the men were seventh overall with 54 points.
The Minnesota women won the team title with 91.5 points and the Ohio State men won with 101.5 points.
B1G SCORERS
Iowa’s team point scorers (Athletes that place 1-8 in an event) include:
Nathan Mylenek: Distance Medley Relay (1st)Carter Lilly: Distance Medley Relay (1st)Chris Thompson: Distance Medley Relay (1st)Michael Melchert: Distance Medley Relay (1st), Mile (8th)Briana Guillory: 400 Meters (1st), 200 Meters (2nd), 4x400 Meter Relay (3rd)Brittany Brown: 200 Meters (1st), 60 Meters (5th), 4x400 Meter Relay (3rd)Reno Tuufuli: Shot Put (2nd)Mar’yea Harris: 400 Meters (2nd), 4x400 Meter Relay (3rd)Sheridan Champe: 4x400 Meter Relay (3rd)Chris Douglas: 60 Meter Hurdles (4th)Tysen VanDraska: 800 Meters (5th)Antonio Woodard: 200 Meters (6th)Kyara Avant: 60 Meters (7th)Jenny Kimbro: 60 Meter Hurdles (7th)Matt Manternach: 800 Meters (7th)Anthony Williams: 60 Meter Hurdles (8th)Laulauga Tausaga: Weight Throw (8th)
UP NEXT
The top 16 individuals and top 12 relays in the country qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas.