The Drake University track & field team's throwers built off the momentum of the indoor season with a school record and six all-time top-10 performances at the Blue Oval Invitational Saturday at Drake Stadium.

"Our throwers had a breakthrough day and there were a lot of positives in every area," said Drake director of track & field and cross country Blake Boldon. "It was great to have track and field back in Drake Stadium and this whole team is just getting started." 
 
Adam Kessler made his Drake debut by shattering a 29-year-old school record in the shot put with a throw of 61-8.25 (18.80m). Kessler, who transferred from SIU and is the reigning Missouri Valley Conference champion in the event, bested a Joel Sward's record of 61-7.75 set in 1992.
 
His performance on the men's side highlighted two other men's throwers that recorded all-time top-10 throws in the hammer throw. Joey Harkins won the event with a throw of 188-5 (57.42m) that ranks third all-time at Drake. Austin Jentz finished seventh with a toss of 135-1 (41.17m) that ranks sixth in the Drake record book.
 
In the discus, Austin Jentz had the eighth-best throw in program history at 148-8.25 (45.32m) while Will Tsai had the seventh-best javelin toss in program history at 170-2 (51.86m).
 
The women's team also got a top performance from Chandler Haight, who finished second in the shot put with a throw of 45-10.5 (13.98m). Her toss ranks third at Drake in the event. She added to her day with the ninth-best discus throw at 138-2.25 (42.12m).
 
MVC Champion Cloud Masibhera also made is outdoor debut in winning the triple jump.
 
In other events, the Bulldogs had nine event winners led by MVC indoor champion Isaac Basten winning the 1,500 meters in 3:47.51. Freshman Brooke Mullins won the women's event in 4:41.10. Keaton Kester also won the women's 100 meters with a personal best of 12.26 while MVC indoor champion Yinka Mary Ajayi cruised to a win in the women's 200 meters.
 
That pair teammed up with Busiwa Asinga and Briandrias Rhodes on the winning 4x100-meter relay team in 47.80. The men's team had similar success with David Olowookere, Victor Peka, Aobakwe Malau and Gal Arad winning in 41.82.
 
The Bulldogs remain home for their next outdoor competition, April 9 with the Jim Duncan Invitational.
 
 
Blue Oval Invitational
March 27, 2021 – Drake Stadium
 
Drake Individual Men's Results 
100 Meters
1. Victor Peka, 11.01
2. Mac Pursell, 11.83
 
200 Meters
1. Mac Pursell, 24.67
 
400 Meters
3. Aobakwe Malau, 49.35
5. Dyer Jarabek, 53.18
 
800 Meters
6. Jack Burns, 1:59.15
 
1,500 Meters
1. Isaac Basten, 3:47.51
9. Andrew Berndt, 3:56.72
14. Jack Zettl, 4:05. 67
17. Rylee Miller, 4:11.78
 
400-Meter Hurdles
1. David Olowookere, 55.14
2. Dylan DeAngelo, 56.33
3. Sam Sturtzer, 58.21
 
4x100-Meter Relay
1. Olowookere, Peka, Malau, Arad, 41.82
 
4x400-Meter Relay
2. Kruse, DeAngelo, Sturtzer, Jarabek, 3:24.87
 
Triple Jump
1. Cloud Masibhera, 46-8 (14.22m)
 
Discus
5. Austin Jentz, 148-8 (45.32m)
 
Shot Put
1. Adam Kessler, 61-8.25 (18.80m) 
 
Hammer Throw
1. Joey Harkins, 188-5 (57.42m) 
7. Austin Jentz, 135-1 (41.17m) 
 
Javelin
1. Will Tsai, 170-2 (51.86m)
 
 
Drake Individual Women's Results
100 Meters
1. Keaton Kester, 12.26
4. Rutendo Mafuta, 12.54
6. Ayana Brown, 13.22
7. Carrie Lawal, 13.32
                                    
200 Meters
1. Yinka Mary Ajayi, 24.73
4. Ellie Mendlik, 26.94
5. Carrie Lawal, 28.05
 
800 Meters
5. Barbara Vrhovac, 2:24.17
 
1,500 Meters
1. Brooke Mullins, 4:41.10
3. Elizabeth Aho, 4:51.38
11. Alexa Andrews, 5:25.59
 
4x100-Meter Relay
1. Kester, Asinga, Rhodes, Ajayi, 47.80
 
4x400-Meter Relay
1. Mendlik, Hertting, Nguyen, Mafuta, 3:59.51
 
Long Jump
1. Ayana Brown, 17-0.5 (5.19m)
 
Discus
3. Katelyn Williams, 143-4 (43.69m)
4. Chandler Haight, 138-2 (42.12m)
 
Shot Put
2. Chandler Haight, 45-10.5 (13.98m) 
 
Hammer Throw
4. Katelyn Williams, 171-7 (52.29m)