Drake University head track & field coach Asha Gibson-Smith has announced the addition of 29 Bulldogs to the roster for the upcoming 2021-22 season.
 
The talented group fills needs in every event groups and includes 13 international standouts from four continents and four homegrown Iowans. Many of those added to the roster are expected to have an immediate impact in the Missouri Valley Conference and nationally.
 
The program enters the 2021-22 season after a historic 2021 in which the men's team's third-place showing at the MVC Championship was their highest since 1974 and the 135 points were the second-most in program history and most since 1968. The women's cross country team finished third at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship, their best finish since 2000 and the men's indoor track and field team registered its best MVC Championships in 21 years.
 
WOMEN'S DISTANCE
Chiara Belfico – Agello, Italy
Chiara Belfico has proven she is an up-and-coming leader in the longer distances. Placing in the top 10 at both the Italian Indoor and Cross Country Championships, her wealth of experience on a large stage will prove as an immediate impact for the Bulldogs. Chiara holds personal bests in the 3,000m at 10:13 and 1,500m at 4:41.
 
Meghan Coulter – Ottumwa, Iowa (Ottumwa)
A 2019 4x800m relay state champion, Meghan Coulter brings a depth of range to the squad having been named All-State in cross country (5,000m), the 800 meters, and the 400-meter hurdles.
 
Maia Italia – Sandwich, Ill. (Rosary)
As a middle-distance specialist, Maia led her track and field team to a third-place team finish at the 2021 Illinois High School State Championships. Additionally, Maia helped her team finish second as a team at the 2020 Illinois State Cross Country Championships. Maia has a personal of 4:56 in the 1,500 meters.
 
Anna Knueve – Verona, Wis. (Verona, Area)
A distance specialist, Knueve owns personal bests of 5:22 in the 1,600m, and 11:49 for 3,200m. She qualified for the state cross country championship her senior year and was a four-year letterwinner in cross country and three-year letter winner in track and field.
 
Vanessa Lee – Lisle, Ill. (Naperville, North)
Lee brings a wide range of depth as well to the 2021-2022 squad with her middle-distance expertise from 400m up to 1,500m.
 
Tyla Lumley – Brisbane, Australia
Recently finished as the Queensland state runner-up in cross country. She brings some of the best U19 times out of Australia with 10:08 for 3,000m and 4:43 for 1,500m. Lumley grew up in South Africa before moving to Brisbane Australia with her family.
 
Emilie Meyer – Fridley, Minn. (Totino Grace)
Ran 2:12 in the 800 meter and 5:01 for the mile as a senior. As a basketball player during the winter these marks are especially exciting since she doesn't run during the winter and has yet to run indoor track.
 
Gracie Shannon – Rochester, Minn. (Century)
An All-State finisher in the 4x800m relay. She has proven to be a solid addition with her high academic record receiving All-State academic honors.
 
WOMEN'S SPRINTS/HURDLES
Madison Bunton – Burlington, Iowa (Burlington)
Madison joins the team as a 400-meter hurdle specialist where she recently finished fourth at the Iowa State Meet and 11^th at the Drake Relays. She clocked her personal best time at the State Meet in the 400-meter hurdles at 1:04.
 
Leah Duncan – Braintree, England
With a focus in the shorter sprints, Duncan comes to Des Moines from Braintree, Essex, England. In the 2017 England National Indoor Athletics Championships, she took home a gold medal in the 60m and a bronze medal in the 200m. At the 2017 England National Outdoor Championships, Duncan also took home bronze medals in both the 100m and 200m. Duncan is also a multiple Essex county Champion and has consistently been ranked in the top 10 in the United Kingdom through each age group she's competed in. She owns personal bests of 7.72, 11.88, and 24.88 for 60m, 100m, and 200m, respectively.
 
Zofia Landowska – Warsaw, Poland
Landowska has a background in the short sprints, hurdles and long jump. As a Polish National Finalist, she owns personal bests of 14.24 in the 100-meter hurdles, 7.76 in the 60-meter dash and 8.73 in the 60-meter hurdles. Landowska joins a young group of Bulldog hurdlers and make an immediate impact within the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
Savannah Ming – North Aurora, Ill. (West Aurora)
Ming specializes in sprints and relays and holds current personal bests of 12.2, 25.1, and 59.2 in the 100m, 200m and 400m, respectively. She was a state finalist and medalist in both 2019 and 2021 in the 4x100m and 4x200m relays. Ming was voted her team's Most Valuable Athlete in 2021 and is an AAU All-American.
 
Jaymie O'Connor – Chateauguay, Quebec (South Dakota State)
Jaymie and brings a wealth of range and experience to the female hurdle and sprint group. The South Dakota State graduate transfer holds three school records in the 100-meter hurdles (13.59), 60-meter hurdles (8.50) and shuttle hurdle relay. The 2021 Drake Relays shuttle relay champion is an eight-time All-Summit League performer with four runner-up finishes in the hurdles. O'Connor will have an extremely dynamic team and conference impact while pursuing a post-season run at NCAAs and international competitions.
 
Maria Fernanda Patron – Campeche, México
A transfer student-athlete from Campeche, México. Maria specializes in the 100m hurdles with a personal best of 13.78. She has competed in several national championships at a high level. In 2019, Patron equaled the Mexican U20 record at the NACAC U23 Championships in Queretaro and won the 100m hurdles in the Central American U20 Championships. In addition, she has competed in NACAC U23 Championships and Pan American U20 Championships.
 
Kayvon Stubbs – Nassau, The Bahamas (Oral Roberts)
Stubbs comes to Des Moines after a stellar career at Oral Roberts and looks to immediately elevate the sprints group at Drake. The short sprint specialist is a three-time Summit League Champion at the 200 meter discipline with a personal best of 23.62. Her career at ORU yielded a total of 10 All-Summit League performances. In post season action, Stubbs has competed at the NCAA West preliminaries and the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships for The Bahamas.
 
 
WOMEN'S THROWS
Centaine Noom-Duckworth – Auckland, New Zealand
Noom-Duckworth specializes in the hammer and discus throws. She was the 2020 Secondary School National Champion in the hammer throw and also claimed the 2020 U20 New Zealand Track & Field Championship in the hammer throw. She has personal bests of 50.61m in hammer and 43.09 meters in discus.
 
MEN'S DISTANCE
Brendan Cain – Sheldon Iowa (Sheldon)
Cain Brendan is relatively new to running but has proven to be one of the best in the state with his recent two top-five finishes in both the 3,200m and 1,6000m at the state championship. He owns personal bests of 4:25 in the 1600m and 15:38 for 5,000m in cross country.
 
Vasant Fong – Naperville, Ill. (Neuqua Valley)
Vasant specializes in the longer distances and cross country. He was a 2021 member of his track and field's state championship team and received all-academic and all-conference honors during his prep career.
 
Tobi Gaberscek – Slovenia
Tobi is a national champion out of Slovenia, mostly self-coached and oozing of talent. This young man can have an immediate impact on the squad and prove to be one of the better athletes out of Europe.
 
Enzo Marie – Marigny-le-Lozon, France
Marie has made huge improvements in the longer distances in the last few months. He placed eighth at the French National Championships in 2021 and fourth in the 5,000m and in 2020 placed fourth at the French National Championships in the 10,000m. Recently Marie posted a blazing 14:27 5k mark.
 
Christopher Pahnke – McFarland, Wis. (UW La Crosse)
A graduate transfer from UW LaCrosse, Chris Pahnke brings a wealth of experience to the track and cross country teams having earned Division III All-America honors in cross country after finishing 81^st and 74^th in 2018 and 2019, respectively and earning a team podium finish with third in 2018.
 
Pur Biel – South Sudan (Iowa Central)
The only thing that could be better than this Olympian's athletic ability is his personality and ability to lead. While his experience captures most of the spotlight, Pur can learn a lot at Drake and evolve into and even better athlete and student in our system. Pur will contribute greatly to Drake track & field but I also the University as a whole. As an All-American at Iowa Central, Piel ran 24:18 for 8k cross country
 
Conner Visnic – Orange, Conn. (Providence College)
A transfer from Providence, Visnic was one of the top talents in New England with personal bests of 9:18 for 3200m and 4:19 for the mile.
 
MEN'S SPRINTS AND HURDLES
Anthony Bradley – Batavia, Ill. (Batavia)
Bradley was a recent state champion member of the 4x200 meter relay and runner-up member of his team's 4x400 meter relay. He was voted team captain and awarded MVP honors from his team. He owns personal bests of 22.28 for 200 meters and 49.66 for 400 meters.
 
Deylin Chandler – Des Moines, Iowa (Urbandale)
A Des Moines native, Chandler placed fifth at the Iowa State Championships while also medaling in four events at the 2021 state championships. Deylin spent all four-years on honor roll while at Urbandale. 
 
Caleb Lerus – Robbins, Ill. (Lycee Francais de Chicago)
Lerus specializes in the sprints. He is a 2021 USATF State Champion in the 200m and received Illinois All-State Honors in the 100m, 200m, and 400m. Caleb holds personal bests of 10.86 for 100m, 22.15 for 200m, and 50.43 for 400m.
 
Nick Wessels – Waukee, Iowa (South Dakota State)
A former Iowa high school 4x110 m shuttle hurdle state champion and 110 meter hurdle runner-up from Waukee, Wessels returns home to join the Bulldogs following a fruitful career at South Dakota State. A seven-time All-Summit league performer in the short hurdles – Wessels will contend in the Valley immediately. Boasting personal bests of 8.02 and 14.44 in the 60-meter hurdles and 110-meter hurdles, Wessels will lend his leadership qualities and experience to a young short hurdle contingent.
 
MEN'S THROWS
Adam Phillips – Ferndown, England
Standing at a towering 6-feet, 7-inches, Phillips owns discus mark of 53.05m and will make an immediate impact in the MVC and national level. Phillips ranked fourth among U20 competitors in the UK and first among Welsh nationals.
 
Anthony Barmes – Auckland, New Zealand
Barmes joins the Bulldogs as a hammer throw specialist that will build off of his 56.12m personal best and make an instant impact in the Missouri Valley and beyond.