Elahi Sets 600-Yard Mark; Saina Among World 5K Leaders

02.12.2011 | Track and Field

AMES, Iowa - Iowa State head track and field coach Corey Ihmels liked what he saw Saturday at the Iowa State Classic on the Harry Hoak Track in the Lied Center. What was not to like? The Cyclones claimed five individual titles and more than 30 personal bests as the improvement crossed all areas.

"I think the whole team took a step forward today," Ihmels said. "The high level of competition helped that improvement along. But we had good day by veterans and newcomers."

Kianna Elahi loves running on Iowa State's track. It is easy to see why. The junior led from start to finish, winning the 600-yard run in a school record 1:19.61.

"I am comfortable here," Elahi said." "It won't be like this at the Big 12 meet. (Nebraska's) track is 200-meters and banked but I'm glad I got the chance to run it here one more time."

Elahi will run the 600 at the conference meet, Feb. 25-26 in Lincoln, Neb.

"I ran 1:21.39 last weekend in Nebraska," Elahi said. "I was looking to run about 1:20.6 and ended up defending my title with the school record."

Elahi's effort bettered the previous Iowa State mark of 1:20.10, set by 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist Nawal El Moutawakel in 1987. Like El Moutawakel, Elahi is a conference champion 400-meter hurdler outdoors.

Iowa State All-American Besty Saina went out to run hard. She did, winning the 5,000-meter run in a 15:50.74, well under the NCAA indoor championship automatic qualifying time of 16:07.50. The clocking is the fifth-fastest time in the world this indoor season.

"Coach told us today was about speed," Saina said. "The (Big 12 Conference) meet will be about place but I wanted to go hard today."

Dani Stack placed fifth in 16:12.06 for Iowa State and Meaghan Nelson was seventh in personal-best 16:35.03.

"Kianna comes out every meet with a great effort," Ihmels said. "I don't take it for granted but she is very steady. Betsy ran what Lisa Koll ran two years ago and both Dani and Meaghan ran well."

In the high jump, Iowa State freshman Hannah Willms continues to improve. The former Dike-New Hartford prep cleared a collegiate best 5-11 ½ to place second.

"This was the best competition Hannah has faced since the World Junior Championships last year in Canada," Iowa State jumps coach Pete Herber said.

Ihmels cited the performance on Friday of weight thrower Laishema Hampton, who broke the school record in the event by more than a foot.

"Laishema really stepped up yesterday and it was great to see Hannah Willms make further strides," Ihmels said. "Now we get set for the conference meet."

Cyclone Rico Loy won the men's mile, with a personal indoor best of 4:04.35. Cyclone Hilary Bor was third in 4:06.43.

"I was happy about the win but we wanted to run under four minutes today," Loy said. "The pace was not quick enough early to run that fast."

Iowa State's Joel Limo won the 3,000 meters in 8:14.95. Sprinter Ian Warner just missed winning the 60-meter dash. Justin Austin of Iowa won the race. Warner was second. Both runners were clocked in 6.72 seconds. Newcomer Edward Kemboi was second in the 800 meters with a time of 1:50.02.

"Ian equaled his personal best and Joel Limo showed us something today in the 3,000-meters," Ihmels said. "We are just about ready to compete at the conference meet as we continue to get better. Kemboi is just getting started but it is gratifying to see him have some early success against a good field."

The Cyclones are off until the Big 12 Championship.

Iowa State Results

Men:

60-meter hurdles (prelims): 1) Nathan Arnett, Iowa Central, 7.86; 17) Jamal Currica, IOWA STATE, 8.22; 32) Ryan Sander, IOWA STATE, 8.33; 57) Matt Harmeyer, unattached, 9.23.

60-meter dash (prelims): 1) Justin Austin, Iowa, 6.75; 4) Ian Warner, IOWA STATE, 6.85; 7) Amara Sama, IOWA STATE, 6.86; 69) Matt Hastings, unattached, 7.87.

60-meter dash (finals): 1) Justin Austin, Iowa, 6.72; 2) Ian Warner, IOWA STATE, 6.72; 8) Amara Sama, IOWA STATE, 6.84.

600-yard run: 1) Keron Toussaint, Kansas, 1:10.42; 12) Richie Bales, IOWA STATE, 1:12.92; 13) Brian Sandvig, IOWA STATE, 1:12.99; 16) Grant Jacobson, IOWA STATE, 1:13.68.

800-meter run (non-seeded): 1)Paul Pape, Nebraska-Kearney, 1:53.37; 15) Jared Schubert, IOWA STATE, 1:55.88; 44) Matt Brinkley, unattached, 1:58.48.

800-meter run (seeded): 1) Aduo Omot, Augustana, 1:49.51; 2) Edward Kemboi, IOWA STATE, 1:50.02; 3) Elphas Sang, IOWA STATE, 1:50.14; 16) Brandon Barnes, unattached, 1:52.52; 22) David Lantz, IOWA STATE, 1:53.43; 34) Kyle Donnelly, IOWA STATE, 1:56.36.

Mile Run (non-seeded): 1) Kyle Hanson, Kansas State, 4:15.31; 13) Nick Schulze, IOWA STATE, 4:21.71; 17) Kyle Zankowski, unattached, 4:22.38

Mile Run (seeded): 1) Rico Loy, IOWA STATE, 4:04.35; 3) Hillary Bor, IOWA STATE, 4:06.43; 8) Alex Dillenbeck, IOWA STATE, 4:07.57; 16) Alec Bollman, unattached, 4:13.08; 24) Adou Seye, unattached, 4:31.04.

3,000-meter run (seeded): 1) Joel Limo, IOWA STATE, 8:14.95; 4) Martin Coolidge, IOWA STATE, 8:22.40; 9) Stephen Saylor, IOWA STATE, 8:25.77; 29) Devin Allbaugh, IOWA STATE, 8:43.22; 32) Isaac Chelimo, IOWA STATE, 8:52.84.

5,000-meter run (seeded): 1) Stanley Kebenei, Iowa Central, 13:59.90; 13) Ben Murphy-Baum, IOWA STATE, 14:35.99; 15) Clayton Carper, IOWA STATE, 14:37.39; 18) Charlie Paul, IOWA STATE, 14:49.68; 21) Garrett Eklof, IOWA STATE, 14:50.26; 23) Dan Murray, IOWA STATE, 14:57.21; 31) Alex Whitesell, IOWA STATE, 15:18.95.

4x400-meter relay: 1) Iowa, 3:08.85; 8) IOWA STATE 'A', 3:14.41; 34) IOWA STATE 'B', 3:22.69

Shot Put (non-seeded): 1) Andy Novak, Wisconsin-LaCrosse, 56-01.00; 19) Anthony Bell, IOWA STATE, 46-00.00.

Triple Jump: 1) Fredrick Brown, Oral Roberts, 50-09.25; 2) Floyd Ross, unattached, 49-05.50.

Women:

60-meter hurdles (prelims): 1) Alysha Adams, North Texas, 8.31; 19) Jordon Andreassen, IOWA STATE, 9.07; 30) Myranda Casterline, IOWA STATE, 9.22; 42) Anna Holtermann, IOWA STATE, 9.48; 49) Kelly McCoy, unattached, 9.85; 50) Jenny Dillon, IOWA STATE, 9.88.

400-meter dash (non-seeded): 1) Folashade George, Sam Houston, 57.44; 8) Callan Jacobson, IOWA STATE, 58.40; 12) Dana Christensen, IOWA STATE, 58.57, 31) Kari Calhoun, IOWA STATE, 1:00.40.

600-yard run: 1) Kianna Elahi, IOWA STATE, 1:19.91; 7) Donnise Powell, IOWA STATE, 1:24.86.

800-meter run (non-seeded): 1) Emily Emerson, North Dakota, 2:14.06; 11) Christine Fries, IOWA STATE, 2:16.57; 17) Emily Meese, IOWA STATE, 2:17.39.

800-meter run (seeded): 1) Bethany Praska, Iowa, 2:06.20; 13) Kersten Thorgaard, IOWA STATE, 2:12.91; 23) Ines Fischer, IOWA STATE, 2:15.70.

Mile Run (non-seeded): 1) Megan Kowalik, Missouri, 5:01.09; 27) Maggie Gannon, unattached, 5:16.87; 64) Rachel Bell, IOWA STATE, 5:40.51.

Mile Run (seeded): 1) Gabriele Anderson, unattached, 4:35.17; 18) India Lee, IOWA STATE, 4:57.34; 28) Kelli Oettle, IOWA STATE, 5:03.50.

3,000-meter run (seeded): 1) Diane Nukuri, unattached, 9:18.95; 2) Lucy Kennedy, unattached, 9:21.50; 6) Semehar Tesfaye, IOWA STATE, 9:38.70; 9) Morgan Casey, unattached, 9:47.11; 15) Beth Olson, IOWA STATE, 9:55.93; 17) Taylor Petersen, IOWA STATE, 9:56.36; 21) Katy Moen, unattached, 10:03.62; 24) Maddy Becker, unattached, 10:07.27.

5,000-meter run (seeded): 1) Betsy Saina, IOWA STATE, 15:50.74; 5) Dani Stack, IOWA STATE, 16:12.08; 7) Meaghan Nelson, IOWA STATE, 16:35.03; 11) Semehar Tesfaye, IOWA STATE, 16:50.03

4x400-meter relay: 1) Kansas, 3:39.27; 10) IOWA STATE 'A', 3:46.70; 34) IOWA STATE 'B', 4:00.56.

Shot Put (non-seeded): 1) Hayli Bozarth, unattached, 49-11.75; 13) Emily Nugent, IOWA STATE, 44-10.25; 22) Tressa Borchardt, IOWA STATE, 40-06.25.

Shot Put (seeded): 1) Simone du Toit, SMU, 57-01.50; 2) Danielle Frere, IOWA STATE, 52-05.50; 8) Laishema Hampton, IOWA STATE, 46-02.75; 9) Britta Christofferson, IOWA STATE, 43-09.75.

High Jump (non-seeded flight #1): 1) Jenna Schmidt, Central Missouri, 5-05.75; 4) Jordon Andreassen, IOWA STATE, 5-05.75; 12) Kelly McCoy, unattached, 5-02.25; T14) Karly Groon, IOWA STATE, 5-01.75.

High Jump (seeded): 1) Megan Seidl, unattached, 6-02.75; 2) Hannah Willms, IOWA STATE, 5-11.50.