AMES/IOWA CITY, IOWA – The Drake University track and field team traveled to Iowa and Iowa State on Saturday Dec. 11 to compete in their first meet of the season. The team split between Iowa's Jim Grant Invitational and Iowa State Holiday Invitational.
 
In Iowa City, the Bulldogs recorded 30 top-10 finishes among 16 events.
 
The Bulldogs lone first place finisher in Iowa City was graduate Yinka Mary Ajayi. She was the top finisher in the women's 200 meter dash with a time of 24.38. She was .02 second off from tying her school record that she set last season. 

Busiwa Asinga placed fourth for a time of 24.79 in the event. She holds the number two spot in Drake history for her time in the event. 
 
On the men's side, sophomore Gal Arad was the highest finisher, when he placed second in the 200 meter dash. He finished with a time of 21.60, a new personal best that ranks hinm at seventh in the history book at Drake. 
 
In Ames, the Bulldogs recorded three first place finishes and 27 top-10 finishes.
 
Senior thrower Chandler Haight placed first in the women's shot-put event with a throw landing at 13.85 meters.
 
Sophomore Brooke Mullins placed first in the women's mile with a time of 4:56.50, to set a new career best in the event. She ranks eighth in Drake history for this time. The next closest Bulldog placed fifth in the event. Freshman Emile Meyer recorded a time of 5:03.62, beating a sophomore from Iowa state by three seconds.
 
In the 800-meter race, junior Lucy Avenson finished in fifth place for the Bulldogs with a time of 2:23.17.
 
Sophomore Bella Evan-Cook and junior Alexa Andrews finished within 33 seconds of each other. Evan-Cook finished in third place with a time of 10:45.58 and Andrews finished in fourth with a time of 11:18.64.
 
Freshman Centaine Noom-Duckworth competed in the women's weight throw and finished fourth with a final throw of 15.41 meters.
 
On the men's side, junior Issac Basten finished first in the mile, in a career best of 3:58.88. His time is one of the fastest in the nation this season. He is only the second runner in Drake history to break the four minute mile barrier. Basten joins teammate Adam Fogg who broke the barrier last season. 

Senior Jack Zettl also competed in the event and finished in fourth place with a time of 4:18.01.
 
In the men's weight throw event, four Bulldogs placed in the top five. Senior Joey Harkins was the highest finisher with a throw of 19.50 meters
 
Freshman Aziz Jday was the Bulldogs top finisher in the 3000-meter race, where he placed third. He finished with a time of 8:23.46. Drake had finished in places three through eight in the event. Three competitors did not finish and two associated with Under Armor took the top two places.
 
The Bulldogs return to the track on January 14 and 15 as they had to Lincoln, Neb.
 
 
Results -- Meet Listed After Event
Men
60 Meter Dash -- Iowa
4.  Gal Arad       6.88
7.  Caleb Lerus  7.07
10. William Skinner 7.41
11. Mac Pursell 7.44
 
60 Meter Hurdles -- Iowa
3. Caleb Lerus   7.05
 
60 Hurdles -- Iowa
7. Nicholas Wessels       8.34
12. Sam Sturtzer           8.79
 
200 Meter Dash -- Iowa
2. Gal Arad                    21.60
5. David Olowookere     22.48
6. Cloud Masibhera       23.25
7. Mac Pursell               24.06
 
400 Meter Dash -- Iowa
4. Angelo Romagna       51.34
5. Dyer Jarabek             51.50
6. Dylan DeAngelo         52.49
 
Mile – Iowa State
1. Isaac Basten  3:58.88
6. Jack Zettl       4:18.01
 
3000 Meter Race
3. Aziz Jday                   8:23.46
4.  Pur Biel                    8:46.00
5. Chris Pahnke             8:46.25
6. Connor Visnic            8:55.93
7. Brendan Cain            9:14.99
8. Vasant Fong             9:39.30
 
Long Jump -- Iowa
7. Cloud Masibhera       7.04m
 
Weight Throw – Iowa State
2. Joey Harkins              19.50m
3. Ethan Marshall          17.66m
4. Anthony Barmes        17.53m
5. Adam Phillips            16.88m
8. Austin Jentz              15.86m
 
Men 4x400 Meter Relay -- Iowa
4. Romagna, Lerus, Olowookere, Kruse   3:22.77
 
Women
60 Meter Dash Prelims -- Iowa
8. Rutendo Mafuta        7.88
9. Keaton Kester           7.94
11. Savannah Ming        7.99
12. Leah Duncan           8.01
17. Zofia Landowska      8.24
18. Carrie Lawal            8.31
 
60 Meter Dash Finals -- Iowa
6. Rutendo Mafuta        7.84
 
60 Hurdles Prelims  -- Iowa
4. Jaymie O'Connor       8.61
13. Maria Patron           9.21
14. Zofia Landowska      10.60
 
60 Hurdles Finals -- Iowa
4. Jaymie O'Connor       8.6
 
200 Meter Dash -- Iowa
1. Yinka Mary Ajayi        24.38
4. Busiwa Asinga           24.79
11. Ayana Brown           26.15
12. Jaymie O'Connor     26.90
14. Carrie Lawal            27.36
15. Maria Patron           27.44
 
300 Meter Dash -- Iowa
6. Kayvon Stubbs           40.56
7. Mia Shipley               43.32
8. Kirstin Skriver            45.43
 
400 Meter Dash -- Iowa
3. Briandrias Rhodes     57.57
5. Joann Nguyen           59.10
6. Madison Bunton        1:00.32
 
400 Meter Dash – Iowa State
8. Megan Coulter        1:08.27
 
600 Meter -- Iowa
2. Iris Hertting   1:44.51
 
800 Meter Dash – Iowa State
5. Lucy Avenson                        2:23.17
7. Gracie Shannon         2:29.06
 
Mile – Iowa State
1. Brooke Mullins          4:56.50
5. Emilie Meyer             5:03.62
7. Barbara Vrhovac        5:09.77
8. Madysen Klebenow   5:31.37
9. Maia Italia                 5:31.59
10. Anna Knueve           5:51.77
11. Lindsey Rowatt        5:56.04
 
3000 Meter Race – Iowa State
3. Bella Evan-Cook         10:45.58
4. Alexa Andrews          11;18.64
 
Shot Put – Iowa State
1. Chandler Haight        13.85m
 
Weight Throw – Iowa State
4. Centaine Noom-Duckworth    15.41m
 
Long Jump -- Iowa
9. Ayana Brown             5.45m
 
4x400 Meter Relay -- Iowa
2. Ajayi, Rhodes, Nguyen, Asinga            3:47.42
5. Kester, Mafuta, Stubbs, Hertting        4:03.91
7. Duncan, Bunton, Shipley, Ming          4:11.72