4x800 Relay Sets World-Leading Time

DES MOINES, Iowa – The University of Iowa track and field team concluded day two of competition at the Drake Relays and Kip Janvrin Open with a world-leading time set by the men’s 4x800 relay team. 

“We had a very good day today at the Drake Relays capping off the night with a spectacular win in the men’s 4x800 relay,” Director of track and field Joey Woody said. “The men's 4x800 relay had a tremendous race executing each leg perfectly to give Terrick (Johnson) a nice lead on the final leg. Terrick controlled the race from the front very effectively and had a great kick to run away from the field and win our first Drake Relays Flag in the 4x800 relay since 2017.” 

The 4x800-meter relay team of Derek Leicht, James Fingalsen, Ryan Schreiner and Terrick Johnson set a world-leading time of 7:21.88 to secure the event title for the first time since 2017. The group's time ranks third at Iowa. 

Freshman Bryce Ruland climbed the all-time list with his 57.62-meter throw, ranking eighth all-time at Iowa. Iowa most recently secured the men’s discus title in Des Moines in 2019 (Reno Tuufuli). Teammate and fellow freshman Duke Faley finished sixth, hitting the 53.90-meter mark. On the women’s side, Sydnie Smith launched a 52.30-meter throw that earned her the gold in the women’s discus. Iowa won the discus title in 2023 when Kat Moody took home the gold. 

The women’s 4x800 relay team of Clare Kelly, Gabby Cortez, Jaiden Itson and Alli Bookin-Nosbisch finished third with a time of 8:41.93, ranking them third all-time at Iowa.

Senior Holly Duax finished first in the women’s 100 meter prelims, advancing to the finals with an all-time performance of 11.37. Her personal-best time ranks fifth at Iowa. In the men’s 110-meter hurdles prelims, Kai Graves-Blanks locked in a qualifying time of 13.77. Duax and Graves-Blanks will be competing in the finals set for tomorrow.

“I thought the women competed very well today overall. The women’s 4x800 relay competed very well today to finish third and just miss second place. Alli (Bookin-Nosbisch) had a great 2:03 split to bring us back into contention for top three. Our women’s 4x100 set the stage with a very good preliminary race to enter the finals with the top seed time. Holly (Duax) took that momentum into the 100 meter prelims and ran a huge wind-legal personal best to enter the finals with the top seed time.”

“I was very excited to see Sydnie (Smith) throw very well today to win the women’s open discus. Bryce (Ruland) started to connect on some big throws today with a couple that went out of the  sector until he hit a huge personal best to win the men’s open discus. I thought Duke (Faley) competed well and also had a very good day today.”

“Kai (Graves-Blanks) had a strong preliminary race in the 110-meter hurdles, and although it wasn’t his best race technically, he is set up well going into the finals tomorrow.”

The women’s 4x100 relay team of Duax, Olicia Lucas, Alivia Williams and Lia Love dominated the competition, clocking in at 44.51. The quartet’s time secures them a spot in the 4x100-meter relay finals. 

Up Next: Iowa continues action at the Drake Relays and begins competition at the Kip Janvrin Open in Indianola tomorrow.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Drake Relays
Women’s 100 Meters Prelims
1. Holly Duax - 11.37, Q, PR, 5th at Iowa

Men’s 110-Meter Hurdles Prelims
4. Kai Graves-Blanks - 13.77, q
11. Tyler Kenaga - 14.14 
24. Kalil Johnson - 14.62
25. Drew Dillard - 14.96

Men’s 400 Meters
4. Landon Fontenot - 46.71
12. Josh Pugh - 48.04

Men’s 400-Meter Hurdles
4. Jaylin Holmes - 52.19
8. Nicholas Gorsich - 53.53

Women’s 400-Meter Hurdles
3. Ali Frandsen - 59.51
6. Ellie Rickertsen - 1:00.17
9. Claire Kohler - 1:00.59

Men’s 800 Meters
9. Caleb Levy - 1:53.43

Women’s 4x100 Relay Prelims
1. Holly Duax, Olicia Lucas, Alivia Williams, Lia Love - 44.51, Q

Men’s 4x800 Relay
1. Leicht, Fingalsen, Schreiner, T. Johnson - 7:21.88, 3rd at Iowa

Women’s 4x800 Relay
3. Kelly, Cortez, Itson, A. Bookin-Nosbisch - 8:41.93, 3rd at Iowa

Women’s 4x1,600 Relay
5. Jalyssa Blazek, Elena Torres, Cameron Kalaway, Clare Kelly - 19:59.51, 7th at Iowa

Men’s 4x1,600 Relay
6. Yohana Yual, Luke Knepp, Will Ryan, Brayden Burnett - 17:16.86

Men’s Discus
1. Bryce Ruland - 57.62 meters (189’ 0”), PR, 8th at Iowa
6. Duke Faley - 53.90 meters (176’ 10”)
15. Walker Whalen - 49.16 meters (161’ 3”)

Women’s Discus
1. Sydnie Smith - 52.30 meters (171’ 7”)

Men’s Shot Put
9. Bryce Ruland - 16.63 meters (54’ 6.75”)

Women’s Shot Put
7. Wisdom Williams - 15.24 meters (50’ 0”)

Kip Janvrin Open
Men’s 400 Meters
2. Braedin Zondervan - 48.13

Women’s 400-Meter Hurdles
10. Isabelle Woody - 1:08.79, PR

Women’s 800 Meters
16. Lily Johannes - 2:20.11