Iowa City, IA – The No. 1 nationally ranked Indian Hills Men's Track & Field team sent its trio of men's throwers to the Black & Gold Invitational at the University of Iowa on Friday. Ryan Edelman (Mounds View, MN/Mounds View), Michael Etuma (Iowa City, IA/Iowa City), and Tate Joens (Cedar Rapids, IA/Cedar Rapids Prairie) competed against the likes of four-year universities at the Iowa Track Building.
"The group as a whole is in a great spot," stated Indian Hills Track & Field Assistant Coach Elijah Barnes. "We have put together a lot of good practices and are shaping up at the right time. We are starting to see some carry over from practice into the competitions."
Joens continued to shine in both the shot put and weight throw events for the Warriors. The freshman set new personal best marks in each, including a new school record in the weight throw.
Joens placed ninth overall in the weight throw with a mark of 16.93 meters, the current No. 3 mark in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) this year to break his own school record. Joens placed fifth overall in the shot put to break his previous personal best by more than a full meter with a mark of 15.83 meters, the seventh-best mark in the NJCAA this year. Joens' mark also ranks third overall in school history.
"Tate Joens had an outstanding meet," Barnes added. "He not only made the final in two loaded competitions, but also improved on his season's best in the shot and weight. He is now qualified in both the shot and weight throw for nationals. He's finding his groove and will play a big role in our success at indoor nationals."
Edelman and Etuma joined Joens in the weight throw event. Competing against throwers from the University of Iowa, Kansas University, and Drake University, and Iowa Western Community College, Edelman produced a distance of 15.33 meters to place 11th overall.
Barnes noted the progression of Edelman and Etuma that has catapulted the program. "We are seeing more consistency in technique from Ryan and Michael at practice. Both are extremely competitive and are very close to taking that next step in their throwing careers. We have two more meets before nationals and I am excited to see what the future holds for this group."
The trio has ascended the Indian Hills record books through the first two months of competition. Along with Joens' school record in the weight throw, Edelman ranks second in program history in the event while Etuma ranks third. Etuma also holds the fifth-best mark in the shot put.
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It's Tate Joen's world and we're just living in it. Joens doubles back to break his own school record in the weight throw! pic.twitter.com/dhqMr7Wn12