University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Panthers Set To Host Jack Jennett Open, Mark Messersmith Invite
1/25/2017 10:21:00 AM | Track and Field
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa track and field program will be back at it this week, hosting two meets inside the UNI-Dome.
The Panthers kick off the weekend with the Jack Jennett Open, a two day meet starting at 11 a.m. on Jan. 26 with the heptathlon. The meet will resume on Jan. 27 at 10 a.m. with a full day of action.
UNI will also host the Mark Messersmith Invitational on Jan. 28, beginning at 10 a.m. The meet will feature the Panthers along with Drake, Indiana State, South Dakota State and Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
The annual Jack Jennett meet 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.
Like Jennett, Mark Messersmith, who will be in attendance on Saturday, 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.
The Panthers will field full squads for both meets, looking to build off their momentum from two strong performances in Iowa City to start the season. UNI will head into the weekend with 14 men and 11 women ranked in the top-eight in the Missouri Valley Conference in a combined 16 events, including senior Brandon Carnes who currently ranks second nationally in the 60 meter dash. The top-eight finishers at the conference meet in February score team points.
Fans wishing to follow along with the action this weekend can follow live updates on Twitter (@UNITrackFieldXC). A full set of results and a recap will be available after each meet on www.UNIPanthers.com.
The Panthers kick off the weekend with the Jack Jennett Open, a two day meet starting at 11 a.m. on Jan. 26 with the heptathlon. The meet will resume on Jan. 27 at 10 a.m. with a full day of action.
UNI will also host the Mark Messersmith Invitational on Jan. 28, beginning at 10 a.m. The meet will feature the Panthers along with Drake, Indiana State, South Dakota State and Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
The annual Jack Jennett meet 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.
Like Jennett, Mark Messersmith, who will be in attendance on Saturday, 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.
The Panthers will field full squads for both meets, looking to build off their momentum from two strong performances in Iowa City to start the season. UNI will head into the weekend with 14 men and 11 women ranked in the top-eight in the Missouri Valley Conference in a combined 16 events, including senior Brandon Carnes who currently ranks second nationally in the 60 meter dash. The top-eight finishers at the conference meet in February score team points.
Fans wishing to follow along with the action this weekend can follow live updates on Twitter (@UNITrackFieldXC). A full set of results and a recap will be available after each meet on www.UNIPanthers.com.
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