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Maximilian Fridrich

Men's Track and Field Drake Athletic Communications

Fridrich Wins 5,000 Meters On Opening Day of MVC Championship

Bulldogs score in seven events to open MVC Championship

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Drake University's Maximilian Fridrich put in a dominating performance in winning the men's 5,000 meters Saturday night to open the Missouri Valley Conference Championship.

Fridrich was one of five Bulldogs to score in individual events Saturday while four others advanced through preliminary heats to Sunday's finals.

Fridrich bested the 5,000-meter field with a time of 14:26.03 in his first indoor race at the distance. His time put nearly a three-second cushion between him and runner-up and was the third-fastest performance in school history. Fridrich will have the opportunity to sweep the distance events Sunday when he lines up in the 3,000 meters.

In the women's 5,000 meters, Olivia Rogers secured points for the Bulldogs with a seventh-place finish and time of 17:33.23.

Fridrich wasn't the only Bulldog to further insert themself on the Drake all-time list. Joey Harkins' uncorked a personal best of more than four feet in the weight throw to finish fourth with a throw of 63-9.75 (19.45m) on his next-to-last throw. His performance is the second-best ever by a Bulldog in the event behind only All-American Isaac Twombly. 

The women also scored points in the field events as school-record holder Maja Gebauer took second in the women's pole vault with a vault of 12-6.75 (3.83m). Erik Olson finished eighth in the men's event with a jump of 15-3.5.

The women's squad closed their day with a seventh-place showing in the distance medley relay while the men's team was third with a 10:08.72 finish.

In preliminary heats, Adam Fogg easily advanced to the final of the mile by winning his heat in 4:30.36, leaving plenty in the tank for Sunday's final and his mile leg of the DMR. Fogg owns the Drake school record in the event at 4:00.77. 

Victor Peka also advanced in the men's 200 meters with a time of 22.18, the fourth-fastest qualifying time of the day. 

In the women's heats, Sophia Jackson clocked the fourth-fastest time in program history in the women's 60 meters to advance out of the first round with the fifth-fastest time. She then finished eighth in the semifinals to move on to Sunday's final. In the 400 meters, school-record holder Yinka Ajayi easily advanced with the fastest time of the day at 56.01.

The action continues at the UNI-Dome Sunday starting at noon. In the team standings, Drake's men enter the second day in fifth place while the women are in sixth.
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Players Mentioned

Sophia Jackson

Sophia Jackson

Sprints
5' 8"
Senior
Olivia Rogers

Olivia Rogers

Distance
Senior
Maximilian Fridrich

Maximilian Fridrich

Distance
Junior
Joey Harkins

Joey Harkins

Throws
Sophomore
Erik Olson

Erik Olson

Multi-Events, Pole Vault, Throws
Senior
Victor Peka

Victor Peka

Sprints
Sophomore
Adam Fogg

Adam Fogg

Distance
Sophomore
Maja Gebauer

Maja Gebauer

Pole Vault
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Sophia Jackson

Sophia Jackson

5' 8"
Senior
Sprints
Olivia Rogers

Olivia Rogers

Senior
Distance
Maximilian Fridrich

Maximilian Fridrich

Junior
Distance
Joey Harkins

Joey Harkins

Sophomore
Throws
Erik Olson

Erik Olson

Senior
Multi-Events, Pole Vault, Throws
Victor Peka

Victor Peka

Sophomore
Sprints
Adam Fogg

Adam Fogg

Sophomore
Distance
Maja Gebauer

Maja Gebauer

Freshman
Pole Vault