Sports

Iowa’s Kalen Walker went from unknown to Big Ten 100-meter champion

Published

7 months ago

May 27, 2025

IOWA CITY — There aren’t any stoplights in Eddyville, Iowa, population of around 1,000.

Eddyville is small-town, rural Iowa. Midwest countryside. Tight-knit community. Some local jobs come in the form of Cargill Corn Milling, Ajinomoto Animal Nutrition North America and Wacker Chemical Corporation, all of which have facilities in Eddyville.

Born in nearby Ottumwa, Kalen Walker grew up primarily in Eddyville. He attended high school at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, where his graduating class was in the neighborhood of 60 to 70.

This is the place that produced this year’s Big Ten Conference champion in the 100-meter dash.

On May 18, Walker’s time of 10.17 seconds edged out Southern California’s Eddie Nketia, a former college football player, who recorded a time of 10.18. Among the others that Walker beat at Oregon’s Hayward Field was former Ducks defensive back Rodrick Pleasant, who was a four-star prospect on the gridiron in high school.

Walker was nowhere near that.

He had no Division I or Division II track offers in high school and began his college career at Indian Hills Community College. That was further than either of his parents got in their athletic careers — neither one made it past the high school level. When Walker first got his opportunity with the University of Iowa’s track and field program, it was as a preferred walk-on.

But in May, Walker reached rare air, joining two-time champion George Page, Tim Dwight and Justin Austin as the select few from the Iowa men’s program to win a Big Ten title in the 100 meters. And Walker did it in the new-look Big Ten, which includes four former Pac-12 programs.

Walker has gone from obscurity — an under-recruited, nationally unknown kid from Eddyville — to taking down the Goliaths of the collegiate track and field world and making a name for himself in the sport.

The story is so improbable that it’s reasonable to wonder: How was this even possible?

“That’s kind of the neat part about the story with Kalen,” his father Ian said, “he kind of came from nowhere.”

Belief

During a youth baseball all-star game, Walker’s team was struggling, to say the least. They were getting dismantled. Their pitching situation was depleted. Walker, who took over the pitching duties, got hammered by a comebacker and went down.

Ian, who was coaching the team, looked at his son, who was teary, and pointed to his heart.

“What’s in here, son?” Ian asked.

Walker looked at his father, wiped off the tears and got up.

“Let’s go,” Walker said.

“Just the mental toughness,” Ian said. “The fact that he knew we needed him. The physical toughness. He just got drilled with a line drive. And just the mental toughness to do it. He’s a tough kid — physically and mentally tough. But also, he’s there for his team. He won’t quit on them.”

Walker was a four-sport athlete in high school, competing in football, basketball, baseball and track. There was a time when track wasn’t even his priority. He loved football and baseball. But as a junior in high school, Walker started to take track more seriously and got hooked on seeing his own improvement.

Iowa director of track and field Joey Woody was aware of the Eddyville product from camps Walker attended, but his times weren’t good enough to become a Hawkeye out of high school.

“I just remember this real tiny kid — because he’s a small dude — coming in and he just had like freakish turnover,” Woody said. “His feet would move quick and hit the ground. But he just didn’t have a lot of force output on the ground, so he wasn’t really, like, fast. He was just really quick. I was like, man, you would be a good football player.”

The potential for Walker to have a breakout high school senior season was wiped away by COVID-19. His recruitment was low-profile. He heard from Division III and NAIA programs but elected to continue his career at Indian Hills.

After one indoor and one outdoor season at Indian Hills, Walker went through the recruiting process again and got a call out of the blue from Woody. Though Iowa was the only power-conference school in contact with Walker, he received offers from smaller Division I programs this time around, including virtually a full ride to Northern Iowa.

Even though Iowa presented only a preferred walk-on spot, it was a no-brainer for Walker. Both of his parents, Ian and Christina, attended Iowa. Walker grew up rooting for the Hawkeyes. As a kid, he waited in line at a mall in Oskaloosa to get an autograph from football star Tyler Sash. Another time, Walker went to Kids’ Day at Kinnick and got a football signed.

“It was really just betting on myself and believing in myself,” Walker said of his decision to take the preferred walk-on spot at Iowa over other opportunities. “Because financially, it made no sense to come here… I feel like I just needed the platform. I just believed that I could do it.”

Speed

As Walker fidgeted on the field, a voice boomed throughout Kinnick Stadium last fall: “Kalen Walker is one of our fastest sprinters on the men’s track and field team.”

Walker had pitched this idea to Iowa: What if he ran a 40-yard dash at halftime of an Iowa football game? On Oct. 26, 2024, it came to fruition. The recorded attendance for Iowa football’s game against Northwestern was more than 69,000, roughly 69 times the population of Eddyville.

In front of an eagerly watching crowd, Walker blazed across the turf.

He recorded a time of 4.15 seconds, topping the fastest time in NFL Combine history, which is 4.21.

Walker’s YouTube video, which provided a behind-the-scenes look at the experience, has more than 300,000 views.

“C’mon,” Walker said, pounding his chest after finding out his time. “Hey, that’s what we do.”

Woody got a glimpse of what Walker might become leading into his first season with the Hawkeyes. The Indian Hills transfer excelled in preseason physical testing.

“He was just like through the roof with all of his testing,” Woody said. “And I was like, this guy’s pretty special. He’s got some unique tools. He just hadn’t quite executed it on the track yet.”

From there, Walker has risen the ranks in the college track landscape.

Walker holds Iowa school records in 60 meters (6.51), 100 meters (10.06), and as part of 4×100-meter relay (38.64). He is a three-time All-American, earning first-team honors in 60 meters (2024), along with second-team honors in 60 meters (2022) and as part of 4×100-meter relay (2023). In 2024, Walker was a semifinalist in the U.S. Olympic Trials for the 100-meter dash.

What makes his progress even more remarkable is that he has navigated injuries at various points during his Iowa career, including a stress fracture in his foot, along with tearing in his patellar tendon, quad and hamstring.

While Walker has sizzling speed on the track, he is more deliberate when it comes to his mental fortitude.

“He is slow at overreacting,” Ian said. “He’s kind of slow to anger. He’s slow to frustration. He’s slow towards judging other people. He’s just a really good guy. He doesn’t get bent out of shape. He stays composed. I would say he’s slow at getting stressed out.”

Walker’s abnormal ascent can be attributed to multiple factors. His senior track season at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont being derailed by COVID-19 didn’t help his high school recruitment. Walker is a late bloomer. But he has also put in the work to allow that growth to actually take place.

“I just don’t enjoy drinking or partying or any of that,” Walker said. “I just don’t enjoy it. I came from that small town, man. I was a country boy. I like hunting, fishing. I don’t like doing crazy stuff. I’m not a very social person, either, so I feel like that probably maybe helps a little bit too.”

Walker’s Big Ten title in the 100-meter dash precedes his upcoming appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field West first round in College Station, Texas, which begins May 28. If Walker advances past the West first round, he would earn a spot at the NCAA Championships in June.

There could still be more accomplishments on the horizon for Walker, who is now on scholarship and can still return to the Hawkeyes next year.

“I just want people to look at my journey and just feel like they can believe in themselves and keep grinding, chase their dreams, chase passions,” Walker said. “Just do their thing, find a way to be successful.”

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com

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Olivia Babcock Named Back-To-Back AVCA National Player of the Year

Published

6 minutes ago

December 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

KANSAS CITY – The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) named Olivia Babcock the 2025 AVCA National Player of the Year on Friday. Babcock becomes just the fifth player in the award’s history to earn the honor in back-to-back seasons. Additionally, she was honored as the inaugural AVCA Rightside Hitter of the Year, an award introduced this season.

Babcock once again swept the sport’s top individual accolades in 2025, earning AVCA National Player of the Year, ACC Player of the Year and AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year honors. She is the only player in Pitt history to be named a three-time AVCA First Team All-American and was recently selected as the Pittsburgh Regional Most Outstanding Player after leading the Panthers to their fifth consecutive National Semifinal.

Earlier this season, Babcock set the program’s single-match kills record with 45 against North Carolina. She is the only player in NCAA volleyball this year to reach that mark and the first since Cincinnati’s Jordan Thompson recorded 50 kills against UConn on Nov. 3, 2019.

Anchoring the Pitt offense, Babcock averaged personal-best marks of 5.17 kills per set and 2.09 digs per set. She earned AVCA National Player of the Week honors earlier this season and was named ACC Offensive Player of the Week five times during the 2025 campaign.

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Men’s Volleyball Individual Match Tickets On Sale

Published

22 minutes ago

December 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

HONOLULU – Individual match tickets for the 2026 University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball season are currently on sale. Tickets may be purchased at www.etickethawaii.com or at the Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center box office (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.).

Season tickets are still on sale starting as low as $150. Click here to purchase season tickets.

In addition, several promotions are also available for individual match tickets.

Save & Serve Wednesdays: $5 Tickets available while supplies last
Military: 30% off all matches & 50% off on April 17^th match
Hawai’i Hero’s Night: 50% off for First Responders on January 8^th match
*All special offers are based on availability and only in select seating areas.

Link to purchase individual games online: https://hawaiiathletics.evenue.net/events/MVBI

Individual Ticket Prices:
Lower Level (only single seats available)
Lower Level Sideline – $25
Lower Level Baseline
Adult – $24
Senior citizen (65 and over) – $20
Youth (ages 4-High School) – $15

Upper Level Sideline
Adult – $20
Senior citizen (65 and over) – $15
Youth (ages 4-High School) – $10
Upper Level Baseline
Adult – $17
Senior citizen (65 and over) – $10
Youth (ages 4–High School) – $8

#HawaiiMVB

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Kalei Edson, Kamille Gibson Join Houston Volleyball

Published

38 minutes ago

December 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

HOUSTON – Junior setter Kalei Edson and junior outside hitter Kamille Gibson have signed to join Houston Volleyball for the 2026 season, Head Coach David Rehr announced Thursday.

“We are really excited to add two players that have played at a high level for two seasons,” Rehr said. “Kalei will compete as our setter while Kamille will make an impact on either pin. This is just the beginning for the 2026 volleyball team.”

KALEI EDSON | SETTER | JUNIOR | AUBURN
Edson arrives in Houston following two seasons with the Auburn Tigers. She played in all of the team’s 28 matches in 2025, contributing the second most assists on the team with 482, an average of 4.72 per set. Edson also added 177 digs, 19 aces and five double-doubles throughout the season. In 2024, she earned the SEC Freshman of the Week honor on Oct. 14 and excelled at the service line, leading her team with 30 aces at a rate of 0.32 aces per set.

Overall, Edson has 956 assists in 54 career matches, also recording 49 aces and 331 digs.

Edson collected numerous prep and club accolades, including USA Volleyball Junior National All-America and 2023 USAV GJNC All-Tournament Team honors. She was also a 3A All-State and All-South Region honoree and a PrepVolleyball First Team All-State selection. Ranked as the #9 overall prospect in Illinois, Edson was the #3 setter in the country. Across her prep career, she posted over 700 assists along with 800 kills, 100 aces and 100 blocks.

KAMILLE GIBSON | OUTSIDE HITTER | JUNIOR | OKLAHOMA
Gibson, a two-year contributor at Oklahoma after a season at Tennessee, brings a significant offensive mind to Houston while also being a prolific presence on defense. Across two seasons, she tallied 421 kills along with 97 blocks for 500.5 points. Primarily a right-side, Gibson averaged 2.29 kills per set while at Oklahoma.

Last season, Gibson posted 194 kills for a .387 kill percentage while adding 60 blocks. She played in 26 of the Sooner’s 27 matches and started in 16, missing just eight sets across the entire season.

A Crossroads, Texas, native, she prepped at Braswell High School while playing club for TAV. She finished her high school career with 1,161 kills, 500 digs and 137 blocks and was named to the District 5-6A first team in 2021 and to the second team in 2020.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Volleyball by providing NIL opportunities or by joining the Point Houston Club which provides financial support directly to Houston Volleyball for needs beyond its operating budget.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarVB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team’s Facebook page at UHCougarVB. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at @UHCougarVB.

– UHCougars.com –

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Pitt’s season once again ends in the Final Four after getting swept by Texas A&M

Published

1 hour ago

December 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

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Kentucky Volleyball beats Wisconsin in thriller, will face Texas A&M in National Championship

Published

1 hour ago

December 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Kentucky Volleyball is headed to the national championship after a hard-fought five-set win over Wisconsin on Thursday night, as the Wildcats defeated the Badgers 3-2 in a match that tested every ounce of their resilience.

The opening set belonged to Wisconsin as the Badgers took control early and forced Kentucky to play from behind. The Wildcats struggled to find their rhythm but quickly regrouped. Kentucky responded in the second set with improved offensive execution and steady defense to even the match and shift momentum back in their favor.

Wisconsin answered by taking the third set and once again putting pressure on Kentucky with the season hanging in the balance. Facing a must-win fourth set, the Wildcats jumped out to a 13 to 10 lead and appeared ready to take control. Wisconsin refused to fold and battled back until the set was tied at 24 to 24. With the moment at its biggest, Kentucky delivered two straight points to force a decisive fifth set.

The Wildcats opened the final set on fire, racing out to a 9 to 2 lead. Wisconsin made one last push and closed the gap late, but Kentucky held its composure and finished off the match with a 15 -13 win to secure a spot in the NCAA National Championship Game.

Kentucky was led by Eva Hudson, who turned in a dominant performance with a season high of 29 kills. The SEC Player of the Year and National Player of the Year finalist consistently rose to the moment and carried the Wildcats offensively when they needed it most.

Defensively, Molly Touzzo anchored the back row with 17 digs, providing stability and extending key rallies throughout the match.

There is no question that head coach Craig Skinner has built something special in Lexington. Kentucky Volleyball has established itself as a national power, and Thursday night’s win was another example of the toughness and belief that define this program.

The Wildcats will now face Texas A&M in the national championship match on Sunday at 3:30 PM ET as the BBN continues to rally around this team.

Kentucky volleyball is one win away from the ultimate prize.

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Jordan Anthony named The Bowerman winner for 2025

Published

2 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Shawn Price
December 18, 2025

GRAPEVINE, Texas – An extraordinary season produced by Arkansas sprinter Jordan Anthony was deemed worthy of The Bowerman, collegiate track & field’s highest individual honor, as announced by USTFCCCA on Thursday evening at the Gaylord Texan Resort.

Anthony becomes the third Razorback to achieve the prestigious honor as he joins Jarrion Lawson (2016) and Jaydon Hibbert (2023) as previous Arkansas winners of The Bowerman. Three other men’s programs – Florida, Florida State, and Oregon – have had a pair of winners each since the award was first presented in 2009.

The Bowerman 2025 men’s finalist included Auburn’s Ja’Kobe Tharp and Baylor’s Nathaniel Ezekiel, who would have been the first recipient of the honor for their respective schools.

In becoming the first sprinter to claim NCAA titles in the 60m indoors and 100m outdoors during the same season since 2017, Anthony generated UA records in both events. His remarkable campaign included a pair of national sprint titles and three SEC titles while claiming high point honors at both SEC Outdoor and NCAA Outdoor Championship meets.

Anthony ran 6.47 in the NCAA Indoor 60m prelims before winning the final in 6.49. The 6.47 performance was just off the collegiate record of 6.45 shared by three sprinters.

Outdoors, Anthony improved the UA record in the 100m to 9.95 as he swept the 100m and 200m at the SEC Outdoor Championships, producing a 19.93 in the 200m as the second fastest time in Arkansas history behind a 19.89 by Wallace Spearmon Jr.

Anchoring the Razorbacks to a SEC third-place finish in the 4 x 100m relay, Anthony totaled 21.5 points and earned the Commissioner’s Trophy as the men’s high point scorer in the conference meet.

Anthony was named SEC Outdoor Runner of the Year via voting by league coaches and became the first Razorback to earn the honor since 2012. An additional honor for Anthony during the 2025 season included South Central Indoor Track Athlete of the Year.

Under all-conditions, Anthony blazed to an equal second fastest time ever by a collegian in the 100m with a 9.75w (2.1 wind) during the NCAA West First Round. That time equaled the world-leading mark for the 2025 season under all-conditions.

Multiple Winners | Men’s Programs

3 \| Arkansas	Jarrion Lawson (2016), Jaydon Hibbert (2023), Jordan Anthony (2025)
2 \| Oregon	Galen Rupp (2009), Ashton Eaton (2010)
2 \| Florida	Marquis Dendy (2015), Grant Holloway (2019)
2 \| Florida State	Ngoni Makusha (2011), Trey Cunningham (2022)