Drake Relays — Stars Shine Through The Overcast

Dalilah Muhammad kicked off her season with a world-leading 53.88 win. (LUKE LU)

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 27-30 — Gray skies and cool, drizzly weather couldn’t prevent the pro and collegiate stars from shining through the overcast at the Drake Relays.

The 112th edition of the venerable relay carnival returned to normal after a canceled meet in ’20 and a crowd-limited one a year ago, so a little damp Midwestern spring weather was the least of meet organizers’ worries.

Most importantly, the enthusiastic Drake fans were back. Athletes were seriously pumped with the NCAA and USATF Championships fewer than 8 weeks away and the first U.S.-hosted world outdoor meet looming. So, the stage was set, with Drake one of the big opening acts.

To that end, as is their wont, the pros — Olympians and national team members — stole much of the thunder, but collegians harboring big dreams also strutted their stuff with performances that augur well for the sport’s future.

Big names produce big results. Isn’t that right, Dalilah Muhammad? The reigning world 400H champ hadn’t yet won her specialty at the Relays, taking 2nds in ’16 and ’18, though winning the US title here in a WR time in ’19 was no small consolation and cemented her love for the Drake oval.

She cruised to a meet record 53.88 win over her training partner Gianna Woodruff (54.88) in her season opener. It made for a good start in not so good weather for Muhammad as she prepares to defend her world title this summer in Eugene.

“I’ve been accustomed to just dealing with the weather and run to the best of my abilities no matter what the weather is,” said the 32-year-old veteran after posting a yearly world leader. “It felt good. I’ve been a little shaky with my flat 400s lately, but it was better than at Mt. SAC. I think we’re going in the right direction. It’s one of my favorite stadiums… sorry, Eugene, but I really do love it here.”

The hurdle events at Drake are always big draws for the event’s practitioners and that proved true again. Brazil’s Olympic bronze medalist Alison dos Santos replicated his ’21 win in the 400H, this time in 48.41, and got his point across while apologizing for his English that his “preparation has been good” and that he wants to be better and faster” at his next race, the Doha DL.

Over the 110s, it was Hansle Parchment for the win in 13.47 over Jamal Brit (13.53) into a 2.5 wind. And Tia Jones came from behind with a surge over the last two hurdles into a slight headwind for a 12.84–12.85 win over Tonea Marshall in the 100 highs.

Another big name, and a big guy to boot, the redoubtable Ryan Crouser, loves throwing at Drake, where the shot is front and center just past the finish line.

“It was a fantastic crowd out there and that’s one thing that’s fantastic about Drake,” said Crouser, after popping three 70-foot-plus throws with his best one 70-11¾ (21.63) on his fourth attempt. “They come out to that shot corner just past the finish line and they were loud and into it,” said the Olympic champ, who was not over the moon with his performance:

“It was OK. Some good things, some bad things. I started quite horrible but progressed well through the rounds. I’ve been trying to build the training foundation that will take me through the Worlds. I felt pretty good today, but my brain was saying I felt good and my body was not used to it.”

Other notable pro efforts included Keturah Orji’s 21-11 (6.68) long jump victory; Vashti Cunningham’s 6-2¾ (1.90) HJ win over Rachel McCoy; and vaulter Chris Nilsen’s 18-4½ (5.60) win on misses over Jake Wooten.

And then there was former Iowa star Erik Sowinski, for whom Drake is virtually a second home track. Although he lost to Isaiah Jewett’s 1:48.84 in the invitational 2-lapper, Sowinski passed two runners in a mad dash down the homestretch that gave the 32-year-old a 1:49.38, his landmark 200th sub-1:50 race.

Collegiately, say howdy to Randolph Ross of North Carolina A&T, whose wire-to-wire 44.95 victory over Ben Jefferies of Brian Cliff gave him the world lead. He also ran second on his team’s second straight 4×4 win. And then there was Iowa’s James Carter, who became the first long jump (25-8¾) and triple jump (51-9¾) winner since ’06.

Iowa’s men, now a Big 10 power under Joey Woody, won the Relays Cup, emblematic of overall success in various relays. Iowa won the sprint medley and was 2nd in the 4×1 to edge Kentucky in the point standings. But Kentucky, under Lonnie Greene, grabbed the women’s Cup with wins in the 4×4, 4×8 and sprint medley.


DRAKE RELAYS MEN’S RESULTS

Invitational Men

800: 1. Isaiah Jewett (Nik) 1:48.84; 2. Erik Sowinski (unat) 1:49.38; 3. Luca Chatham (TxEl) 1:49.57; 4. Ryan Sanchez’ (PR) 1:49.90; 5. Frank Hayes (unat) 1:50.02; 6. Daniel Nixon (AtlTC) 1:51.79; 7. Shane Streich (AtlTC) 1:52.35.

1500: 1. Sam Tanner’ (NZ) 3:41.28; 2. Casey Comber (UArm) 3:45.20; 3. Willy Fink (UArm) 3:45.68; 4. Daniel Michalski (Nik) 3:45.83;… dnf—Clayton Murphy (Nik).

110H(-2.5): 1. Hansle Parchment’ (Jam) 13.47; 2. Jamal Britt (unat) 13.53; 3. Shane Braithwaite’ (Bar) 13.69; 4. Aaron Mallett (Tracksm) 13.79; 5. David King’ (GB) 13.89; 6. Damion Thomas’ (Jam) 13.89.

400H: 1. Alison Dos Santos’ (Bra) 48.41; 2. David Kendziera (unat) 49.43; 3. Khallifah Rosser (Nik) 49.49; 4. Abdelmalik Lahoulou’ (Alg) 49.68; 5. Kemar Mowatt’ (Jam) 50.46; 6. Amere Lattin (adi) 50.50; 7. Shawn Rowe’ (Jam-Jam) 50.55; 8. Aldrich Bailey (unat) 50.94.

PV: 1. Chris Nilsen (Nik) 18-4½ (5.60); 2. Jake Wooten (unat) 18-4½; 3. Cole Walsh (unat) 18-½ (5.50); 4. Nate Richartz (RPerf) 17-8½ (5.40); 5. Matt Ludwig (unat) 17-8½; 6. KC Lightfoot (Pum) 17-8½.

SP: 1. Ryan Crouser (Nik) 70-11¾ (21.63); 2. Nick Ponzio’ (Ita) 69-½ (21.04); 3. Payton Otterdahl (Nik) 67-10¾ (20.69); 4. Roger Steen (unat) 65-8¾ (20.03); 5. Darius King (NnIa) 62-11½ (19.19); 6. Burger Lambrechts’ (Nb-SA) 62-2¼ (18.95).

University Men Track

100(-2.6): 1. *Lawrence Johnson (Wi) 10.56; 2. *Isaiah Trousil (NnIa) 10.66; 3. *JaVaughn Moore (InSt) 10.77.

200(-0.1): 1. Trousil 20.73 =PR; 2. Tchanbi’ 20.84 PR.

400: 1. *Randolph Ross (NCAT) 44.95; 2. **Ben Jefferies’ (BrCliff-GB) 46.00 PR; 3. **Dubem Amene’ (Mi-Ngr) 46.56.

800: 1. Ackeen Colley’ (WnIl-Jam) 1:48.57; 2. **Wes Ferguson (NbK) 1:48.91; 3. *Jacob Rodin (NDSt) 1:49.06 PR; 4. **Riley Bauer (SDSt) 1:49.36; 5. **Riley Wells (IlSt) 1:49.44; 6. **Tanner Maier (Mank) 1:49.64.

1500: 1. *Isaac Basten (Drake) 3:39.11; 2. Moad Zahafi’ (TxT-Mor) 3:39.59 PR; 3. *Nick Foster (Mi) 3:40.29 PR;

4. Adam Fogg’ (Drake-Aus) 3:41.59; 5. Owen Hoeft (Mn) 3:42.01; 6. **Daniel Burkhalter (SDSt) 3:43.60.

St: 1. Daniel Michalski (Nik) 8:28.93; 2. **Gable Sieperda (IaSt) 8:45.31; 3. **Luke Labatte (ND) 8:48.05 PR; 4. ***Bryce Lentz (AF) 8:49.51; 5. ***Aziz JDai (Drake) 8:50.34 PR.

5000: 1. Jeremy Coughler’ (Can) 13:46.57 PR; 2. **Luke Combs (AF) 13:50.59 PR; 3. Ryan Ioanidis (AF) 13:50.74 PR; 4. Euan Makepeace’ (GB) 13:52.13.

10,000: 1. ***Samuel Martens (GVal) 29:32.46 PR.

110H(-1.8): 1. *Joshua Zeller’ (Mi-GB) 13.79; 2. **Darius Luff (Nb) 13.97.

400H: I–1. Dallas Wright (Wart) 50.88 PR. II–1. Cory Poole (NCAT) 50.27; 2. Kenroy Williams’ (Ky-Jam) 50.57.

4 x 100: 1. Kentucky 39.59; 2. North Carolina A&T 39.65; 3. Iowa 40.50; 4. Indiana State 40.87.

4 x 200: 1. Kentucky 1:23.11; 2. Purdue 1:23.91; 3. Dubuque 1:25.74; 4. Illinois 1:26.04.

4 x 400: 1. North Carolina A&T 3:05.81; 2. Kentucky 3:07.39; 3. Iowa 3:08.02; 4. Oklahoma State 3:11.54.

4 x 800: 1. Iowa State 7:17.47 (WL, CL);

2. Michigan 7:18.78; 3. Iowa 7:19.13 (AL); 4. Missouri 7:22.27; 5. Kansas State 7:26.21; 6. Kentucky 7:27.75.

4 x 1600: 1. Iowa State 16:23.05 <16:28.76> (WL, CL);

2. Oklahoma State 16:31.38; 3. Missouri 16:40.21; 4. Wisconsin 16:41.22 <16:47.03> (AL); 5. Bradley 16:46.28; 6. Air Force 16:46.51.

SpMed: 1. Iowa 3:18.06; 2. Iowa State 3:20.39; 3. North Dakota State 3:20.95; 4. Kentucky 3:21.07.

DisMed: 1. Oklahoma State 9:40.60; 2. Michigan 9:45.63; 3. Iowa 9:47.73; 4. South Dakota State 9:49.38; 5. Indiana State 9:49.87; 6. Missouri 9:50.52.

4 x 110H: 1. Iowa 56.74 (WL, AL, CL) (Conway, Braverman, Johnson, Reed);

2. Illinois 57.77.

University Men Field

HJ: 1. *Mayson Conner (Nb) 7-1 (2.16); 2. Rahman Minor (Ky) 7-1.

PV: 1. Matthew Peare (Ky) 17-7 (5.36) PR; 2. **Reagan Ulrich (CMo) 17-1 (5.21); 3. **Tre Young (SD) 17-1; 4. **Dorian Chaigneau’ (Hard-Fra) 17-1.

LJ: 1. *James Carter (Ia) 25-8¾w (7.84); 2. **Ramsey Hunt (EnIl) 25-1¾w (7.66); 3. Christopher Goodwin’ (CMo-NZ) 24-11¾w (7.61); 4. **Brock Lewis (Central) 24-4½w (7.43).

TJ: 1. Carter 51-9¾w (15.79); 2. Safin Wills’ (Pur-Jam) 51-8¼w (15.75); 3. Tamar Greene’ (Pur-Bah) 51-7¼w (15.73); 4. **Bera Ajala’ (Mi-GB) 51-1½w (15.58).

SP: 1. **Maxwell Otterdahl (Nb) 63-9½ (19.44); 2. Alex Talley (Nb) 63-5 (19.33); 3. Nikolas Curtiss (Ia) 63-1½ (19.24); 4. **Kevin Sakson’ (IaSt-Est) 62-4 (19.00) PR.

DT: 1. *Kaleb Siekmeier (Mn) 179-4 (54.67); 2. Tom Yezek (NnIa) 178-7 (54.44); 3. **Jordan Johnson (Ia) 176-0 (53.66).

HT: 1. **Kostas Zaltos’ (Mn-Gre) 236-0 (71.95) PR; 2. Tanner Berg (NnSt) 230-10 (70.37) PR; 3. **Kade McCall (KsSt) 221-3 (67.44); 4. Trevor Otterdahl (NDSt) 216-9 (66.08).

JT: 1. **Marcus Weaver (WiEC) 211-3 (64.38).

Dec: 1. Jakob Tordsen (ConcStP) 7145 PR; 2. William Eggers (AthLTC) 7011; 3. Ryan Enerson (unat) 7010.

DRAKE WOMEN’S RESULTS

Invitational Women

800: 1. Allie Wilson (AtlTC) 2:03.87; 2. Mallory King (Ia) 2:08.00; 3. Emily Richards (Tracksm) 2:08.22; 4. Mariela Luisa Real’ (Mex) 2:08.28; 5. Chrisann Gordon-Powell’ (Jam) 2:09.070.

1500: 1. Laura Galvan’ (Mex) 4:09.82; 2. Adelle Tracey’ (GB) 4:11.09; 3. Alma Cortes’ (Mex) 4:11.41; 4. Yolanda Ngrarambe’ (Swe) 4:12.23; 5. Holly Archer’ (GB) 4:20.94.

100(-0.7): 1. Tia Jones (adi) 12.84; 2. Tonea Marshall (Nik) 12.85; 3. Chanel Brissett (TBBTC) 12.92; 4. Paula Salmon (NCAT) 12.95; 5. Cindy Sember’ (GB) 13.03; 6. Devynne Charlton’ (Bah) 13.07; 7. Tobi Amusan’ (Ngr) 13.08;… dnf—Jasmine Camacho-Quinn’ (PR).

400H: 1. Dalilah Muhammad (Nik) 53.88 (WL, AL);

2. Gianna Woodruff’ (Pan) 54.88; 3. Anna Cockrell (Nik) 55.09; 4. Andrenette Knight’ (Jam) 55.67; 5. Shamier Little (adi) 56.00; 6. Janieve Russell’ (Jam) 56.62.

HJ: 1. Vashti Cunningham (NikNvG) 6-2¾ (1.90); 2. Rachel McCoy (unat) 6-¾ (1.85); 3. Kimberly Williamson’ (Jam) 6-¾; 4. Amina Smith (unat) 5-10¾ (1.80);… nh—Inika McPherson (unat).

LJ: 1. Keturah Orji (Miz) 21-11w (6.68); 2. Chanice Porter’ (Jam) 21-7½w (6.59); 3. Ese Brume’ (Ngr) 21-7¼ (6.58); 4. Tiffany Flynn (TWC) 21-4¾w (6.52) (20-10½/6.36); 5. Christabel Nettey’ (Can) 21-4w (6.50) (21-2/6.45); 6. Jahisha Thomas’ (GB) 21-2½w (6.46); 7. Quanesha Burks (unat) 21-¾w (6.42) (20-11¾/6.39); 8. Kendell Williams (Nik) 20-11¼w (6.38).

HT: 1. Lara Boman (Vel) 224-8 (68.49); 2. Maddy Nilles (unat) 219-11 (67.05); 3. Erin Reese (Vel) 212-0 (64.62).

University Women Track

100(-3.6): 1. ***Grace Nwokocha’ (NCAT-Ngr) 11.98; 2. **Makayla Jackson (Mank) 12.17.

200(-1.3): 1. Delecia McDuffie (NCAT) 23.44; 2. *Amira Young (Mn) 23.69; 3. **Sara Reifenrath (SD) 23.76; 4. **Ziyah Holman (Mi) 23.86.

400: 1. Holman 53.36; 2. **Janielle Josephs’ (Mn-Jam) 54.18.

800: 1. *Rachel Hickey (IlSt) 2:08.32; 2. **Bryanna Lucas (Ky) 2:08.81 PR; 3. ***Erin Reidy (Mn) 2:09.15; 4. Jaidah McCallon (Tulsa) 2:09.20; 5. Oksana Johnson (SDSt) 2:09.29.

1500: 1. **Olivia Howell (Il) 4:15.50; 2. Bethany Hasz (Mn) 4:18.97; 3. *Anastasia Korzenowski’ (Mn-Pol) 4:21.49;

4. **Julia Nielsen (Brad) 4:21.70 PR; 5. *Perri Bockrath (Ky) 4:22.44 PR; 6. Cailee Peterson (SDSt) 4:22.94.

St: 1. **Lona Latema (Ks) 10:14.78 PR; 2. **Aubrie Fisher (Wart) 10:21.64 PR; 3. **Sophia McDonnell (Brad) 10:23.08; 4. *Katharina Pesendorfer (Tulsa) 10:25.87.

5000: 1. **Lindsay Cunningham (Winona) 16:05.36 PR; 2. ***Hilda Chebet’ (IaWnCC-Ken) 16:07.40 PR; 3. *Kassie Parker (Loras) 16:09.66 PR; 4. ***Nicola Jansen’ (Brad-SA) 16:14.10.

10,000: 1. **Leah Hansen (SDSt) 34:49.31; 2. **Morgan Jensen (Ut) 34:51.98 PR.

100H(-1.8): 1. **Aasia Laurencin (Mi) 13.30; 2. *Masai Russell (Ky) 13.53; 3. **Darci Khan (Ky) 13.56; 4. *Katarina Vlahovic’ (IaSt-Can) 13.56.

400H: 1. Russell 6.27; 2. ***Abigail Schaaffe’ (Mn-Jam) 56.90 PR; 3. Bianca Stubler (Wi) 57.19 PR; 4. Erin Dowd (Ia) 57.51; 5. *Mariel Bruxvoort (Ia) 58.11.

4 x 100: 1. Michigan 45.22; 2. Iowa 45.46; 3. Illinois State 46.09; 4. Northern Iowa 46.32.

4 x 200: 1. Kentucky 1:32.98; 2. Purdue 1:35.35; 3. Utah 1:40.34.

4 x 400: 1. Kentucky 3:33.60; 2. Iowa 3:37.12; 3. North Carolina A&T 3:40.34; 4. Oklahoma State 3:41.73; 5. Iowa State 3:45.94; 6. North Dakota State 3:48.76.

4 x 800: 1. Kentucky 8:25.25 (WL, AL, CL);

2. Oklahoma State 8:28.17; 3. Kansas State 8:31.22; 4. Michigan 8:35.51; 5. Utah 8:35.59; 6. Iowa 8:35.75.

4 x 1600: 1. Oklahoma State 19:03.37 <17:44.89> (WL, CL);

2. Utah 19:11.37; 3. Illinois 19:39.14; 4. Bradley 19:44.26; 5. Air Force 19:47.50; 6. Iowa State 19:47.98.

SpMed: 1. Kentucky 3:48.65; 2. Iowa 3:52.56; 3. Oklahoma State 3:54.73; 4. Air Force 3:56.82; 5. Utah 3:57.04.

DisMed: 1. Oklahoma State 11:04.64; 2. Utah 11:17.92; 3. Kentucky 11:21.15; 4. Illinois 11:23.51; 5. Michigan 11:25.97; 6. Minnesota 11:31.10.

4 x 110H: II–1. Eastern Illinois 58.03 (WL, AL, CL);

2. Oklahoma Baptist 59.72. III–1. Indiana State 58.26.

University Women Field

HJ: 1. ***Miracle Ailes (IaWn) 5-11½ (1.82); 2. ***Jenna Rogers (Nb) 5-11½; 3. **Riley Masten (Nb) 5-10½ (1.79) PR; 4. *Carly Haring (SD) 5-10½.

PV: 1. ***Marleen Mulla’ (SD-Est) 14-0 (4.27); 2. Ellianne Kimes (GVal) 13-8¼ (4.17); 3. *Madi Wulfekotter (CMo) 13-2¼ (4.02); 4. *Jessica Mercier (Mi) 13-2¼.

LJ: 1. **Lishanna Ilves’ (Nb-Est) 20-7¾ (6.29); 2. ***Kary Petricka (Mank) 19-11¾ (6.09); 3. *Zionn Pearson (Nb) 19-8¼ (6.00).

TJ: 1. D’Andra Morris (Mary) 42-3¼w (12.88); 2. *Alissa Melvin (NDSt) 41-10½w (12.76); 3. ***Riley Ammenhauser (Mi) 41-8½ (12.71).

SP: 1. ***Axelina Johansson’ (Nb-Swe) 56-11½ (17.36); 2. A’veun Moore-Jones (SnIl) 55-3 (16.84); 3. **Tess Keyzers (Mn) 53-1 (16.18); 4. **Kat Moody (Ia) 52-10 (16.10); 5. Devia Brown’ (Mn-Jam) 52-1¾ (15.89); 6. Kayleigh Conlon (SnIl) 51-7¾ (15.74).

DT: 1. *Emily March (IaSt) 189-11 (57.88); 2. Amanda Anderson (NDSt) 185-7 (56.56); 3. Rachel Tanczos (NDm) 182-7 (55.66); 4. ***Areti Filipidou (Ky) 171-8 (52.32) PR; 5. ***Kalynn Meyer (Nb) 170-5 (51.94).

HT: 1. Amy Phillips’ (NDSt-GB) 216-7 (66.01); 2. Shauniece O’Neal (SnIl) 216-2 (65.89); 3. Elisia Lancaster (SnIl) 215-11 (65.82); 4. Molly Leppelmeier (Ky) 215-9 (65.76) PR; 5. Jade Gates (Ky) 214-4 (65.34); 6. **Tess Keyzers (Mn) 203-6 (62.04).

JT: 1. **Maddie Harris (Nb) 165-0 (50.29); 2. **Mirta Kulisic’ (Nb-Cro) 159-7 (48.64); 3. Gabrielle Diederich (NDm) 159-1 (48.50).

Hept: 1. **Arika Robinson (ConcStP) 5029 PR; 2. **Emily Swanson (SiouxF) 4759 PR.

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