EUGENE, Ore. – University of Iowa track and field freshman Pauline Bikembo concluded day two of the 2025 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a school record in the women’s heptathlon at Hayward Field on Saturday.

Heading into the final day of competition, the men are in sixth place with 19 points through nine events. Through six completed events, the women’s team has four points in tenth place. The Hawkeyes advanced nine athletes to the finals.

“The multis had a great weekend overall,” Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “Pauline (Bikembo) had to fight through some adversity this weekend and put together a great second day to finish fifth overall in the heptathlon. I was proud of Carlee (Rochford) this weekend coming away with a lot of individual personal bests and overall heptathlon personal record to finish just off the podium. I was very pleased with how Sal (Capaldo) competed the entire weekend. He came out with another podium finish in the decathlon and scored three more points for the team.”

Bikembo and sophomore Carlee Rochford wrapped up the women’s heptathlon with two all-time program marks. Bikembo set a new Iowa record with 5,722 points, earning two personal bests and three top-five finishes to place fifth overall. Rochford scored 5,319 points to move to eighth on Iowa’s all-time list, collecting four personal bests and two fourth-place finishes to take tenth overall.

Junior Sal Capaldo secured sixth place with 7,193 points and five top-five finishes in the men’s decathlon. Capaldo set a personal best in the javelin, throwing 43.03 meters.

Freshman Luke Knepp turned in an impressive performance in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, placing sixth in 8:47.03. He picked up three team points to cap the evening.

“I thought we had a lot of great results today, especially Luke Knepp finishing the day off with a sixth-place finish in the steeplechase and picking up three big team points for us,” said Woody.

Freshman Damaris Mutunga secured first place in the women’s 400 meters prelims with a time of 52.54. Chioma Nwachukwu will join Mutunga in the finals on Sunday after placing third in the prelims in 52.92. Freshman Landon Fontenot (46.62), junior Tyrese Miller (46.71) and sophomore Josh Pugh (46.74) cruised through the men’s 400 meter prelims and will compete in the finals on Sunday. In the men’s 110-meter hurdles, sophomore Kai Graves-Blanks won his heat in 13.59 to punch his ticket to the event finals.

In the women’s 800 meters prelims, senior Alli Bookin-Nosbisch locked in a first place finish with a qualifying time of 2:03.90.

Veteran sprinters Kalen Walker and Lia Love sped through the prelims and are headed to the finals tomorrow. Walker, a fifth-year senior, placed fifth in the men’s 100-meter prelims, clocking 10.30. On the women’s side, Love, a senior from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, secured a spot in the finals with a ninth-place finish in 11.48.

“We punched a lot of tickets to the finals today, led by multiple finalists in the men’s and women’s 400 meters. We are in a very good position heading into championship Sunday with a lot of great opportunities to score team points and move up the standings,” Woody added.

Up Next: Competition resumes at the 2025 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships at 11:30 a.m. (CT) on Saturday. Events will be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required).

HAWKEYE RESULTS 
Men’s 100 Meters Prelims
5. Kalen Walker – 10.30, q
18. Joe Stein – 10.59

Women’s 100 Meters Prelims
9. Lia Love – 11.48, q
12. Holly Duax – 11.60

Men’s 110-Meter Hurdles Prelims
3. Kai Graves-Blanks – 13.59, Q
11. Kalil Johnson – 14.17
13. Tyler Kenaga – 14.25
17. Drew Dillard – 17.60

Men’s 400 Meters Prelims
6. Landon Fontenot – 46.62, q
7. Tyrese Miller – 46.71, q
8. Josh Pugh – 46.74, q
11. Zidane Brown – 46.81

Women’s 400 Meters Prelims
1. Damaris Mutunga – 52.54, Q
3. Chioma Nwachukwu – 52.92, Q
13. Alivia Williams – 53.67
22. Olicia Lucas – 55.69

Men’s 800 Meters Prelims
11. Ryan Schreiner – 1:48.33
19. Terrick Johnson – 1:49.12
21. James Fingalsen – 1:49.18
30. Derek Leicht – 1:50.92, PR
42. Caleb Levy – 1:52.94

Women’s 800 Meters Prelims
1. Alli Bookin-Nosbisch – 2:03.90, Q
14. Gabby Cortez – 2:07.57
32. Clare Kelly – 2:13.04
33. Jaiden Itson – 2:13.09

Men’s 3,000-Meter Steeplechase Final
6. Luke Knepp – 8:47.03
14. Yohana Yual – 8:55.92

Women’s Long Jump Final
11. Jeanne Le Goff – 5.95 meters (19’ 6.25”), PR
23. Maud Zeffou-Poaty – 4.06 meters (13’ 4”)

Men’s High Jump Final
10. Ethan Glyde – 2.01 meters (6’ 7”)

Women’s Discus Final
21. Sydnie Smith – 46.14 meters (151’ 4”)

Men’s Decathlon
6. Sal Capaldo – 7,193 points
2. 100 Meters – 10.83
8. Long Jump – 6.76 meters (22’ 2.25”)
12. Shot Put – 11.92 meters (39’ 1.25”)
3. High Jump – 1.96 meters (6’ 5”)
4. 400 Meters – 49.68
2. 110-Meter Hurdles – 14.61
6. Discus – 35.96 meters (118’ 0”)
8. Pole Vault – 4.30 meters (14’ 1.25”)
9. Javelin – 43.03 meters (141’ 2”), PR
5. 1,500 Meters – 4:41.45, PR

Women’s Heptathlon
5. Pauline Bikembo – 5,722 points, 1st at Iowa
5. 100-Meter Hurdles – 13.86, PR
9. High Jump – 1.63 meters (5’ 4.25”)
9. Shot Put – 11.97 meters (39’ 3.25”)
6. 200 Meters – 24.44, PR
4. Long Jump – 5.98 meters (19’ 7.5”)
2. Javelin – 41.66 meters (136’ 8”)
11. 800 Meters – 2:20.74

10. Carlee Rochford – 5,319 points, PR + 8th at Iowa
4. 100-Meter Hurdles – 13.83, PR
8. High Jump – 1.66 meters (5’ 5.25”)
8. Shot Put – 12.12 meters (39’ 9.25”), PR
17. 200 Meters – 25.89
15. Long Jump – 5.44 meters (17’ 10.25”), PR
4. Javelin – 39.91 meters (130’ 11”), PR
18. 800 Meters – 2:30.60