T&F Notebook: Drake Relays

April 23, 2014

Weekly Release | Drake Relays Schedule

THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa track and field team heads to Des Moines, Iowa, for the Drake Relays this week. The event will be held at Jim Duncan Track and Johnny Bright Field. It is scheduled to begin Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. (CT) and continue through Saturday.

FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES
Follow @IowaXC_TF on twitter for updates on the team. Links to live results can be found on the schedule page at hawkeyesports.com .

HAWKEYE HISTORY
The Hawkeye men have claimed 51 Drake Relays titles dating back to 1923, while the women have registered 17 first-place finishes. The Hawkeye women have claimed at least one title in each of the last three years, inculding the sprint medley relay (Jones, Hendricks, Liverpool, Praska; 3:48.63) in 2011, the 6,400-meter relay (Flood, Laesch, Ranegar, Melander; 19:16.73) in 2012, and Majesty Tutson (discus; 181-1; 55.19m) in 2013.

WILSON MAINTAINS TOP SPOT
Freshman O’Shea Wilson recorded a personal-best long jump mark of 25-2 (7.67m) to take the men’s long jump title at the Illinois Twilight on April 12. His mark currently leads the Big Ten, ranks 17th nationally and seventh all-time at Iowa. The Hawkeyes have captured the Drake Relays long jump title four times. Bashir Yamini was the last Hawkeye to grab the white flag in 1996. Former Hawkeye Ed Gordon, a two time Olympian (1928, 1932), won the title three times from 1929-31.

GUSTER HOLDS TOP SPOT
Freshman Elexis Guster clocked a personal best in the 400 meters at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 19. Her time of 53.33 currently leads the Big Ten and ranks fifth all-time at Iowa.

AMOSU GRABS TRIPLE JUMP TITLE
Junior Babatunde Amosu, the reigning Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week, grabbed the men’s triple jump title at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 19. Amosu recorded a personal-best leap of 52-4 3/4 (15.97m). His mark currently ranks second in the Big Ten, sixth in the nation, and third all-time at Iowa. Amosu recorded an eighth-place finish (50-3 1/4; 15.32m) at the Drake Relays a year ago before he suffered a torn patellar tendon in the event. Amosu made a triumphant return to the triple jump when he was crowned the 2014 Big Ten Indoor triple jump champion (51-7 3/4; 15.74m).

WATTS ENTERS RECORD BOOK
Freshman Mahnee Watts recorded a personal best in the 800 meters at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 19. Her time of 2:09.07 ranks eighth all-time at Iowa. Watts, junior Adrianna Alexia, and sophomore Kaitlyn Nelson compete in the 800 meters Thursday at 4 p.m. (CT). Alexia’s personal-best time of 2:08.61 ranks fifth all-time, while Nelson ranks seventh (2:08.83).

HULL GOES FOR GOLD
Junior Gabe Hull became the third athlete in school history to record a discus mark above 60 meters at the Illinois Twilight on April 12. His toss of 200-10 (61.21m) is currently the second best mark in the Big Ten and the eighth best mark in the nation. Hull grabbed silver at the 2013 Drake Relays with a toss of 190-5 (58.05m), finishing just behind the first place throw of 190-6 (58.07m).

SMITH, SIMPSON AND GULVAS IN THE TOP 5
Three Hawkeyes hold hammer throw marks that rank inside the Big Ten’s top five and among Iowa’s all-time top 10. Junior Annemie Smith’s mark of 198-1 (60.38m) ranks second in the Big Ten and is a school record. Seniors Jasmine Simpson (189-0; 57.62m) and Ashlyn Gulvas (186-0; 56.70m) rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Big Ten.

FOUR LAPS FOR THE RECORD
Freshmen Elexis Guster and Alexis Hernandez, and sophomores MonTayla Holder and Lake Kwaza ran 3:34.83 to break the school’s 1,600-meter record at the Arkansas Spring Invitational. The quartet bested the previous record, set in 2011, by more than one second (3:35.93). The 2011 team of Bethany Praska, Tiffany Hendricks, Ashley Liverpool, and Nicole Erickson won the Big Ten Championship. The 2014 team leads the conference and ranks 14th nationally.

MEET THE RECORD HOLDERS
Six Hawkeyes share three school records. Freshmen Elexis Guster and Alexis Hernandez, and sophomores MonTayla Holder and Lake Kwaza set the 1,600-meter record (3:34.83) at Arkansas Spring Invitational. Junior Annemie Smith set the hammer throw record (198-1; 60.38m) at the 2014 ASU Invite on March 28. Senior Tevin-Cee Mincy ran the first leg on the school-record-setting 400-meter relay team (39.48) at the 2013 NCAA Championships.

RETURNING OUTDOOR ALL-AMERICANS
The Hawkeyes return three outdoor All-Americans from 2013. Senior Tevin-Cee Mincy and sophomore Klyvens Delaunay grabbed first team honors for their performances at the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Mincy ran the first leg on the sixth-place 400-meter relay team (39.77), while Delaunay captured an eighth-place finish in the triple jump (52-2 1/2; 15.91m). Junior Gabe Hull earned second-team honors for his 15th-place finish in the discus (184-6; 56.25m).

NEXT ON THE BLOCK
The Hawkeyes host the 15th annual Musco Twilight at the Francis X. Cretzmeyer Track on May 3.