A total of seven Drake University student-athletes have qualified for next week's NCAA West Region Prelim, the NCAA announced Thursday, May 20.
Drake's seven qualifiers are the third-most in program history since the start of the regional qualifying system in 2003. The seven Bulldogs have set two school records this year with three MVC outdoor titles and six All-MVC honors.
The NCAA West Region Prelim will be contested May 26-29 at E.B. Cushing Stadium in College Station Texas. The top 12 finishers in each event advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., June 9-12.
Drake's seven qualifiers are spread across six events with
Adam Fogg ranking the highest among qualifiers. Fogg ranks sixth in the West Region in the 1,500 meters with his school-record time of 3:38.79 set at the Drake Relays. The Australian is coming off winning MVC titles in the 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m. He will be joined in the 1,500 meters by classmate
Isaac Basten, who ranks 32
nd in the field.
Adam Kessler is also among the top-10 athletes entered in the 48-athlete fields as he ranks eight in the shot put with his school-record mark of 62-6.75 (19.91m). Fellow throw
Joey Harkins also made the field in the hammer throw.
Busiwa Asinga highlights Drake's two qualifiers from the women's team as she has the 14
th fastest time in the 400-meter hurdles at 58.07. MVC Champion
Yinka Mary Ajayi is also heading to College State in the 400 meters. Her time of 53.48 is the 35
th fastest time in the field.
MVC Champion
David Olowookere will also be making a lap around the E.B. Cushing Stadium oval in the men's 400-meters. He owns the 17
th fastest time in the event at 50.81. Asing, Ajayi and Olowookere all rank second in Drake's record book in their respective events.
Drake's 2021 West Region Prelim Schedule
Wednesday, May 26
Men's Hammer Throw – 1:30 p.m. –
Joey Harkins
Men's Shot Put – 6 p.m. –
Adam Kessler
Men's 1,500m (First Round) – 6:30 p.m. –
Adam Fogg,
Isaac Basten
Men's 400mH (First Round) – 8:20 p.m. –
David Olowookere
Thursday, May 27
Women's 400m (First Round) – 7:25 p.m. –
Yinka Mary Ajayi
Women's 400mH (First Round) – 8:20 p.m. –
Busiwa Asinga
Friday, May 28
Men's 1,500m (Quarterfinals) – 5:45 p.m.
Men 's 400mH (Quarterfinals) – 7:20 p.m.
Saturday, May 29
Women's 400m (Quarterfinals) – 7:20 p.m.
Women's 400mH (Quarterfinals) – 7:55 p.m.
