DES MOINES, Iowa - The Drake University men's and women's track and field teams began the 41^st annual Jim Duncan Invitational in strong fashion with five top-five finishes on the first day of competition on the recently resurfaced Jim Duncan Track.
 
The men's 1,500 meters was one of the highlights of the evening as sophomore Josh Yeager (Center Point, Iowa) finished third with a personal best time of 3:51.89, bettering his previous best by nearly three seconds. Yeager finished just behind the race's winner, NIACC's Wal Khat, a junior college national champion. Drake freshman Xavier Lechleitner (Edgar, Wis.) was fifth in the event in 3:52.45 while Reed Fischer (Minnetonka, Minn.) was sixth in a rare 1,500-meter performance for the senior and Missouri Valley Conference champion.
 
Kyle Cass (Deforest, Wis.) was ninth in the 5,000 meters what was dominated by post-collegiate runners with former Bulldogs representing well on their former home track. Conor Wells won the race in 14:34.15 while MVC champion Brogan Austin rabbited much of the race. Ben Jaskowiak, another former Bulldog, was fifth.
 
Chris Kaminski (New Lenox, Ill.) recorded a second-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9:54.53. Olivia Rogers (Boulder, Colo.) and Bailee Cofer (Overland Park, Kan.) had the top performances by the women's team with Rogers taking ninth in the 1,500 meters while Cofer was 10^th in the 5,000 meters.
 
Action at the Jim Duncan Invitational continues Saturday with field events beginning at 8:30 am and running events at 9 a.m. inside Drake Stadium.
 
 
Jim Duncan Invitational
Friday, April 14
 
Drake Men's Individual Results
1,500 Meters
3. Josh Yeager, 3:51.89
5. Xavier Lechleitner, 3:52.45
6. Reed Fischer, 3:52.48
10. Matt Cozine, 3:58.38
 
5,000 Meters
9. Kyle Cass, 15:03.73
10. Kyle Brandt, 15:04.49
 
3,000-Meter Steeplechase
2. Chris Kaminski, 9:54.53
 
High Jump
3. Forest Moses, 6-4 (1.93m)
 
Javelin
5. Erik Olson, 126-10 (38.66m)
 
 
Drake Individual Women's Results
1,500 Meters
9. Olivia Rogers, 4:52.63
11. Meghan Kearney, 4:54.73
13. Morgan Garcia, 4:57.07
19. Shelby Varney, 5:13.04
 
5,000 Meters
10. Bailee Cofer, 18:06.60
14. MyKaela Cole, 18:43.73