This Week in Peacock Men's Indoor Track and Field… The Peacocks were picked 11th in the 2021-22 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll on Thursday. Despite the lack of confidence from the conference coaches, Upper Iowa's men's indoor track and field team is prepped for a big year. The team opens their 2021-22 indoor season on Saturday, Dec. 4 in Davenport, Iowa at the Frigid Bee Invite hosted by St. Ambrose University.
Taking a Look in the Rearview… Last season, the team placed ninth with 28 points at the NSIC Indoor Championships in Mankato, Minn. The Peacocks registered four school records and notched first, second, and third-place finishes in different events at the championships.
Jaylen Hobson secured a third-place finish, six points for the Peacocks and an All-NSIC award in the triple jump competition with a mark of 14.06 meters. Hobson and
Teddy Ayden return to lead the Peacocks into the 2021-22 season.
Quotable… "As we enter our third year as a program, it will be exciting to see how these men have progressed and improved from since the inception of the program. Should make for a fun indoor/outdoor season." – Head Coach
Nate Rucker
NSIC Athletes to Watch… Sprinter
Teddy Ayden and jumper
Jaylen Hobson were tabbed as this year's NSIC Athletes to Watch for the Peacocks.
Teddy Ayden – So., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., North Miami Senior HS
Placed 7th at the NSIC Indoor Championships in the 60m dash in a time of 7.01
Placed 9th at the NSIC Indoor Championships in the 200m in a time of 22.63
Posted a top time of 7.00 seconds in the 60m dash at the Dakota Wesleyan Invite
According to Coach Rucker… "After his 3rd place finish in the men's 200 at outdoor conference, I know he is excited about his sophomore campaign. As a coaching staff, we have seen tremendous growth during the fall and are looking forward to what the upcoming season may hold for him."
Jaylen Hobson – Jr., Chicago, Ill., Dekalb HS
Placed 3rd at the NSIC Indoor Championships to earn All-NSIC honors with a mark of 14.06m in the triple jump
Placed 13th at the NSIC Indoor Championships with a leap of 6.36m in the long jump
Hit his best long jump at the Dakota Wesleyan Invite with a mark of 6.65m
According to Coach Rucker… "We are looking forward to see what Jaylen can do after his 3rd place finish in the triple jump at the outdoor conference championships last year in Duluth. He has had a strong fall, and has shown great progress. Should be an exciting year for him in the horizontal jumps."
Saturday's Frigid Bee Invite Entrants…
60m Dash:
Teddy Ayden
400m Dash:
Cameron Green,
Deion Jones,
Andrew Paskey,
Kaden Ludwig,
Blake Smith
800m Run:
Dalton Baker,
David Snider
4x400m Relay: Jones, Ayden, Paskey, Green, Bateman
High Jump:
Kai Bateman
Shot Put:
Macklin Conrad, Chase Kwinski,
Devon Lawrence,
Michael Pace,
Caden Wendt,
Austin Bittenbender
Weight Throw:
Macklin Conrad,
Devon Lawrence,
Caden Wendt
Up Next… The Peacocks will not compete again until Jan. 15 at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Upper Iowa will run, throw and jump in six more events prior to the NSIC Indoor Championships in Mankato, Minn. on Feb. 25-26.
