DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake University's Robert McCann (Mississauga, Ontario) outlasted a tough field and conditions to become a Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee Champion on Saturday afternoon with an 8:49.14 finish in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase.

McCann became the first Bulldog to win a Drake Relays title since 2013 and the first to win the steeplechase since 1981.

"My freshman year [2013] Brogan Austin won the 5k here and just seeing him win it was pretty inspirational," McCann said. "Now we've got some good momentum, first him and now me. I don't think Drake champions will be unusual in the future."

McCann pulled away and held his lead down the stretch over Eastern Michigan's Willy Fink to add to his already impressive season and career as a Bulldog.

"I'm trying to keep myself in check right now because it [winning at the Drake Relays] hasn't sunk in yet and I have a long season ahead," McCann added. "It is a nice bonus midway through the season, so I'm pretty happy for that."

The Bulldogs almost collected another Relays title later as senior Emma Huston (Des Moines, Iowa) and Wichita State's Rebekah Topham dueled in the women's 1,500 meters. Both were former Iowa high school standouts and Topham dove across the line just ahead of Huston to win the event. Topham finished in 4:23.09 followed by Huston in 4:23.13.

"I really wanted to win and I really pushed it. It wasn't quite enough," Huston said. "It was definitely a confidence booster. I started getting sick on Thursday, so that was kind of a bummer and it shook my confidence a bit, but I was still a good race."

Huston's performance came just a week after she set the school record in the event.

Senior Pierce Vincent (Fayetteville, Georgia) also came up just shy of etching his name on the list of Drake Relays champions with a second-place finish in the men's 100 meters. Vincent, who posted the fastest time in the qualifying heats finished in 10.46 in the finals just behind UNI's Brandon Carnes. Carnes won in 10.28.

The Bulldogs will resume their season next weekend with the squad split across potentially three meets.