Kalen Walker put his name out there as one of the fastest sprinters in the United States earlier this year.
Walker, a native of Eddyville, Iowa, competed for the University of Iowa at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon on Wednesday. The senior placed 18th overall in the 100-meter dash after advancing to the semifinals.
His final time was 10.23, off the sub-10 he ran earlier this year. Walker claimed the Big Ten title in the event, finishing his career as a three-time All-American, two-time Big Ten champion and school record holder in the 60 meters, 100 meters and as part of the 4x100-meter relay team.
"Kalen had a tough day," Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. "Unfortunately, he didn't execute his start the way he has the last few meets. He had a terrific season and this does not take away from everything he accomplished this year."
Walker's time of 9.94 at the NCAA West First Round earned him an automatic bid to the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
As a senior at Eddyville-Blakesburg High School, Walker had his final season canceled due to COVID-19. He was third in the 200 and fifth in the 100 as a junior while being a four-sport standout.
Walker would compete for Indian Hills Junior College before transferring to Iowa.
Mike Stein earned first-team All-American status in the javelin, placing sixth for the Hawkeyes. A junior from Milford, Iowa and Spirit Lake High School, he had a best throw of 75.77-meter to add to his seventh earned last year at nationals.
"Mike competed very tough and hard," Woody said. "He put together a big throw in the qualifying round to make the finals and finished just outside the top three to place sixth overall. It's another first-team All-American accolade for Mike."