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Four Records Set On Final Day Of 2016 Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee

McLeod shatters the Drake Relays' men's invitational 110-meter hurdle record

DES MOINES, Iowa - Four Drake Relays records and a world-leading mark were established during the Saturday and final session of the 2016 Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee.

Throughout the four days of competition at Drake Stadium, a total of 11 records were broken as more tha 4,000 athletes competed in the 107th installment of 'America's Athletic Classic.'

Saturday's action in the Rio Olympic Games Preview events was highlighed by Jamaican Omar McLeod setting a Drake Relays record for the second-straight year, this time in the 110 hurdles to win the Rio Olympic Games Preview in 13.08. That time was also a world leading time. Nike's David Oliver finished second in 13.31, which ranks second in the world this year. Last year as a collegian, McLeod set the university division record in 13.21.

In the special invitational men's 800 meters the University of Akron's Clayton Murphy, the reigning NCAA indoor champion in the 800 meters, won in a season-best time of 1:46.71. Murphy, who won the collegiate 800 meters at last year's Drake Relays, topped reigning IAAF world indoor champion Boris Berian, who finished second in 1:47.29. Murphy's time ranks 10th in the NCAA this season as he's won all of his outdoor races this season. He is the first collegian to win the men's invitational 800 since Dmitrijs Milkevics of Nebraska in 2005.

In the fourth annual collegiate Hy-Vee Cup competition, Baylor and Texas tied for the Women's University Hy-Vee Cup, as both programs collected 26 points during the 2016 Drake Relays. It marked the second time that Baylor has won, as the Bears captured the cup in 2014, while Texas earned a share of the Hy-Vee Cup for the first time. 

The women's 4x400-meter relay saw two outstanding anchor legs. Ohio State was in third when anchor Aisha Cavin was passed the baton. Her outstanding run helped the Buckeyes win in a time of 3:33.32. Texas' Courtney Okolo, the NCAA record holder in the 400 meters, ran an anchor leg of 50.3 to place the Longhorns in second and a tie Baylor for the Hy-Vee Cup.

Illinois won the Men's University Hy-Vee Cup for a fourth-straight year, as the Fighting Illini took this year's cup with 24 points. Texas finished runner-up, winning the 4x100 and 4x400 on the final day of the competition to record 20 points. 

Earlier in the day on the track, Drake's own Robert McCann thrilled the home crowd, coming from behind in driving rain to win the 3000-meter steeplechase. With his time of 8:49.14 McCann became the first Bulldog to win the steeplechase since 1981. The last victory for the Drake men at the Relays was by Brogan Austin, who won 5000 meters in 2013.

In the boys high school competition, Cedar Rapids Prairie won the inaugural Hy-Vee Boys Cup as the Hawks earned 26 points. Cedar Falls took second with 18 points. For the girls, Davenport Assumption narrowly bested Waukee by the smallest of margins as the Knights tallied 28 points, while the Warriors collected 27 points. Cedar Rapids Jefferson was third with 24 points. 

Prep action also saw Stephanie Jenks of Linn Mar win her Drake Relays ninth girls high school title she took home the 1500 meters title in 4:32.02. Her nine Drake Relays titles are the most by a girls performer, as Tim Dwight won 10 titles in the boys division while competing at Iowa City, City High. Jenks had been tied at eight titles with Katie Flood of Dowling Catholic, Shelby Houlihan of Sioux City East and Whitney Westrum of Waukee. Jenks also became the fifth Iowa prep to win a Drake Relays high school event four straight years, joining Dowling Catholic's Katie Flood (3000 meters, 2007-10), Lewis Central's Abby Emsick (girls discus, 1999-2002), Collins' Debbie Carroll (100 yards, 1970-73) and Kingsley-Pierson/Woodbury Central's Kiana Phelps (girls discus, 2013-16).

Dowling's Ryan Schweizer also added to his Drake Relays tally by winning the 1600 meters in a time of 4:14.65. On Friday Schweizer set the Drake Relays record in the 800 meters. Schweizer defended his 2015 1600 meters title and is the eighth athlete to win the event in back to back years. He becomes the first athlete ever to sweep both the 800 and 1600 meters in consecutive years.

Pleasant Valley, led by Drake Relays 100-meter hurdles champion Carly Donahue, won its first ever shuttle hurdle relay with a Drake Relays record time of 1:02.39. That time ranks second all-time in Iowa state history and it marked the Spartans third girls Drake Relays title of the weekend. 

The 108th Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee are scheduled for April 26-29, 2017 at Drake Stadium.
 
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