by Larry Eder
2014 Drake Relays Notes
Friday, April 25
Attendance (Morning/Afternoon): 9,753
Attendance (Evening): 10,924
Total: 20,677
Weather: Low -47, High – 78
Start – 47 degrees, clear, Wind – 7 mph, SW
Noon – 71 degrees, sunny, Wind -5 mph, SSW
4 p.m. – 76 degrees, sunny, Wind – 12 mph W
8 p.m. – 72 degrees, mostly clear, Wind – 2 mph W
Total precipitation – 0.0″
RECORDS Broken
Friday
• Invitational 110 hurdles — Hansle Parchment, Jamaica, 13.14
• Invitational high jump — Derek Drouin, Nike, 7-10 1/2
• High school boys sprint medley relay — Linn-Mar, 3:26.89
• High school girls 100 hurdles — Mary Young, Urbandale, 14.30
• High school boys 800 — Carter Lilly, Sioux City East, 1:54.62
FAST TIME AT DRAKE STADIUMS
• Brianna Rollins, Lolo Jones, Vashti Thomas, Queen Harrison, women’s shuttle hurdle relay, 50.93, No. 2 all-time
• Hansle Parchment, Jamaica, men’s 110 hurdles, 13.14, No. 1 in the world
• Derek Drouin, Nike, men’s high jump, 7-10 1/2, No. 1 in the world
• LaShawn Merritt, Nike, men’s 400, 44.44, No. 1 in the world
• Michael Tinsley, Nike, men’s 400 hurdles, 48.57, No. 1 in the world
• Hellen Obiri, Kenya, women’s 1500, 4:04.88, No. 1 in the world
• Yarisley Silva, Cuba, wo
men’s pole vault, 15-3 1/2, No. 1 in the world
• Washington, men’s 4×800 relay, 7:18.50, No. 3 nationally among collegians
• Jade Barber, Notre Dame, women’s 100 hurdles, 12.97, No. 12 in world, No. 8 in US
• Katie Wise, Indiana State, women’s 100, 11.33, ties for No. 7 nationally among collegians
• Alexis Franklin, Ohio State, women’s 400 hurdles, 57.81, No. 6 nationally among collegians
• Megan Malasarte, Georgia, women’s 800, 2:03.61, No. 6 nationally among collegians
• Waukee, high school boys 4×200, 1:27.81, sixth fastest in Drake Relays history
• Kaley Ciluffo, Pleasant Valley, high school girls 800, 2:10.23, seventh fastest in Drake Relays history
• Freya Jones, Georgia, university-college women’s javelin, 171-4, No. 7 nationally among collegians
MULTILPLE CHAMPIONS
• Nick Harris and Izaic Yorks, Washington, university-college men’s 4×1600 and university men’s 4×800
• Jalynn Roberts-Lewis, Des Moines Roosevelt, high school girls 100 and long jump
• Emma Bassier, Maddie Irmen and Rose Ripslinger, Davenport Assumption, high school girls sprint medley and 4×200
REPEAT CHAMPIONS
• Women’s invitational pole vault — Yarisley Silva, Cuba
• Women’s university-college 800 — Megan Malasarte, Georgia
• Men’s invitational 400 hurdles — Michael Tinsley, Nike
• Men’s college 4×800 relay — Oklahoma Baptist
• Boys sprint medley relay — Linn-Mar
• High school girls discus — Kiana Phelps, Kingsley-Pierson
• High school girls 100 hurdles — Mary Young, Urbandale
• High school boys high jump — Jeff Giannettino, West Burlington/Notre Dame
GREAT EVENTS
Drake Relays organizers got what they wanted from the World Championships Rematches. All six events produced world leading marks — men’s 110 hurdles, men’s 400, men’s high jump, men’s 400 hurdles, women’s pole vault and women’s 1500. All occurred within a two-hour span. Also in the period, an elite women’s shuttle hurdle relay team ran the second fastest ever in that event.
NEW LEADER IN HURDLES
Hansle Parchment of Jamaica is the new world leader in the men’s 110 hurdles after winning the World Championship Rematch in 13.14 seconds, a Drake Re
lays record. Parchment beat 2013 world champion David Oliver and 2013 world silver medalist Ryan Wilson, both from the U.S., to win the elite race. Oliver, the Drake Stadium record holder, ran 13.23. Wilson, who previously held the Relays record, took third at 13.30. Oliver had been the previous world leader at 13.26. Wilson’s old Relays record was 13.20, set in 2012.
SWEET RETURN
Des Moines native Lolo Jones made a sweet return to Drake’s Blue Oval, helping the USA RED win a special women’s shuttle hurdle relay race. Jones, a four-time Relays champion, and her teammates fell just short in their quest to beat the world best of 50.78, finishing in 50.93. That goes down as the second best time ever. Brianna Rollins, the 2013 world champion, led off for USA RED and was followed by Jones, a two-time Olympian; 2013 World University Games champion Vashti Thomas, who helped Academy of Art set the Relays university-college record last year; and former NCAA champion Queen Harrison. Jamaica finished in 52.01 and was the only other team to complete the race. USA BLUE appeared to be in contention until No. 3 runner Teanya Jones tripped over the second hurdle of her leg. A USA WHITE team that featured Tiffany Porter, Kellie Wells and Dawn Harper-Nelson, scratched.
THESE GUYS ARE FAST
Reigning world champion LaShawn Merritt led a loaded field across the finish line in winning the World Championship Rematch 400 in 44.4 seconds, the fastest time in the in the world this year. The next two runners also ran under the previous best, Kirani James of Granada finishing in 44.60 and Luguelin Santos of the Dominican Republican taking third in 44.72. Merritt, a former East Carolina runner, was the Olympic gold medalist in 2008, while James claimed the Olympic gold in 2012. Santos was the 2012 Olympic silver medalist and the 2013 world championship bronze medalist. Merritt’s time was the second fastest in Drake Relays history, trailing only the 44.41 that Michael Johnson ran in 1996. The previous world best this year was 44.90, run by Deon Lendore in Tempe, Arizona, earlier this month.
RAISING THE BAR
That’s theme of this year’s Relays and Derek Drouin and his fellow jumpers certainly did that in the World Championship Rematch men’s high jump. Drouin set the Canadian record and broke the Relays and Drake Stadium record by clearing 7-10 1/2, the best jump in the world this year. It was a scintillating competition, with runner-up Erik Kynard and third-place finisher Dusty Jonas also topping the previous Relays record and world best by clearing 7-8 1/2. Jonas had shared the old Relays record of 7-7 with current Relays director Brian Brown, who first set that mark in 1996. The previous world leader had been Mickael Hanay of France at 7-8. Hanay finished fifth in Friday’s competition at 7-4 1/2. Drouin didn’t miss until knocking the bar off twice at 7-10 1/2, then cleared it on his final chance.
TERRIFIC TRIO
Led by Kenyan Hellen Obiri, the top three finishers in the World Championships rematch women’s 1500 are ran faster the previous world leading mark for the year. Obiri, the bronze medalist at last year’s world meet, led the parade to the finish in 4:04.88. American Brenda Martinez, the world championship bronze medalist in the 800 last year, was second in 4:06.96. Heather Kampf, who as Heather Dorniden ran numerous races for Minnesota at the Drake Relays, was third in 4:07.15. Kampf won the Grand Blue Mile in downtown Des Moines on Tuesday. The previous world leading time 4:07.21 by Susan Kuikjen of The Netherlands.
HUSKIES DO IT AGAIN
Freshman Izaic Yorks anchored Washington to its second relay victory of the meet, closing out the Huskies’ 7:18.50 clocking in the university men’s 4×800. That’s the third-fastest collegiate time in the country this year. Washington won the 4×1600 on Thursday. Sophomore Nick Harris joined Yorks on both teams.
SOARING HIGH
Cuba’s Yarisley Silva fell short of the Drake Relays record but st
ill posted a world best in the World Championships Rematch women’s pole vault, clearing 15-3 1/2. It’s the second straight Relays title for Silva, who also won the Pole Vault in the Mall on Wednesday night. Silva was the world indoor champion this year, the bronze medalist at last year’s World Championships and the silver medalist at the 2012 Olympics. The previous world best had been 15-1 by Australia’s Alana Boyd.
VIKING POWER
Augustana of South Dakota won the college women’s distance medley for the third time in four years. With Norwegian Kristin Brondbo on the anchor, the Vikings ran 11:32.87 to beat Lincoln by nearly 4 1/2 seconds. That was the second-fastest winning time in Drake Relays history, trailing only the record-setting 11:26.59 run by Olivet Nazarene in 2007. Brondbo, an NCAA Division II All-American, ran the final 1600-meter leg in 4:51.2. Defending champion Wartburg was third in 11:43.28.
MORE VIKING POWER
Augustana also has been in strong in the college men’s distance medley relay in recent years. The Vikings won that race for the fourth time in five years, running 9:51.78 with a team of Jordan Slusser, Skyler Kuil, Aduo Omot and Harald Karbo.
KNIGHTS ARE ROLLING
With Rose Ripslinger on the anchor, Davenport Assumption ran the fourth fastest time in state history in the high school girls sprint medley relay, winning the event in 1:45.79. Ripslinger sprawled across the finish line to beat Urbandale’s Ashley Norem, who brought her team home in 1:45.91, which is fifth on the all-time list. Only Des Moines Roosevelt has faster times, leading with a 1:44.98 set in 1985, when current Drake coach Natasha Kaiser Brown was the anchor. That time also is the Drake Relays record. Ripslinger ran the final 400 in a swift 55.5 seconds.
Assumption came back three hours later to win the 4×200 in 1:41.84, which goes in at No. 5 on the all-time list. Ripslinger ran the third leg on that time and Markel Mommsen anchored. The Knights’ time was just off the Relays record of 1:41.66 set by Des Moines Roosevelt two years ago.
RECORD RUN FOR LINN-MAR
A strong anchor by Iowa State recruit Josh Evans lifted Linn-Mar to a Drake Relays record in the high school boys sprint medley relay. The Lions finished in 3:26.89, which moves them to No. 6 on the state’s all-time list and is the fifth-best time nationally. Evans finished second to Boone’s Albert Meier in that incredibly fast 3200-meter race on Thursday, but he was the strongest runner in the field in this one, passing Dowling Catholic’s Ryan Schweizer in the final straightaway to post a time of 1:51.0 for his 800-meter carry. The old record was 3:27.18 by Iowa City High in 2004.
RETURNEES BOOST BISON
With three runners back from last year’s championship team, Oklahoma Baptist was a solid favorite to repeat in the college men’s 4×800 relay and the Bison came through. Second-leg runner Adam Godwin joined returnees Travis Hinton, Jywayne Allen and anchor Clay Shepperson for a victory in 7:32.00. Shepperson, an NAIA national champion, easily outran Kyle Anderson of Northwestern, Iowa, to give Oklahoma Baptist its fifth Drake Relays victory in the event since 2006 and 35th Relays title overall.
DISCUS LEGACY
Sophomore Kiana Phelps of Kingsley-Pierson/Woodbury Central fell short of her Drake Relays record but still repeated as the champion in the high school girls discus. Phelps threw 151-10 to beat runner-up Erin Bramble of Waukee by more than 11 feet. She set the Relays record last year with a throw of 153-4. Phelps is the daughter of Scott Phelps, who set the Class 1A state record in the boys discus while competing for Kingsley-Pierson in 1986. That record still stands. Kiana’s brother Colton f
inished ninth in the boys shot put on Thursday.
YOUNG MOVES UP
Urbandale’s Mary Young broke the Drake Relays record and moved up to second on the state’s all-time in list when she repeated her title in the high school girls 100 hurdles. Young, who’ll run at Drake next season, hit the finish in 14.30 to break the record of 14.46 set in 2010 by Alex Gochenour of Logan-Magnolia. Gochenour remains the state’s all-time leader at 13.9.
BIG JUMP
Jeff Giannettino of West Burlington/Notre Dame became the Relays’ first 7-foot high jumper in the high school boys division since 2003 and just the fifth overall. Giannettino, a junior, cleared 7 feet even to win the title for the second straight year. Until now, the last to clear 7 feet had been Jaron Van Maanen of Lynnville-Sully in 2003. Brian Tietjens of Manly North Central set the Relays record of 7-3 in 1981.
DOUBLE DUTY
Jaylnn Roberts-Lewis of Des Moines Roosevelt became the meet’s first double winner, taking titles in the high school girls long jump and 100. Roberts-Lewis won the long jump for the third straight year with a leap of 19 feet, which moves her to No. 7 on the state’s all-time. She won the 100 in 12.24, making this the fourth straight year a Roosevelt runner has won that event. The only other three-time winner in the long jump is Jennifer Jorgensen of Southeast Webster-Grand. She won 2006, 2007 and 2008.
MOVING UP:
Ohio State’s Alexis Franklin finished second in the university-college women’s 400 hurdles as a freshman last year. Now, she’s a Drake Relays champion. Franklin won Friday’s 57.81 seconds, just ahead of Washington’s Kayla Stueckle. Franklin’s time ranks No. 6 among collegians this year.
DOWLING FLASH
Dowling Catholic’s Rico Gafford is now tied for second on the state’s all-time list for fully automatic times in the boys 100 meters. Gafford turned in the fastest qualifying time in the morning preliminaries, then sped to victory in the high school final in 10.62. He just missed the Relays record of 10.61 set by James Harrington of Cedar Falls in 2012. Gafford helped Dowling win the Class 4A state football championship last fall.
FROSH PHENOM
Baylor freshman Trayvon Bromell has put himself in good position to win his first Drake Relays championship. Bromell, ranked No. 2 in the world in the 100 and the national collegiate leader, led all qualifiers in the university-college race with a preliminary time of 10.16. TCU’s Ronnie Baker had the second-best time at 10.29. Bromell ran his nation-leading time of 10.01 in breaking the meet record at the Texas Relays earlier this month. Baylor is expecting big things from Bromell, who was last year’s Gatorade national boys track athlete of the year.
ANOTHER RELAYS, ANOTHER WAYLAND VICTORY
College men’s 4×200 winner Wayland Baptist is no stranger to the Drake Relays victory stand. The quartet of Stephen Sutherland, Justin Scruggs, Lorenzo Dolphus and Durawan Howard ran 1:24.62 to give Wayland its 24th relay victory at Drake and 27th overall. Only Aiblene Christian (39), Oklahoma Baptist (35) and Pittsburg State (33) have more in the college division.
The Wayland Baptist women made it a sweep in the college 4×200 by winning that race in 1:36.03 with a team that included two freshmen.
BOUNCE BACK WIN
Sioux City East’s bounced back from a disappointment in the high school boys sprint medley relay to win the 800 — and he did it in record fashion. Lilly won the race in 1:54.62, erasing the old Relays mark of 1:55.18 shared by Neil Flattery of Fort Dodge St. Edmond and Jason Thomas of Dowling Catholic. This is the fourth year the event has been run. Lilly anchored the East team that appeared to finish third in the sprint medley relay earlier Friday, but the Black Raiders were disqualified for an out-of-zone pass. He ran a 1:52.9 leg in that race.
THREE TRIES ENOUGH FOR PATTERSON:
American record holder Kara Patterson didn’t want to take any chances with a surgically repaired left knee but still uncorked a throw of 186-10 in the women’s javelin. Patterson hit that mark on her first attempt, threw 180-3 on her second try, then fouled on her third throw. Taking a cautious approach, she passed on her final three chances. Patterson competed during the university-college event, which Georgia freshman Freya Jones won with a throw of 171-4. Patterson has the top U.S. throw this year, a 198-4 at the Texas Relays. Jones’ throw ranks seventh among collegians.
