University of Iowa Track and Field Recruiting Class of 2026
University of Iowa Track and Field Recruiting Class of 2026: Hawkeyes Add Elite Talent Across Every Event Group
Iowa has announced one of the deepest incoming track and field classes in program history, adding elite sprinters, hurdlers, middle-distance runners, distance athletes, throwers, jumpers, transfers, junior college standouts, and international talent to the 2025-26 roster.
See Division I Recruiting Standards →The University of Iowa track and field program has welcomed 28 signees to its 2025-26 roster, a group Director of Track and Field Joey Woody described as one of the strongest recruiting classes he can remember during his 19 seasons at Iowa.
For recruiting families, this class is worth studying closely. It shows what a major Big Ten program is targeting right now: elite high school marks, proven transfers, junior college All-Americans, international range, event-group balance, and athletes who can contribute quickly at the conference and NCAA level.
Coach Joey Woody’s Message About the Class
“This is probably the best recruiting class from top to bottom across all event groups that I can remember over my 19 seasons at Iowa.”
That is a major statement from a coach who has built Iowa into one of the most competitive programs in the Big Ten. Woody highlighted the class’s depth across every event area, including the fastest men’s 100m, 200m, 400m, and 800m athletes Iowa’s staff has ever signed out of high school.
On the women’s side, Iowa added the fastest 100m and 200m recruits in program history, the third-fastest 400m runner, one of the top U20 triple jumpers in the world, and the best hammer thrower Iowa has ever signed out of high school.
Men’s Signees
Sprints
| Athlete | Hometown / Previous School | Best Performances |
|---|---|---|
| David Akhalu | Ogun State, Nigeria · Yakub Memorial Secondary School | 10.66 100m · 21.29 200m · 46.36 400m |
| Chidera Ezeakor | Edo State, Nigeria | 10.25 100m · 20.77 200m |
| Jordan Gross | Vandalia, Ohio · Butler High School | 10.35 100m · 20.66 200m |
| Darwin Jimenez | Methuen, Massachusetts · Allen Community College | 10.24 100m · 20.82 200m |
| Austin Rowswell | New Lenox, Illinois · Lincoln-Way West High School | 21.41 200m · 46.94 400m |
| Sylus West-Gaither | Las Vegas, Nevada · Legacy High School | 21.44 200m · 46.51 400m |
Hurdles
| Athlete | Hometown / Previous School | Best Performances |
|---|---|---|
| Blake Nyenati | Andover, Minnesota · North Dakota State University | 7.75 60H · 13.62 110H |
| Vaughn DeVaughn III | Baltimore, Maryland · Alabama State University | 13.85 110H · 50.41 400H |
Middle Distance and Distance
| Athlete | Hometown / Previous School | Best Performances |
|---|---|---|
| Jashua Anglo | Johnston, Iowa · Johnston High School | 21.94 200m · 47.60 400m · 1:54.75 800m |
| Evan Osler | Okoboji, Iowa · Okoboji Milford High School | 49.13 400m · 1:52.65 800m |
| Spencer Alf | McFarland, Wisconsin · McFarland High School | 1:54.27 800m · 4:16.08 1600m |
| Elias Arbuckle | Grimes, Iowa · Dallas Center-Grimes High School | 4:15.29 1600m · 9:03.68 3200m |
| Owen Wolfe | West Des Moines, Iowa · Dowling Catholic High School | 1:49.92 800m · 4:09.21 1600m |
Throws
| Athlete | Hometown / Previous School | Best Performances |
|---|---|---|
| Tate Joens | Cedar Rapids, Iowa · Indian Hills Community College | 59'2¼" Shot Put · 171'5" Discus · 196'10" Hammer |
| Landon Prince | Tiffin, Iowa · Clear Creek Amana High School | 64'1½" Shot Put · 194'4" Discus |
Women’s Signees
Sprints
| Athlete | Hometown / Previous School | Best Performances |
|---|---|---|
| Princess Uche | Abia State, Nigeria · University of Texas-El Paso | 53.62 400m |
| Izzy Zahn | Coldwater, Ohio · Coldwater High School | 23.04 200m · 52.89 400m |
| Iyanouluwa Bada | Ikeja, Nigeria · Rexage Comprehensive College | 11.30 100m |
Hurdles
| Athlete | Hometown / Previous School | Best Performances |
|---|---|---|
| Jailya Ash | Voorhees, New Jersey · University of Connecticut | 8.19 60H · 13.29 100H |
| Isabel Evans | Johnstown, Ohio · John Northridge High School | 13.94 100H · 41.95 300H |
| Dymonde Nave | Sioux Falls, South Dakota · Indian Hills Community College | 8.43 60H · 13.57 100H |
Middle Distance
| Athlete | Hometown / Previous School | Best Performances |
|---|---|---|
| Rosemary Arthur | Sekondi, Ghana · Colby Community College | 2:07.61 800m · 4:30.19 1500m |
| Grace Boleyn | Bettendorf, Iowa · Pleasant Valley High School | 2:11.42 800m · 4:37.78 1500m |
| Leanna Lewis | Clarendon, Jamaica · Norfolk State University | 54.42 400m · 2:06.58 800m |
| Caila Lyons | San Antonio, Texas · Northside Brennan High School | 54.70 400m · 2:08.86 800m · 4:37.60 1500m |
| Jody Ann Mitchell | Manchester, Jamaica · New Mexico Junior College | 1:32.02 600m · 2:07.36 800m |
Distance, Throws and Jumps
| Athlete | Event Area | Hometown / Previous School | Best Performances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ella Magallan | Distance | Burleson, Texas · Burleson Centennial High School | 2:14.59 800m · 5:00.27 1600m · 10:58.28 3200m |
| Josephine Flynt | Throws | Katy, Texas · Katy Taylor High School | 175'11" Hammer |
| Lovisa Ulvenstam | Jumps | Ostersund, Sweden · Wargentin High School | 19'8" Long Jump · 42'3" Triple Jump |
Incoming Athlete Spotlight
Jordan Gross
Gross arrives from Ohio with elite sprint marks of 10.35 in the 100m and 20.66 in the 200m. Those are immediate Big Ten-caliber sprint credentials and should make him a serious relay and individual-event prospect.
Owen Wolfe
Wolfe is one of the headline Iowa natives in the class, bringing personal bests of 1:49.92 in the 800m and 4:09.21 in the 1600m. That profile gives Iowa a major in-state middle-distance addition.
Izzy Zahn
Zahn’s marks of 23.04 in the 200m and 52.89 in the 400m make her one of the most important sprint recruits in the class. She has the range to impact open events and relays early.
Lovisa Ulvenstam
Ulvenstam adds international quality to the jumps group with marks of 19'8" in the long jump and 42'3" in the triple jump. Her triple jump ability gives Iowa another high-ceiling championship-event athlete.
What This Class Says About Division I Recruiting
Iowa’s class is a clear reminder that high-level Division I recruiting has become extremely competitive. The Hawkeyes are not just signing strong high school athletes. They are combining elite prep talent, proven college transfers, junior college All-Americans, international recruits, and local Iowa standouts.
For prospective recruits, the lesson is simple: the earlier athletes understand the standards, the better they can build a realistic plan. Division I coaches are looking for talent, but they are also looking for event fit, roster needs, academic readiness, communication, competitiveness, and long-term development.
To better understand how your marks compare, review Fast Track Recruiting’s Division I standards page below.
Compare Division I Track & Field Recruiting Standards →Complete Iowa Track and Field Recruiting Class of 2026
Men
- David Akhalu
- Chidera Ezeakor
- Jordan Gross
- Darwin Jimenez
- Austin Rowswell
- Sylus West-Gaither
- Blake Nyenati
- Vaughn DeVaughn III
- Jashua Anglo
- Evan Osler
- Spencer Alf
- Elias Arbuckle
- Owen Wolfe
- Tate Joens
- Landon Prince
Women
- Princess Uche
- Izzy Zahn
- Iyanouluwa Bada
- Jailya Ash
- Isabel Evans
- Dymonde Nave
- Rosemary Arthur
- Grace Boleyn
- Leanna Lewis
- Caila Lyons
- Jody Ann Mitchell
- Ella Magallan
- Josephine Flynt
- Lovisa Ulvenstam
Trying to Understand Where You Fit?
Every major recruiting class tells a story. Iowa’s class shows the level of athlete Big Ten programs are targeting right now. Fast Track Recruiting helps student-athletes and families understand where they fit, build the right school list, communicate with coaches, and create a realistic recruiting strategy.
Explore Division I Recruiting Standards →