LINCOLN, NEB. - Senior Ari Curtis (Fort Collins, Colo.) won the 800-meter race with a personal-best time of 2:14.87 at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational on Saturday (Feb. 5)
"She took the lead from the gun and kept going," commented Drake track and field head coach Natasha Brown. "She pressed the last 30 meters and kept off a late charge. I'm not sure if there is an event that she can't run."
Senior Casey McDermott (Newton, Iowa) finished fourth in the mile special clocking in at 4:54.26, a new personal best.
Senior Beth Hamling (Council Bluffs, Iowa) won the consolation round of the 400-meter dash finishing in 56.66. Hamling also placed second in the 200-meter dash consolation round running a time of 25.33, her fastest time of the year.
"Beth once again was conservative in her 400 meter, but came home strong to steal the win," said Brown.
Sophomore Marissa Smith (Ajax, Ontario) won the 60-meter hurdle consolation heat with a time of 8.71, also a personal best.
Senior Kara McCartney (Elgin, Iowa) was ninth in the 600-yard race running a time of 1:25.64.
Senior Tyse Samani (Kansas City, Mo.) leapt 5 feet 5 inches to place 11th in the high jump.
The 4x400 meter relay team of Sarah Yeager (Ottumwa, Iowa), Curtis, Hamling and Clarissa LaFlora (Kewanee, Ill.) registered a second-place finish completing the relay in 3:52.25.
Drake will make its return to the state of Iowa to compete in the ISU Classic next Thursday through Saturday (Feb. 10-12) in Ames, Iowa. The meet will mark the third time the Bulldogs have competed this season in the Lied Recreation Center.
