DES MOINES – If the results of the NCAA Division I Indoor Championship meet this past weekend in Birmingham, Ala. are any indication, there will be numerous top-level performers at the Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee this April.  

Payton Otterdahl of North Dakota State claimed both the shot put and the weight throw titles at the indoor championship.  He became only the second male performer in NCAA history to accomplish that feat since Ohio State's Dan Taylor in 2004.  Two weeks ago, Otterdahl set a new collegiate indoor record with a heave of 71-06.75 in the shot put at the Summit League Championship to break the record held by Ryan Crouser of Texas and Ryan Whiting of Arizona State. 

Other first team All-Americans on the men's side include:,
Chris Nilsen, South Dakota – Pole vault-2^nd  
Iowa State (F. Lagat, E. Fogltanz, R. Roomes, D. Curts) – Distance Medley Relay-5^th
Karayme Bartley, Iowa – 200 meters-6^th
Chris Douglas, Iowa – 60-meter hurdles-6^th
Iowa (C. Hofacker, K. Bartley, W. Lawrence, M. Harris) – 4x400m Relay-6^th
Michael Rhoads, Air Force – 800 meters-8^th
Ja'Mari Ward, Missouri – Long Jump-8^th

For women coming to the Blue Oval next month, several field event performances earned first team All-American honors including Erin Reese of Indiana State, Laulauga Tausaga of Iowa and Jordan McClendon of Missouri who were fourth, fifth and seventh respectively, in the weight throw.  Women's first team All-American performances were:
Stephanie Ahrens, UNO – High Jump-5^th
Briana Guillory, Iowa – 400 meters-6^th
Jaci Smith, Air Force – 5000 meters-6^th
Sarah Feeny, Utah – 1500 meters-8^th
Bailey Retzlaff, North Dakota State – Shot put-8^th  

Be sure to secure your tickets for America's Athletic Classic!  All-Session tickets are now on sale at draketix.com/drakerelays or call 515-271-3647.  For group ticket packages or more information, contact Dustin in the Drake Ticket Office at 515-271-4949.