DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake track and field started a busy two-week stretch at a pair of nationally contested meets this weekend. The Bulldogs split their squad between the Kansas Relays in Lawrence, Kan. and Brian Clay Invtational in Asuza, Calif. with successful showings at both.
"It was a very successful weekend for our distance athletes competing on the West Coast and our throws squad at the Kansas Relays," Drake Head Coach
Jay Koloseus said. "We came into the weekend hoping for personal bests and more NCAA qualifiers, and that's what we got."
In Lawrence,
Chinemerem Iwuagwu and
Lara Smits each took third place in the women's hammer throw and shot put, respectively. Iwuagwu unleashed for a throw of 58.35m/191'-5" while Smits tossed 14.97m/49'-1.5".
Ethan Elliott and
Sam Carpenter had solid finishes in the men's hammer and discus, respectively. Elliott heaved 52.03m/170'-8" and Carpenter fired his disc 49.58m/162'-8".
Christopher Norris vshowcased his skills in the men's javelin on Saturday of the Kansas Relays with a best throw of 43.37m/142'-3". Smits also earned a top seven finish in the women's discus with a throw of 49.48m/162'-4".
Maud Visscher added a 15th place result in the women's hammer throw at 49.52m/162'-5".
Cooper Cerese and
Ethan Elliott both finished in the top eight of the men's shot put field with best marks of 17.51m/57'-5.5" and 17.20m/56'-5.25", respectively.
Friday marked the end of the Brian Clay Invitational hosted by Asuza Pacific University. The duo of
Emilie Meyer and
Tyla Lumley produced three high-level finishes in a trio of invitational races. Meyer took eighth in the women's 800 in 2:04.36 and 37th in the women's 1500 in 4:20.56. Lumley added a sixth-place finish in the women's 5000 in 16:10.34 and 65th place 1500m run of 4:31.25.
Elsewhere,
Aidan Palmer had a pair of top 17 finishes in his heat of the men's 5000 and 1500.
Connor Visnic and
Juan Trasobares also posted top 30 finishes in the 5k. Trasobares then added a 12th place finish in the 1500.
Harrison Martinenko posted a 77th place finish in the men's 1500 with a time of 3:45.98.
Breanna Burak wrapped the women's efforts with a 14:28.17 5000, good enough for 19th in her section.
Drake will return to Des Moines next week for the 115th running of the Drake Relays from Apr. 23-26.
