AMES, Iowa – Drake track and field started their indoor season at the Bill Bergan Open hosted by the Cyclones of Iowa State University. The Bulldogs picked up a quartet of individual victories as part of their quick start to the 2025 campaign.
 
Centaine Noom-Duckworth highlighted the Bulldogs' day in Ames with an individual title in the women's weight throw. Noom-Duckworth, an MVC champion in 2024, with a long toss of 18.45m (60' 6.5"). Chinemerem Iwuagwu, who competed unattached, took second (17.20m, 56' 5.25") and freshman Maud Visscher (16.06m, 52' 8.25") took fourth in the event.
 
Drake's Sam Carpenter collected second place in the men's weight throw with a heave of 19.99m (65' 7") while Adam Phillips, another Bulldog competing unattached, earned fourth with a toss of 19.47m (63' 10.5").
 
Elsewhere among the throwers, Lara Smits took bronze in the women's shot put (14.22m, 46' 8") while Cooper Cerese (16.38m, 53' 9") and Ethan Elliot (16.35m, 53' 7.75") took fourth and fifth, respectively, in the men's shot put.
 
On the track, Harrison Martinenko came across in fourth place in the men's 1000m (2:23.80) while freshman hurdler Khalil Kaba earned another fourth-place finish for the Bulldogs with a time of 8.72 in the men's 60m hurdles. Brogan Giffin earned his highest finish of the day with a second place showing in the men's 3000m (8:10.23).
 
The Drake women enjoyed even better results in the distance races as Tyla Lumley won the women's 3000m in 9:30.72. Breanna Burak (9:43.97) and Anastasia Kirillov (9:59.24) took third and fourth, respectively.
 
Savannah Ming had another solid showing in the women's 60m dash with a second-place result in the first round a first-place finish in the finals with a time of 7.69 seconds. Ming also won the women's 200m dash in 25.16 seconds. The trio of Reese Mitchell, Denae McElrath, and Favor Omoijuanfo took sixth, seventh, and eighth, respectively.
 
Senior Anthony Bradley came across in third in the men's 60m with a mark of 7.35 second.

"A very, very good start to 2025," said Jay Koloseus, Drake head track and field coach. "On the men's side, we had a bunch of top 10 all-time performances. Our women really stole the show winning events in all our areas. Myself and and the entire staff are very pleased."
 
Drake will be back in Ames next Friday for the Cyclone Open on Jan. 24.