Completed Event: Track and Field at Bryan Clay Invite on April 16, 2026 ,
Final
Track and Field
Bryan Clay Invite
Iowa State University Athletics
Cyclone Pair Ready for Big 12 Meet and Beyond
05.11.2010 | Track and Field
AMES, Iowa ? The collegiate track careers of Jory Zunich and Erin Penticoff are coming to a climax. Both are counted on to score points for the Cyclones at the Big 12 Track and Field Championships, Saturday and Sunday in Columbia, Mo. Both have overcome past adversity to experience success this season.
But these two Iowa Staters will not be going their separate ways when the track season ends. On Sept. 3, Jory and Erin will be married in Cedar Rapids. It will mark the end of a courtship that has spanned the last four years of their ISU careers, which began when both were true freshmen at ISU in the fall of 2005.
“We knew each other almost right away, but we didn't get together until the end of our freshman season,” Zunich said.
Zunich hails from Williston, N.D., a town of more than 12,000 people in northwest North Dakota. Iowa State head track coach Corey Ihmels also called Williston home. Ihmels' incredible high school and college career included 13 state titles as a prep and saw the Cyclone coach honored as a six-time All-American at Iowa State. Ihmels' success cast a shadow over Zunich back in North Dakota. It was a reason Zunich was initially wary to following Ihmels to Iowa State.
“I wanted to set out on my own path, so I wasn't necessarily going to Iowa State,” Zunich said. “But I did turn to (Ihmels) for advice. As I talked with coach he told me about the (Iowa State) team. Eight freshmen were coming in from all over the world. I knew if I came, I could make an impact right away.”
He did. Zunich was in Iowa State's top seven in cross country as a true freshman. The former three-time North Dakota prep 3,200-meter champion had more success in cross country than track and field early on, in part because of injuries.
Now, in his final collegiate track season, Zunich is prevailing over adversity. He was a member of Iowa State's cross country team that placed 17th last fall at the NCAA Championships. Just two weeks ago, the senior won his section of the 5,000-meter run at the Payton Jordan Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif., with a career-best time of 13:58. His experience has given Zunich perspective on his long and winding career that includes placing fifth in the Big 12 mile in February.
“I struggled with injuries and went through some tough times,” Zunich said. “But I kept working and had faith in myself and it worked out well. To be a part of our cross country team's success is also special and contributing to the team indoors meant a lot to me.”
The next goal is to score points at the Big 12 meet and qualify for NCAA Regional competition at the end of the month.
Watching him through ups and downs, Ihmels has seen what Zunich is about.
“Jory contributed as a freshman but then had some struggles,” Ihmels said. “But no matter what his condition, he was always wishing people getting on the bus good luck, even if he wasn't competing himself. He was always about the team. That tells you a lot about Jory Zunich.”
Penticoff, who had been a standout half-miler at Cedar Rapids Xavier, also fought injuries early in her career. Like her fianc?, she is having a strong season. Indoors, she finished fourth in the 800 meters at the Big 12 Championship in Ames as part of a Cyclone effort that landed ISU in the top half of the league for the first time in a decade.
“I have been fortunate to stay healthy and scoring at conference was important,” Penticoff said. “Winning the distance medley at the Drake Relays meant a lot. I have always wanted to win there after being second several times.”
The Iowa State distance medley team of Semehar Tesfaye (1200), Kiana Elahi (400), Penticoff (800) and Lisa Koll (1600) won ISU's first-ever Drake Relays distance medley relay in a school record 11:18.21. Penticoff figured large in the victory after taking the baton from Tesfaye in first place.
“We told Erin that if she had the lead, go out hard and make people catch you. Erin went out at 59 seconds for her first 400 and did just that.”
Penticoff held her lead and handed the baton to Koll who closed out the victory.
“Erin had to adjust to what her body could accomplish in training,” Ihmels said. “She has always been a bit fragile. It is gratifying as a coach to see her reaching her potential as a runner.”
Penticoff and Zunich did not run last weekend but had a full schedule nevertheless. The pair received their degrees in commencement exercises. Both have been successes in the classroom, being recognized repeatedly on the Academic All-Big 12 team. Penticoff received her degree in marketing and advertising. Zunich received his bachelor's degree in management.
Having graduated, Zunich and Penticoff can, for the first time, concentrate on being an athlete without being a student. Goals for both include scoring in the Big 12 outdoor meet and qualifying for NCAA regional competition that will be contested at the end of the month.
Penticoff and Zunich will move to Williston after the wedding where Jory will join the family's insurance business. Both hold impressive resumes for the future. While Sept. 3 is on their mind, Penticoff and Zunich have their eyes fixed on this weekend. The rest can wait just a little bit longer.
Players Mentioned
D
/ Track and FieldD
/ Track and Field
D
/ Track and FieldD
/ Track and Field
D
/ Track and FieldD
/ Track and Field
D
/ Track and FieldD
/ Track and FieldDrake Relays Elite 800m Preview
Wednesday, April 24
Track Replay: Big 12 Indoor_2022
Thursday, March 03
Cailie Logue Finish and Interview
Friday, February 25
REPLAY: 2021 Big 12 Outdoor Track Championships
Wednesday, May 19
