After nearly a year removed from competition due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Drake University men's and women's track & field teams returned to competition Saturday at the USD Invitational at South Dakota's Dakota Dome.
 
The Bulldogs recorded 16 top-5 performances in a field that featured competitors from South Dakota, South Dakota State and Omaha.
 
Cloud Masibhera and Isaac Basten earned spots on top of the podium for the Bulldogs as Masibhera won the long jump with a leap of 23-4.75 (7.13m) that came on his second of four jumps. Basten, the reigning MVC Freshman of the Year, paced a 1-2 finish for the Bulldogs in winning the mile in 4:13.22 with Notre Dame transfer Ryan Schweizer a split second behind him in 4:13.93.
 
Drake's resurgent throws crew picked up where it left off last February as Joey Harkins finished fourth in a deep weight throw field with a throw of 62-2.5 (18.96m). Ethan Marshall posted a personal best of 50-9.75 (15.49m) that improved his fifth-place standing on the Drake all-time list. Freshman Austin Jentz moved into ninth all-time in program history with a throw of 45-0.5 (13.73m) in his first collegiate competition. Jentz was also seventh in the shot put. In the women's throws, Chandler Haight was fourth with a mark of 45-4.5 (13.83m)
 
Drake's newcomers also shined in the men's 400 meters as Dylan DeAngelo and Sam Sturtzer finished third and fourth, respectively. In the 800 meters, Jack Burns finished fourth for the Bulldogs.
 
The women's 400 meters saw Busiwa Asinga and Joann Nguyen take fourth and fifth, respectively. In the distance race, Elizabeth Aho and Ashlee Siegle were third and fourth in the 3,000 meters in 10:32.17 and 10:55.48, respectively.
 
Led by a strong leadoff leg of the 4x200-meter relay from Yinka Ajayi, Drake cruised to a win in 1:45.86. Ajayi also finished sixth in the 60 meters earlier in the day. In the men's 60 meters, Victor Peka was fourth in 6.95.
 
The Bulldogs return to action next weekend at the ISU Cyclone Open, Jan. 23 in Ames, Iowa.

 
Drake Men's Results
60 Meters
4. Victor Peka, 6.95
 
400 Meters
3. Dylan DeAngelo, 53.57
4. Sam Sturtzer, 54.17
 
800 Meters
4. Jack Burns, 2:01.63
 
Mile Run
1. Isaac Basten, 4:13.22
2. Ryan Schweizer, 4:13.93
8. Reece Knepper, 4:42.65
 
3,000 Meters
6. Jack Zettl, 9:02.90
 
Distance Medley Relay
3. R. Knepper, Schweizer, Burns, Basten, 11:04.10
 
Long Jump Men         
1. Cloud Masibhera, 23-4.75 (7.13m)
 
Shot Put
7. Austin Jentz, 44-8.25 (13.62m)
 
Weight Throw
4. Joey Harkins, 62-2.5 (18.96m)
10. Ethan Marshall, 50-9.75 (15.49m) 
11. Austin Jentz, 45-0.5 (13.73m)
 
 
 
Drake Women's Results
60 Meters
6. Yinka Ajayi, 8.01
10. Rutendo Mafuta, 8.18
 
400 Meters
4. Busiwa Asinga, 1:01.10
5. Joann Nguyen, 1:01.57
7. Ellie Mendlik, 1:03.12
 
800 Meters
6. Lucy Avenson, 2:29.51
7. Bella Evan-Cook, 2:33.68
 
Mile Run
7. Millie Bretl, 5:18.76
11. Lindsey Rowatt, 5:35.49
 
3,000 Meters
3. Elizabeth Aho, 10:32.17
4. Ashlee Siegle, 10:55.48
 
4x200 Meter Relay
1. Ajayi, Mafuta, Bria Rhodes, Asinga, 1:45.86

Shot Put
4. Chandler Haight, 45-4.5 (13.83m)