CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Drake University senior
Reed Fischer (Minnetonka, Minn.) added another laurel to his decorated career with a Missouri Valley Conference championship in the men's 5,000 meters during the first day of the MVC Championship Saturday, Feb. 25.
Fischer, who earlier this season set the school record in the event, bested the field by nearly five seconds to win in 14:21.45 without being challenged at any point during the race. The title is the first for Fischer on the track after claiming the MVC cross country title in the fall. Fischer's teammate,
Chris Kaminski (New Lenox, Ill.) set a blistering pace to open up the race for Fischer.
"Last year I had to take it out myself and paid for it and finished second. We were trying to mix that up and take it out hard and see if I could hang on," Fischer said. "It feels good. Getting that first title in cross country was a weight off the shoulders, but at the same time puts a heavier burden on you because everyone is aiming for you."
The 5,000-meter title is the fourth for the Bulldogs in the past six seasons and Fischer will try to add to his title haul on Saturday in the 3,000 meters.
The 5,000 meters was one of just a handful of final events on Saturday with the bulk of the competition being preliminary heats. Five Bulldogs advanced through those preliminary rounds to Sunday's finals.
Mary Young (Urbandale, Iowa) was one of those to move through to Sunday as she posted the third-fastest 60-meter hurdle qualifying time of the day in 8.38, just one-hundreth of a second off of her personal best. However, the times ahead of her, set by Wichita State's Nikki and Taylor Larch-Miller both bested the previous fastest times run by an MVC runner.
Rai Ahmed-Green (Irvine, Calif.) also advanced for the women's team with the seventh-fastest time in the 400 meters at 56.86.
The men's team had two competitors advance in the 60 meters with freshman
Caulin Graves (Kansas City, Mo.) dropping a huge personal best with a time of 6.90, beating his previous personal best time by more than one-tenth of a second, to finish fifth in the qualifying heats.
Demetrius Shelton (Markham, Ill.) was eighth in 6.94.
Bas Van Leersum (Zaandam, The Netherlands) finished sixth in the qualifying heats of the 400 meters in 49.24 to move on to Sunday's final.
The Bulldogs return to the UNI Dome oval for the final day of the MVC Championship at 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 26.
MVC Championship
Cedar Falls, Iowa – UNI Dome
Feb. 25, 2017
Drake Individual Men's Results
60 Meters (Prelims)
5.
Caulin Graves, 6.90
8.
Demetrius Shelton, 6.94
200 Meters (Prelims)
10.
Caulin Graves, 22.18
13.
Bas Van Leersum, 22.32
20.
Demetrius Shelton, 22.82
400 Meters (Prelims)
6.
Bas Van Leersum, 49.24
18. Malik Metiver, 50.36
20.
Blair Barrow, 51.62
21. Dominic Lombardi, 51.71
23.
Hudson Priebe, 52.55
800 Meters (Prelims)
13.
George Webb, 1:56.82
14.
Cory Erickson, 1:58.12
15.
Alec Bognar, 1:58.31
Mile (Prelim)
13.
Chris Kaminski, 4:27.69
5,000 Meters (Final)
1.
Reed Fischer, 14:21.45
12.
Kyle Brandt, 15:00.01
60-Meter Hurdles (Prelims)
11.
Hudson Priebe, 8.34
13. Dominic Lombardi, 8.42
Distance Medley Relay
7. Cozine, Priebe, Lechleitner, Yeager, 10:33.63
Pole Vault
13.
Erik Olson, 14-8
Long Jump
15.
Johnathan Osifuye, 22-7.25
Drake Individual Women's Results
60 Meters (Prelims)
15. Mariah Crawford, 7.79
23. Ebele Okoye, 8.00
200 Meters (Prelims)
10. Rai Ahmed-Green, 25.21
12. Mary Young, 25.31
14. Mariah Crawford, 25.46
22. Ebele Okoye, 26.07
400 Meters (Prelims)
7. Rai Ahmed-Green, 56.86
20. Ebele Okoye, 59.81
800 Meters (Prelims)
10. Meghan Kearney, 2:18.57
16. Danielle Griesbaum, 2:22.37
60-Meter Hurdles (Prelims)
3. Mary Young, 8.38
13. Victoria Coombe, 8.84
Distance Medley Relay
4. Cole, Coombe, Giuliano, Garcia, 12:17.98
Long Jump
9. Taryn Rolle, 18-4.5
9. Brittani Griesbaum, 18-4.5
