Cyclones Secure Four More National Entries

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – A trio of Cyclones qualified for individual events, while the women's 4x400m relay squad also are Eugene bound as the women wrapped up NCAA West Prelims. Iowa State totals 11 entries into NCAA Championships.

Rachel Joseph started off the qualifying on the day in elite fashion as the junior went 50.66 for the heat win and to post the second-fastest time in both the West or East region. Joseph reset her outdoor record for the sixth time, while it is the 16^th time she has set or reset an individual Iowa State school record. Joseph now totals the top 16 400m indoor and outdoor times in school history. Joseph is set to make her fourth-straight trip to NCAA Championships.

The time is the eighth fastest in the nation this season.

Makayla Clark then qualified for NCAA Championships right after in the first heat of the 800m, finishing second for the automatic advancement with 2:01.75. The time went on to stand as the fifth fastest in the region. Clark came just off her personal best of 2:01.72 that ranks second in Iowa State history. Clark will make her second national appearance.

In the 5,000m semifinals, Maelle Porcher cemented her return trip to nationals as she automatically advanced in her heat with a finish of 15:55.73. Porcher ran with the lead pack up until the final mile and made moves up the pack for the fourth-place heat finish.

The women's 4x400m relay put on a show to wrap up regionals as the squad of Brooklyn Sandvig, Clark, Karynne David and Joseph advanced finishing third in their heat and sixth overall with a blistering 3:29.68. The time breaks the 2023 school record of 3:31.02, a team Clark and Joseph are also a part of. The Iowa State women's 4x400m advances to nationals for the first time since 1982. Joseph split 49.77 as she was the only woman through both NCAA West and East Prelims to post a sub-50 split.

Bella Heikes ended her season with a 25^th-place 5K finish of 16:25.41. Heikes was one of three Cyclones to run multiple events at regionals as she also ran the 1,500m.

In the quarterfinals of the 3,000m steeplechase, Kiki Connell ran 10:19.94 for 24^th in the 90-degree heat, three seconds off her personal best.

NCAA Championships are next up for the 10 advancing Cyclones and women's 4x400m June 11-14 in Eugene, Oregon.

Iowa State NCAA Championships Qualifiers

Cam Jones (Shot Put); Rodgers Kiplimo (10,000m); Joash Ruto (3,000m Steeple), Quinton Orr (3,000m Steeple); Dugion Blackman (800m); Mikey McClain (200m); Robin Kwemoi Bera (5,000m); Rachel Joseph (400m); Makayla Clark (800m); Maelle Porcher (5,000m); Women's 4x400m

Iowa State Results

3,000m Steeplechase Quarterfinals: 1. Lexy Halladay-Lowry, BYU – 9:23.03; 24. Kiki Connell, Iowa State – 10:19.94

400m Quarterfinals: 1. Kaylyn Brown, Arkansas – 50.58; 2. Rachel Joseph, Iowa State – 50.66 (PR, No. 1 ISU)

800m Quarterfinals: 1. Meghan Hunter, BYU – 1:58.95; 5. Makayla Clark, Iowa State – 2:01.75

5,000m Semifinals: 1. Paityn Noe, Arkansas – 15:43.45; 9. Maelle Porcher, Iowa State – 15:55.73; 25. Bella Heikes, Iowa State – 16:25.41

4x400m Quarterfinals: 1. Arkansas – 3:25.48; 6. Iowa State (Sandvig, Clark, David, Joseph) – 3:29.68 (No. 1 ISU)

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Players Mentioned

Robin Kwemoi Bera

Dugion Blackman

Makayla Clark

Kiki Connell

Karynne David

Bella Heikes

Cam Jones

Rachel Joseph

Rodgers Kiplimo

Mikey McClain

Quinton Orr

Maelle Porcher

Joash Ruto

Brooklyn Sandvig

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