IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The Leatherneck track and field team competed at the Hawkeye Invitational in Iowa City this past Saturday with highlights including three collegiate event wins and three top-10 all-time program performances.

"I was really happy with the way many individuals competed this weekend. Our strongest group was probably the pole vaulters, who did as good or better than they performed in December," coach Trey Brokaw said. "Arnie Grunert had some exceptional attempts at the school record height but came up just short of breaking the mark." 

Grunert tied his season best, placing first in the men's pole vault competition jumping 4.80 meters (15 feet, 9 inches). Female teammate, Emma Ponx, placed second against collegians with her second best career jump of 3.50 meters (11 feet 5.75 inches).

"Our men's middle distance and distance runners also represented well. Lucas Hofer had a good run in the 600 meters and was again very close to the school record. Richard Brown easily won the 800 meters. Logan Lommel was just a few seconds off from securing the school record in the mile", Brokaw said.

Richard Brown won the men's 800 by over three seconds while teammate Isaac Jones placed third. Junior Logan Lommel placed second in the men's mile, lowering his mile personal best from 4:12.15 to 4:11.56. In the men's 3000 meters, Olin Ortiz placed second in his section, good enough for 10th in school history.

In Lucas Burmeister's first race as a Leatherneck he tied the 10th best mark in school history for the men's 60 meters. Burmeister was only .05 off the top-10 list in the men's 200 meters just two hours later.

"I was really impressed with how Lucas performed this weekend, especially considering he hadn't been doing much this fall before transferring here," Brokaw said. "Making it on the top-10 all-time list in his debut shows just how naturally talented he is."

In the women's long jump competition, Aliyah Adams was the top collegiate performer. Adams also placed second overall in the women's triple jump.

Next Up:
The Leathernecks head back to Iowa City, one last time for the Larry Wieczorek Invite on Jan. 20-21, 2023.

"Next weekend we will be back up at Iowa for their larger invitational. That should be a fun meet with many top track & field teams from around the country flying in for it," Brokaw said. "The American Track League also will be hosting a competition in conjunction with the college invitational. That event will showcase some of the best professional track & field athletes in the United States."