University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Friday, January 29
Cedar Falls, Iowa
10:45 a.m.
University of Northern Iowa
vs
Jack Jennett Invitational
UNI To Host Jack Jennett, Mark Messersmith Invitationals
1/27/2016 5:34:00 PM | Track and Field
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa track and field program is geared up to host two home meets this weekend in the Jack Jennett and Mark Messersmith Invitationals.
The Jack Jennett Invitational will take place on Friday, Jan. 29 with field events starting at 10 a.m., multi-events at 11:15 a.m. and track events at 2:30 p.m. The Jack Jennett Invitational will conclude on Saturday, Jan. 30 with the final multi-events starting at 10 a.m.
The annual Jack Jennett Invitational was started in 2009, honoring the former UNI head coach. Jennett served as the head track and field coach at UNI from 1962-76 but has been a part of the program ever since. He coached 26 All-Americans in track and cross country as head coach, leading teams to 11 North Central Conference track titles.
The Mark Messersmith Invitational will take place on Saturday, Jan. 30 and will be a scored meet between UNI, Drake, Indiana State, Marquette and South Dakota State. Field events will kick off at 11 a.m. with track events beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Like Jennett, Mark Messersmith has been an integral part of helping the UNI track and field program get to where it is today. Messersmith, graduated from what was then known as State College of Iowa in 1966 and was a member of the undefeated dual meet cross country team in 1964, helped his team to a North Central Conference championship and finished third at the NCAA Division II nationals.
On Friday, Panther track and field fans will get a glimpse into one of the most talented multi-event programs in the region. The Panthers return two MVC Champions, and three multi-event conference point scorers in Paige Knodle, Rachel Peth, Chaley Rath, Jayvon Matthews and JC Abrahamson.
On the track, junior Brandon Carnes has gotten off to a quick start this year, earning MVC Track and Field Athlete of the Week after he won the 60 and 200 meter dashes at the Big 4 Duals. He posted times of 6.70 and 21.53 respectively, ranking himself first in the MVC.
In the middle distance events, Amber Clock ran a season-best time of 2:10.65 in the 800 meters, the fastest time in the Missouri Valley while also propelling herself into the top-40 in the country. Kelsey Kirchoff also turned in a top-performance in the 3,000 meters, running a personal-best time of 9:58.79 to rank herself in the top-10 in the MVC.
Despite not competing in multis yet this season, Knodle has shined in the hurdles, posting a personal-best in the 60 meter hurdles at the Big 4 Duals. She bested her career-best with a time of 8.49 to win the event, putting her in second in the Valley.
Fans will see where Knodle and the rest of the Panthers match up when heat sheets become available tomorrow at www.UNIPanthers.com
Admission on Friday and Saturday is free with results for both events available following the completion of the meets at www.UNIPanthers.com. Fans can also follow UNI track and field on Twitter (@UNITrackField) with live updates throughout the meet.
The Jack Jennett Invitational will take place on Friday, Jan. 29 with field events starting at 10 a.m., multi-events at 11:15 a.m. and track events at 2:30 p.m. The Jack Jennett Invitational will conclude on Saturday, Jan. 30 with the final multi-events starting at 10 a.m.
The annual Jack Jennett Invitational was started in 2009, honoring the former UNI head coach. Jennett served as the head track and field coach at UNI from 1962-76 but has been a part of the program ever since. He coached 26 All-Americans in track and cross country as head coach, leading teams to 11 North Central Conference track titles.
The Mark Messersmith Invitational will take place on Saturday, Jan. 30 and will be a scored meet between UNI, Drake, Indiana State, Marquette and South Dakota State. Field events will kick off at 11 a.m. with track events beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Like Jennett, Mark Messersmith has been an integral part of helping the UNI track and field program get to where it is today. Messersmith, graduated from what was then known as State College of Iowa in 1966 and was a member of the undefeated dual meet cross country team in 1964, helped his team to a North Central Conference championship and finished third at the NCAA Division II nationals.
On Friday, Panther track and field fans will get a glimpse into one of the most talented multi-event programs in the region. The Panthers return two MVC Champions, and three multi-event conference point scorers in Paige Knodle, Rachel Peth, Chaley Rath, Jayvon Matthews and JC Abrahamson.
On the track, junior Brandon Carnes has gotten off to a quick start this year, earning MVC Track and Field Athlete of the Week after he won the 60 and 200 meter dashes at the Big 4 Duals. He posted times of 6.70 and 21.53 respectively, ranking himself first in the MVC.
In the middle distance events, Amber Clock ran a season-best time of 2:10.65 in the 800 meters, the fastest time in the Missouri Valley while also propelling herself into the top-40 in the country. Kelsey Kirchoff also turned in a top-performance in the 3,000 meters, running a personal-best time of 9:58.79 to rank herself in the top-10 in the MVC.
Despite not competing in multis yet this season, Knodle has shined in the hurdles, posting a personal-best in the 60 meter hurdles at the Big 4 Duals. She bested her career-best with a time of 8.49 to win the event, putting her in second in the Valley.
Fans will see where Knodle and the rest of the Panthers match up when heat sheets become available tomorrow at www.UNIPanthers.com
Admission on Friday and Saturday is free with results for both events available following the completion of the meets at www.UNIPanthers.com. Fans can also follow UNI track and field on Twitter (@UNITrackField) with live updates throughout the meet.
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track and FieldDistance
/ Track and Field
Multi-Events
/ Track and FieldMultis
/ Track and FieldMulti-Events
/ Track and FieldMulti-Events
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