Completed Event: Track and Field at Central College Invite on March 28, 2026 ,
Final
Track and Field
Central College Invite
Iowa State University Athletics
Rop Secures Trip To NCAA Championships
05.26.2023 | Track and Field
SACRAMENTO, California – Ezekiel Rop cemented his place at NCAA Outdoor Championships with his run in the 1,500m as the men closed competition at NCAA West Preliminaries.
Rop booked his first-career trip to NCAA Track and Field Championships, winning his heat of the 1,500m in 3:49.07. The school-record holder had a big kick out of the final turn to pass all runners in his heat to advance to Austin. ISU will have a runner in the 1,500m for the second year in a row after Nehemia Too made it in 2022.
Gable Sieperda nearly advanced to the Championships, but came four seconds short of the last time-qualifying slot finishing 14th with 8:38.96. Sieperda's time improved on his old personal record of 8:43.45 to move up from ranking eighth to fifth in Iowa State history and is the junior's highest finish at West Prelims.
After entering the discus as the No. 31 seed, Kevin Sakson fell short of a return trip to nationals by two slots, finishing 14th with 186-0 (56.70m). Sakson finalizes his season with a Big 12 title in the shot put and another All-Big 12 honor in the discus.
In the 800m quarterfinals, Peter Smith and Darius Kipyego both went sub-1:49. Smith clocked 1:48.71 for 16th and Kipyego 1:48.87. Jason Gómez made for three Cyclones in quarterfinals, and ends his Cyclone career at West Prelims following a historic career as a middle-distance runner.
ISU closed the night with the 5K. Titus Winders claimed 24th among some of the best in the nation with a time of 13:49.87.
The women will close out competition tomorrow. ISU's schedule is below.
Iowa State Results
Discus (M) – Kevin Sakson, Iowa State – 186-0 (56.70m)
1,500m Quarterfinals (M) – 1. Nathan Green, Washington – 3:38.13; 13. Ezekiel Rop, Iowa State – 3:49.07(Q)
3,000m Steeplechase (M) – 1. Duncan Hamilton, Montana State – 8:16.23; 14. Gable Sieperda, Iowa State – 8:38.96 (PR, No. 5 ISU); Kelvin Bungei - DNF
800m Quarterfinals (M) – 1. Aidan McCarthy, Cal Poly – 1:46.26; 16. Peter Smith, Iowa State – 1:48.71; 17. Darius Kipyego, Iowa State – 1:48.87; 23. Jason Gomez, Iowa State – 2:01.32
5,000m (M) – 1. Ky Robinson, Stanford – 13:22.29; 24. Titus Winders, Iowa State – 13:49.87
Saturday Schedule (All Times Central)
3:00 p.m.: Discus (W) – Emily March
7:40 p.m.: 3,000m Steeplechase (W) – Janette Schraft
8:15 p.m.: 100m Hurdles Quarterfinals (W) – Kaylyn Hall
9:05 p.m.: 800m Quarterfinals (W) – Makayla Clark
9:25 p.m.: 400m Hurdles Quarterfinals (W) – Zakiyah Amos
10:10 p.m.: 5,000m (W): Cailie Logue, Madelynn Hill
10:45 p.m.: 4x400m Relay (W) – Bria Barnes, Zakiyah Amos, Rachel Joseph, Makayla Clark
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