The Run Around Iowa

Brian gives listeners the lowdown on changes to Sunday's event due to the pandemic and preparations being made for a hot day, offers a preview of the course and the best viewing spots for spectators, and explains why Des Moines lost the distinction as the 70.3 North American Championship.

Discussing Sioux City native Shelby Houlihan's four-year suspension for a banned substance that possibly takes her out of contention for the next two Olympics, Wesley Kiptoo's disappointing 5,000 and 10,000 races at NCAA nationals, Iowa State teammate Festus Lagat's 5th-place finish in the 800 final, runs by Abby Kohut-Jackson and Isaac Basten to the finals, a road race report featuring Diane Nukuri, Kallin Khan and Tyson Wieland and a flashback to the 2014 Grandma's Marathon.

The former Waverly-Shell Rock all-state performer in track and field and volleyball answers many questions, like, are you ready to leave Iowa State or are you wishing you had more eligibility left? Were you comfortable as a team leader on a young women's squad? And did you ever want to quit track and field because of so many injuries? Why did you choose track over volleyball? And why are you nicknamed Bob?

Listen to hear an injury update for Ironman 70.3 in Iowa, college runners' updates, honoring my college coach at Buena Vista University, race results with Obsie Birru, Jenny Simpson and Blake Whalen, a flashback to 2010 and an NCAA Outdoor Track Championships preview involving Iowa State's Wesley Kiptoo, Edwin Kurgat, Festus Lagat, Alexander Lomong, Jason Gomez, David Too and Cailie Logue, Iowa's Nathan Mylenek, Drake's Adam Fogg and Isaac Basten and Minnesota's Abby Kohut-Jackson.

The native of Guttenberg was a volleyball player her freshman year of high school until the cross country coach persuaded her to come out for the sport. Kassie has improved ever since. She talks about her surprise national title in the 10,000 meters in 2019, the team's celebration after winning the NCAA team championship last weekend, unfinished goals for next season, how she began competing in triathlons and the challenges of running in Guttenberg.

Details about the Loras College women's repeat national championship and the Wartburg College men's historic national title, including the impactful performances by Duhawks stars Kassie Rosenbum and Mike Jasa and the Knights' Christopher Collet, Joe Freiburger and Aubrie Fisher. In Division I, Wesley Kiptoo, Edwin Kurgat, Festus Lagat, Alexander Lomong, Jason Gomez, David Too and Cailie Logue lead the highlights for Iowa State. Drake was led by two sophomore distance runners, Isaac Basten and Adam Fogg, qualifying for Eugene, with Iowa's Nathan Mylenek and Minnesota's Abby Kohut-Jackson representing the Big Ten. I also look back at NAIA nationals, where Dordt College swept the 4x800 national titles in dominant fashion and a surprise or two at the Portland Track Festival.

Listen to hear the Iowa-based qualifiers for the NCAA West and East Prelims distance events, as well as qualifiers from Iowa colleges in this week's NAIA and NCAA Division III and II national meets. Also hear a race report featuring Hillary Bor, Alexina Wilson and Erik Sowinski.

Josh offers proof that perseverance is rewarded. After an injury-plagued Drake University career he calls "bittersweet," Josh has flourished on the track as a graduate student at South Dakota State University. He has dropped 57 seconds in the 5,000 meters in just 18 months. He won MVP honors of the recent Summit League event and has his sights set on next week's NCAA West Regional 3,000 steeplechase race in College Station, Texas. Josh also talks about the surprise of winning his first Drake Relays title last month and coaches who have shaped his running career. He also tells the story of CP-U's one-of-a-kind Stormin' Pointers nickname and why he's certain his best races are ahead as he closes the book on his time at SDSU and pursues a professional running career.

Discussing phenomenal performances over the weekend by Rebekah Topham, Josh Yeager, Wesley Kiptoo, Adam Fogg, Abby Kohut-Jackson, Edwin Kurgat, Thomas Pollard, Callie Logue, Abby Caldwell, Janette Schraft, Oksana Covey, Helen Gould, Ellie Friesen, Tysen VanDraska, Nathan Mylenek, Daniel Soto, Alex Johannes, Adva Cohen, Matthew Carmody, Faith Linga, Kelvin Bungei, Rosalie Fish, Justin Swann, Lilian Busienei, Eleonora Curtabbi, Florance Uwajeneza, Aubrey Fisher, Kassie Rosenbum, Joe Freiburger, Matt Heinzman, Christopher Collet, Dalton Martin, Mika Jasa, Caleb Silver, Ahren Davis, Ben Huftalin, Reed Fischer, Diane Nukuri and many others.

Relay Iowa has been called the longest relay in the world. Each June, teams of up to 12 gather in Sioux City to make the 339-mile trek over three days and two nights to Dubuque. After being canceled for the first time in 2020 due to the pandemic, race organizers made the difficult decision to forge ahead this year with fewer teams and more safety precautions. The event has raised more than $100,000 for Restoring Hope Village, a group of homes for orphaned children in South Africa, as well as several Iowa-based charities. Covering challenging and beautiful terrain over 339 miles, Relay Iowa truly is the RAGBRAI of running. Listen to hear more. Apologies for some audio issues during the podcast.