AMES, IOWA -- Senior Ari Curtis (Fort Collins, Colo.) won the long jump with a leap of 18 feet 3.75 inches to highlight action on the first day of the Iowa State Open for the Drake women's track and field team.
"It seems like every weekend she surprises us in a different event," commented Drake head coach Natasha Brown. "It's ok because she is a great athlete and it is a great way to start off the meet. "
Senior Johanna Sprang (New Brighton, Minn.) finished fourth in the seeded pole vault with a vault of 10-11.75.
Senior Beth Hamling (Council Bluffs, Iowa) finished sixth in the 200 meter dash recording a 25.51, while sophomore Marissa Smith (Ajax, Ontario) ran a time of 26.84 to place 18th against a field of 95 participants.
Senior Meredith Bell (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) registered a ninth place finish in the seeded 5,000 meter race as she was clocked in 18:18.24, while senior Lindsay Smith (Lakeville, Minn.) was second in the non-seeded 5,000 meter race with a time of 18:44.45.
Senior Cambria Pardner (Aurora, Colo.) was 15th in the long jump leaping 16-7.25.
"For the first time this season, we have our team back in its entirety," said Brown. "Last week we had our sprinters and jumpers, but we didn't have our distance runners. It was kind of fun today having everyone back in action."
Drake will return to the Lied Recreation Center Saturday to partake in the second day of action at the Iowa State Open. Action will start at 10 a.m.
