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Track season never ends.
Right now we’re in the midst of the Diamond League Circuit (a number of professional track meets — they’re on NBC Sports, you should check them out) and although the NCAA track meet ended a week and a half ago, we’re on to the next.
And that next is the USA Track and Field Championships. There are 10 Hawkeyes who will be competing in the event. Split between the junior and senior divisions, there absolutely will be some fireworks.
Former Hawkeye and outstanding 800m runner Erik Sowinski will be leading the pack in the senior division. A veteran, the 27 year old will be vying for a spot on the IAAF World Championship team. If finishes in the top-3 he, like the rest of the senior competitors will compete in London for the world title in August.
A five-time All-American, there’s little doubt he will be a serious threat to make the squad.
Elsewhere in the senior division? Get ready for Mar'yea Harris (400 meters), Brittany Brown (200 meters), Aaron Mallett (110 meter hurdles), and Reno Tuufuli (Discus).
10 Former, Current Hawkeyes Set to Compete at USA Championships https://t.co/0YUHfmQV8p
— Iowa XC T&F (@IowaXC_TF) June 20, 2017
All four athletes are coming off impressive finishes in the NCAA Championships and are looking to build off that. Mallett, especially. He has to be looking for sponsorships in order to keep running, so finishing well in this event is crucial to him. The rest will have at least one more college season to prove their stuff, but he doesn’t have that luxury.
A strong finish, again, means they’ll have a shot at the World Championships, which would be a huge achievement. After such a good showing at the NCAA’s, Iowa is in a good position to make a little bit of noise.
There also will be plenty of Hawkeyes represented in the junior division. Nathan Mylenek (3,000 meter steeplechase), freshman Luke Sampson (5,000 meters), freshman Karson Sommer (5,000 meters), freshman Laulauga Tausaga (Discus), and freshman Erika Hammond (Shot Put) are set to compete as well, with a spot in the Pan American junior championships on the line. Only the top-2 competitors in each event will advance to Peru, where the games are set to be held on July 21-23.
The USATF Outdoor competition, for all of these Iowa athletes is set for June 23-25 and will be broadcast on NBCSN. Take a gander, you might just see someone you recognize.