DES MOINES, Iowa – Hy-Vee Night at the Drake Relays started off with spectacular fireworks, which were followed up by dazzling performances inside Drake Stadium, as five world-leading marks, including a world record in the women's shuttle hurdle relay, were set during the third day of the meet.
The first Beijing World Championship Preview event establish a world-best mark, as Team Blue, consisting Brianna Rollins, Dawn Harper-Nelson, Queen Harrison and Kristi Castlin finished in 50.495, edging Team White of Tiffany Porter, Jasmin Stowers, Jacqueline Coward and Sharika Nelvis, which finished in 50.50.
The next event on the track, the Beijing World Championship Preview men's 11-meter hurdles, also saw a world-leading mark set, as Aleec Harris won in 13.16, just missing the Drake Relays record of 13.14 set by Hansle Parchment at last year's relays. It marked the third-straight weekend that Harris, a former Southern Cal athlete, set a world-leading mark in the event
The BWCP Men's 400-meter dash saw not only a world-leading mark, but a long-time Drake Relays record fall. Kirani James, a gold medalist at the 2012 Summer Olympics and two-time NCAA champion at Alabama, topped Michael Johnson's record of 44.41 set in 1996 by crossing the line in 44.22.
The final world-leading mark on the track was set in the BWCP women's 800 meters, as Ajee Wilson of Adidas won in 2:00.03, breaking Suzy Favor-Hamilton's Drake Relays and Drake Stadium record of 2:01.68 set in 1998. Brenda Martinez of New Balance also bested the previous Drake Relays record, placing second in 2:00. 51
The BWCP Women's pole vault produced a world-leading mark, as Katerina Stefanidi of Nike cleared 15 feet, 5 1/2 inches, the top vault in the world this year. Runner-up Demi Payne, a junior at Stephen F. Austin, cleared 15-3 ½, which would have been a collegiate record had she not competed earlier in the week at Hy-Vee Street Vault on Court Avenue in downtown Des Moines. Her mark bested the current collegiate record of 15-1 ¾ held by the third-place finisher in the event, Sandi Morris of Arkansas. Morris, the previous world leader, cleared 14-9 ½ to take third.
In the BWCP Men's High Jump, Derek Drouin repeated as Drake Relays champion, clearing 7-7 1/4 to become the third athlete to win back-to-back special invitational crowns.
In the BWCP Men's 400-Meter Hurdles, Bershawn Jackson won in 48.87 to claim his first Drake Relays crown. His time on Friday was short of the 48.61 he ran at Baylor earlier this month, which is the No. 2 time in the world, but it was still an impressive victory. Jackson outran a field that included Olympians Michael Tinsley and Javier Culson and 2014 USA champion Johnny Dutch. Tinsley had won the event the last two years. Culson was the Relays champion in 2011 and 2012.
Prior to Hy-Vee Night at the Drake Relays, four Drake Relays high school records fell during the morning and afternoon sessions, as Dowling Catholic broke the high school sprint medley boys record, clocking in at 3:26.48, led by junior Ryan Schweizer, who ran the anchor for the Maroons.
Later in the day, Schweizer ran a Drake Relays record in the 800 meters, crossing the line in 1:52.15.
Cedar Rapids Jefferson set a Drake Relays best in the girls 4x200, clocking in at 1:40.96.
Des Moines Roosevelt's Briyana Carter tied a Drake Relays record in the girls 100 meters with a time of 12.13, marking the fifth-straight year the Roughriders have won the event at the Drake Relays.
Oklahoma State picked up its second women's relay victory of the meet when the Cowboys won the 4x800 in 8:27.88. Natalja Piliusina, a senior from Lithuania, anchored the victory after running the anchor on the winning 4x1600 relay team on Thursday. She's expected to anchor the distance medley on Saturday.
Ohio State's Alexis Franklin became just the second repeat champion in the university-college women's 400 hurdles. Franklin outran Big Ten rival Montayla Holder of Iowa to win in 57.40 seconds, the No. 9 collegiate time in the country this year. The only other repeat champion in the event is Alabama's Beau Walker in 2004 and 2005.
