Iowa’s Ryan Johnson Breaks Records with 24.85m Weight Throw at Hawkeye Invitational

Ryan Johnson of Iowa claimed the men’s Weight Throw title at the 2026 Hawkeye Invitational on Friday, launching 24.85 meters to set a meeting record, personal best, and facility mark during the opening day of the competition.

Johnson struggled early with two consecutive fouls before finding his rhythm. However, the junior posted 24.36m in round three to move into first place, then waited until his final attempt to unleash the record-breaking throw.

Read More: Watch Live! Hawkeye Invitational 2026 Returns to Iowa City This Weekend

The 24.85m winning mark erased his own meeting record of 24.00m and topped Tanner Berg’s 2025 venue standard of 24.72m. Johnson also improved his season opener of 23.95m from December 13, 2025, and now leads all NCAA Division I throwers indoors for 2026. He finished fourth in the Hammer Throw at the 2024 World Junior Championships.

Sean Smith, also competing for Iowa, took second with 22.28m in round three to claim the third-best mark in Division I this season. Austin Busch made it an Iowa Hawkeye sweep of the podium with a third-place throw of 19.85m.

Meanwhile, Haydn Stockdale of Hawkeye Community College placed fifth overall at 19.27m but earned the top NJCAA mark of the day. Riley Goddard of Hawkeye CC won the women’s competition with 16.42m, the leading NJCAA distance for 2026.

Hawkeye Invitational 2026 Weight Throw Results

Men’s Weight Throw

1. Ryan Johnson, Iowa, 24.85m (81-06.50) – Meeting record, facility record, DI #1, PR
2. Sean Smith, Iowa, 22.28m (73-01.25) – DI #3
3. Austin Busch, Iowa, 19.85m (65-01.50)
4. Benedict Draghi, Unattached, 19.70m (64-07.75) – PR
5. Haydn Stockdale, Iowa Central CC, 19.27m (63-02.75) – NJCAA #1
6. Tate Joens, Unattached, 19.13m (62-09.25)
7. Walker Whalen, Iowa, 18.72m (61-05.00)
8. Tory Wash, Unattached, 16.10m (52-10.00)
9. Michael McNeil, Iowa Central CC, 12.92m (42-04.75) – NJCAA #2
10. Eric Neipert, Hawkeye CC, 12.03m (39-05.75) – NJCAA #3
11. Burke Berry, Iowa Central CC, 11.60m (38-00.75) – NJCAA #4

Women’s Weight Throw

1. Riley Goddard, Hawkeye CC, 16.42m (53-10.50) – NJCAA #1
2. Brylie Lorence, Unattached, 15.83m (51-11.25)
3. Kailan McEwen, Hawkeye CC, 15.31m (50-02.75) – NJCAA #2, PR
4. Cynthia Albert, Iowa Central CC, 14.80m (48-06.75) – NJCAA #3
   — Josephine Flint, Unattached, ND

Complete Results Here