UI Athletics news release
LINCOLN, Neb. – University of Iowa track and field concluded day two of the 2026 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday evening. Senior Sal Capaldo led the Hawkeyes with a third-place finish in the men’s decathlon, securing a lifetime-best 7,333 points.
“We had a very good day today for both programs,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “Sal led the way, opening day two of the decathlon with a win in the 110-meter hurdles to build off a great day one performance.”
Capaldo finished third overall in the men’s decathlon with a lifetime-best 7,333 points, improving his standing as the sixth all-time best mark at Iowa. Capaldo closed out the second day of competition with a first-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles (14.22) and recorded a personal-best mark in the javelin at 46.20 meters.
“Despite a tough crosswind, Sal still had a strong performance in the pole vault to stay in the top three,” Woody added. “He followed that with an incredible throw in the javelin to put himself in a great position heading into the 1,500 meters. He did enough to hold onto third place and earn another Big Ten medal to cap off an amazing weekend.”
The Hawkeyes advanced 11 athletes to Sunday’s finals with the men’s team in sixth place and the women’s team in 14th.
The men’s and women’s 400-meter prelims featured standout performances across the board. On the men’s side, Tyrese Miller led the way, winning his heat in 45.51 and moving up to eighth on Iowa’s all-time list. David Akhalu also punched his ticket to the finals with a time of 45.71. Landon Fontenot and Austin Rowswell narrowly missed advancing but each recorded personal bests. Fontenot clocked a 45.88 to tie for 10th all-time at Iowa, while Rowswell finished in 46.16. On the women’s side, Damaris Mutunga (52.09) and Chioma Nwachukwu (52.27) both advanced to Sunday’s final.
“The men had seven athletes on the track qualify to the finals Sunday,” Woody said. “They were led by Tyrese Miller, who ran an exceptional race in the 400 meters with a huge personal best to win his heat. The women’s 400-meter group kept things rolling with Damaris running a terrific preliminary race to punch her ticket to the final Sunday. Chioma kept the momentum going, running a very impressive race and winning her heat comfortably.”
In the field, Lovisa Ulvenstam recorded a personal-best leap of 6.21 meters to place eighth in the women’s long jump, moving into sixth place on Iowa’s all-time performance list.
“Lovisa had a huge personal-best jump to make her first Big Ten final in the long jump,” Woody noted. “She had a great series of jumps to finish eighth overall.”
In the men’s 100 meters, three Hawkeyes cruised into the finals. Junior Darwin Jimenez led the group with a time of 10.23, while Kalen Walker followed closely behind in 10.27. Sophomore Olaolu Olatunde rounded out the trio, crossing the line in 10.29.
“The sprinters had a great race today with Darwin, Kalen and Olaolu all competing extremely well to make it to the finals,” Woody said. “The field is so tight from one to nine and I believe it’s anyone’s race Sunday. We are in a great position with three great athletes who can all compete to win.”
In the hurdles, Blake Nyenati and Vaughn DeVaughn III each earned a spot in the finals after posting identical times of 13.84. On the women’s side, Jailya Ash won her heat and advanced with a time of 13.32.
Rosemary Arthur advanced to the women’s 800-meter final after clocking a personal-best 2:03.13, the second-fastest time in Iowa history.
“Rosemary set up her race perfectly from the gun through the first 400 meters, putting herself in position to come through 600 meters in second place,” Woody added. “She finished with a strong kick, earning a personal best and advancing to her first individual Big Ten final.”
Up Next: The Hawkeyes continue competition at the Big Ten Championships beginning at 10:00 a.m. (CT) on Sunday.
HAWKEYE RESULTS
Men’s 100 Meters Prelims
3. Darwin Jimenez – 10.23, q
4. Kalen Walker – 10.27, q
6. Olaolu Olatunde – 10.29, q
13. Jordan Gross – 10.51
Women’s 100 Meters Prelims
11. Holly Duax – 11.54
Women’s 100-Meter Hurdles Prelims
5. Jailya Ash – 13.32, Q
14. Isabel Evans – 14.41
Men’s 110-Meter Hurdles Prelims
4. Blake Nyenati – 13.84, Q
5. Vaughn DeVaughn III – 13.84, Q
12. Sal Capaldo – 14.34
13. Tyler Kenaga – 14.65
Men’s 400 Meters Prelims
5. Tyrese Miller – 45.51, Q, PR + 8th at Iowa
9. David Akhalu – 45.71, q
13. Landon Fontenot – 45.88, PR + Tied 10th at Iowa
17. Austin Rowswell – 46.16, PR
24. Zidane Brown – 47.01
Women’s 400 Meters Prelims
5. Damaris Mutunga – 52.09, q
6. Chioma Nwachukwu – 52.27, Q
15. Princess Uche – 52.96
18. Olicia Lucas – 53.47
20. Izzy Zahn – 53.61
Men’s 800 Meters Prelims
18. Caleb Levy – 1:48.55
26. Ryan Schreiner – 1:51.56
34. Carson Lane – 1:58.02
Women’s 800 Meters Prelims
7. Rosemary Arthur – 2:03.13, q, PR + 2nd at Iowa
13. Leanna Lewis – 2:04.95
20. Gabby Cortez – 2:07.10
26. Clare Kelly – 2:08.64
Men’s 3,000-Meter Steeplechase Final
5. Luke Knepp – 8:54.23
9. Hayden Kuhn – 9:00.35
Men’s Discus
12. Bryce Ruland – 54.56 meters (178’ 11”)
22. Landon Prince – 47.15 meters (154’ 8”)
23. Duke Faley – 47.04 meters (154’ 4”)
Men’s Long Jump
10. Emmanuel Njoku – 7.39 meters (24’ 3”)
Women’s Long Jump
8. Lovisa Ulvenstam – 6.21 meters (20’ 4.5”), PR + 6th at Iowa
Women’s Shot Put
17. Wisdom Williams – 15.53 meters (50’ 11.5”)
Men’s Decathlon
3. Sal Capaldo – 7,333 points, PR + 6th at Iowa
1. 100 Meters – 10.57
9. Long Jump – 7.11 meters (23’ 4”), PR
11. Shot Put – 12.18 meters (39’ 11.5”)
8. High Jump – 1.91 meters (6’ 3.25”)
3. 400 Meters – 49.15
1. 110-Meter Hurdles – 14.22
5. Discus – 37.76 meters (123’ 11”)
4. Pole Vault – 4.40 meters (14’ 5.25”)
8. Javelin – 46.20 meters (151’ 7”), PR
8. 1,500 Meters – 5:08.66