Cyclones Capture Seven Titles at Iowa State Classic

02.11.2012 | Track and Field

AMES, Iowa - Iowa State won seven events Saturday at the Iowa State Classic inside the Lied Recreation Center. The last of those wins came in the women's 4x400-meter relay as the Cyclones set a school record with a time of 3:41.28.

"We had a lot of good things happen today," Iowa Stat head coach Corey Ihmels said. "Now we have to build on this and be ready to go at the Big 12 Championships."

The Big 12 Conference Indoor Championships are Feb.24-25 in College Station, Texas.

The Cyclone foursome of Ese Okoro, Dana Christensen, Ejiro Okoro and Kianna Elahi bettered the previous Iowa State all-time best of 3:42.35, set in 2004.

Some were surprised by the effort of the Iowa State quartet. Cyclone sprints coach Nate Wiens was not shocked.

"We have been working toward this for a long time," Wiens said. "We have goals of running faster and that starts at the Big 12 meet."

Betsy Saina led a 1-3-4 Iowa State finish in the 5000-meters to top off a strong weekend for the Cyclones. Saina's winning time was 15:36.09, her personal indoor best by more than 14 seconds. The winning effort automatically qualified Saina for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships March 9-10 in Boise, Idaho.

"It felt good and I'm really happy," Saina said. "Coach wanted to shoot for 15:35 and I was very close."

Former Cyclone Aliphine Tuliamuk of Wichita State was second, followed by Iowa Staters Meaghan Nelson in third and Dani Stack in fifth. Nelson's time of 15:51.89 was also under the automatic qualifying time of 15:57.00 for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Nelson ran alone for about half of the race after Saina pulled away.

"I knew that Betsy would probably make a move and so I had to concentrate on staying on the qualifying pace" Nelson said. "I am pleased to qualify for the NCAA meet."

Stack, who along with Saina already had an NCAA qualifying time in the 3000-meters, just missed the qualifying standard with a 15:57.20 effort. She may still get a bid to race in the event based on that time.

In addition to a first-place finish on the 4x400-meter relay team, Elahi also won the 600-yard run with a time of 1:20.14.

"I wanted to run a 600 before the Big 12 meet," Elahi said. "This track is great for running the 600 because you don't run bent over like on a 200-meter track."

Mohammed Hrezi got the day off to a good start for the Cyclones, coming from behind on the last lap to win the men's 3000-meters in a personal-best 8:09.87. Hrezi had to alter his race plan early.

"I was going to start further back but they were running slow back there," Hrezi said.

Hrezi has been an 800-meter specialist but enjoys the longer distances.

"In the longer races you have time for error," Hrezi said. "In the 800, if you aren't in it at the bell, you don't have a chance."

Ian Warner won the 60-meter dash in a time of 6.71, just off his personal best of 6.70.

"I had been second here for three years, so it was good to get the win today," Warner said. "Now it's time to get ready for a good race at the Big 12 meet."

Cyclone freshman Teddy Lampkin won his first collegiate event, as he took first-place in the long jump with a mark of 23-10.00. Iowa State's Danielle Frere, who is redshirting the indoor season, won the shot put with a throw of 57-3.75.

Results

Men:
60-meter dash (finals): 1) Ian Warner, IOWA STATE, 6.71
60-meter hurdles (finals): 1) Sabiel Anderson, Lincoln, 7.91; 5) Ryan Sander, IOWA STATE, 8:09; 12) Nick Efkamp, IOWA STATE, 8.24
600-yard run: 1) Harun Abda, Minnesota, 1:07.66; 8) Richie Bales, IOWA STATE, 1:12.56; 14) Grant Jacobson, IOWA STATE, 1:14.61
800-meter run: 1) Edward Kemboi, unattached, 1:47.74; 12) Brandon Barnes, IOWA STATE, 1:52.34; 15) Daniel Gruber, IOWA STATE, 1:53.02
Mile Run: 1) Zach Dahleen, Southern Illinois, 4:03.01; 3) Alex Dillenbeck, IOWA STATE, 4:05.95; 12) Alec Bollman, IOWA STATE, 4:12.61
3000-meter run: 1) Mohamed Hrezi, IOWA STATE, 8:09.87; 5) Falko Zauber, IOWA STATE, 8:16.64; 12) Stephen Saylor, IOWA STATE, 8:24.20
5000-meter run: 1) Laban Sialo, Central Missouri, 14:02.97; 2) Martin Coolidge, IOWA STATE, 14:09.66; 10) Charlie Paul, IOWA STATE, 14:23.89
4x400-meter relay: 1) Mississippi State, 3:07.75; 22) IOWA STATE, 3:18.06

Long Jump: 1) Teddy Lampkin, IOWA STATE, 23-10.00
High Jump: 1) Leander Toney, Central Missouri, 7-00.25; 6) Troy Walls, IOWA STATE, 6-08.25; 9) Derek Alderks, IOWA STATE, 6-08.25
Triple Jump: 1) Jamal Peden, Stephen F. Austin, 51-02.75; 2) Akeem Holmes, IOWA STATE, 50-01.75

Women:
600-yard run: 1) Kianna Elahi, IOWA STATE, 1:20.14; 5) Krista Shoeman, IOWA STATE, 1:23.47; 8) Donnise Powell, IOWA STATE, 1:24.36
800-meter run: 1) Boglarka Bozzay, Kansas State, 2:07.31; 4) Ejiro Okoro, IOWA STATE, 2:09.14
Mile run: 1) Jessica Furlan, Nebraska, 4:45.75; 20) Maggie Gannon, IOWA STATE, 5:05.37
3000-meter run: 1) Ashley Miller, Nebraska, 9:26.26; 5) Morgan Casey, IOWA STATE, 9:34.67; India Lee, IOWA STATE, 10:00.06
5000-meter run: 1) Betsy Saina, IOWA STATE, 15:36.09; 3) Meaghan Nelson, IOWA STATE, 15:51.89; 4) Dani Stack, IOWA STATE, 15:57.20
4x400-meter run: 1) IOWA STATE, 3:41.28; 27) IOWA STATE, 3:59.82

High Jump: 1) Kenya Culmer, Southern Illinois, 5-08.50; 13) Hannah Willms, unattached, 5-04.50
Weight Throw: 1) Brittany Riley, unattached, 79-10.75; 3) Danielle Frere, unattached, 66-06.50; 4) Laishema Hampton, unattched, 65-05.50
Shot Put: 1) Danielle Frere, unattached, 57-03.75; 3) Hayli Bozarth, IOWA STATE, 57-03.75; 5) Christina Hillman, IOWA STATE, 50-08.25; 9) Laishema Hampton, unattached, 46-00.00