4x800 Relay Wins Back-to-Back Titles at Drake Relays

DES MOINES, Iowa – The University of Iowa men’s 4x800-meter relay team secured the event title and flag in 7:20.36 for the second year in a row at the Drake Relays on Friday night.

“We had a terrific day across all events on day two of the Drake Relays,” said Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody. “What a way to cap off the night with a huge come from behind victory in the men’s 4x800-meter relay.”

The quartet of Carson Lane, Caleb Levy, Ryan Schreiner and Terrick Johnson clocked a third all-time best mark of 7:20.36 to give the Hawkeyes their final flag of the night.

“Carson got us started with a great lead-off leg and kept us with the pack,” Woody said. “Caleb ran a strong leg with a huge 100-meter kick to get us into second place, right with the lead. Ryan ran a great race to keep us on the hunt, and Terrick had a huge anchor leg, dropping the hammer with 100 meters to go to take us into the lead and secure the win for the second year in a row.”

The women’s 4x800-meter relay team of Princess Uche, Rosemary Arthur, Gabby Cortez and Leanna Lewis placed fourth with Iowa’s No. 2 all-time best mark of 8:34.81.

Sophomore Bryce Ruland won the men’s discus title, launching 57.06 meters to secure the victory. He later competed in the men’s shot put, placing eighth with a personal-best mark of 17.75 meters.

“Bryce had some strong early round throws and finally connected on a huge personal best with his last attempt to win our first Drake Relays flag of the day,” Woody said. 

In the women’s 400 meters, freshman Izzy Zahn was crowned event champion clocking a personal-best 53.24. Junior Olicia Lucas ran 54.57 to finish fourth, while junior Arianna Williams secured seventh place in 55.38.

“Izzy has had some up-and-down races this outdoor season, which is to be expected from a true freshman,” Woody added. “Today, she put together a complete race and came away with the 400-meter victory, earning our second Drake Relays flag of the day.”

Nine Hawkeye advanced to Saturday's finals including the men’s and women’s 4x100-meter relay teams. For the men, Blake Nyenati, Jordan Gross, Jaylin Holmes and David Akhalu will be competing for the Hawkeyes. The quartet of Jailya Ash, Izzy Zahn, Alivia Williams and Holly Duax will run for the women.

“Both the men’s and women’s 4x1 teams ran very well today,” Woody said. “I’m very excited to see what we can do in the finals tomorrow. I think we have a lot more in the tank for both squads.”

In the women’s 100 meter prelims, Duax ran a personal-best 11.32 to win both her heat and the event overall, advancing to the finals. Her time ranks fourth all-time in Iowa history. Fellow senior Alexandria Edison also delivered a lifetime best, clocking 11.68 to punch her ticket into the final. On the men’s side, senior Kalen Walker and Gross will be advancing to Saturday's event after each winning their heats, with Walker taking first overall.

“Holly and Alexandria ran great prelim races today in the 100 meters to win their heats,” Woody noted. “Holly’s time is her wind-legal personal best which sets her up well going into the finals tomorrow. Kalen and Jordan also put together great races in their prelims and it will be a very exciting final for the Hawkeyes.”

Ash led the way in the hurdles group, finishing second overall in the women’s 100-meter hurdle prelims, while recording a lifetime best of 13.19, which ranks fourth all-time at Iowa. Senior Vaughn DeVaughn III ran a personal-best 13.74 in the men’s 110-meter hurdle prelims, while Nyenati advanced with a heat victory.

“Jailya ran a terrific prelim today and hit an all-time, wind-legal personal best. She’s really putting things together at the right time and I’m excited to see what she can do tomorrow,” Woody added. “Blake and Vaughn also ran well in their prelim to punch their ticket to the finals tomorrow with a very competitive race.”

Elsewhere at the Drake Relays, Holmes ran 50.76 to secure a lifetime best and silver finish in the men’s 400-meter hurdles. 

Senior Wisdom Williams picked up the bronze in the women’s shot put, throwing 15.42 meters.

At the Kip Janvrin Open in Indianola, senior Hayden Kuhn earned gold in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase with a personal-best 8:48.01. That mark ranks fourth all-time at Iowa.

Up Next: The Hawkeyes continue competition at the Drake Relays. 

HAWKEYE RESULTS 
Men’s 100 Meters Prelims
1. Kalen Walker - 10.12, Q
4. Jordan Gross - 10.37, Q

Women’s 100 Meters Prelims
1. Holly Duax - 11.32, Q, PR + 4th at Iowa
6. Alexandria Edison - 11.68, Q, PR

Women’s 100-Meter Hurdles Prelims
2. Jailya Ash - 13.19, Q, PR + 4th at Iowa
16. Isabel Evans - 14.13

Men’s 110-Meter Hurdles Prelims
4. Vaughn DeVaughn III - 13.74, q, PR
5. Blake Nyenati - 13.94, Q
15. Sal Capaldo - 14.19, PR

Men’s 400 Meters
3. Austin Rowswell - 47.12
7. Jackson Johannes - 47.35

Women’s 400 Meters
1. Izzy Zahn - 53.24, PR 
4. Olicia Lucas - 54.57
7. Arianna Williams - 55.38

Men’s 400-Meter Hurdles
2. Jaylin Holmes - 50.76, PR
8. Nicholas Gorsich - 52.15 

Women’s 400-Meter Hurdles
13. Ali Frandsen - 1:00.89

Men’s 4x100 Relay Prelims
1. Nyenati, Gross, Holmes, Akhalu - 39.89, Q

Women’s 4x100 Relay Prelims
1. Ash, Zahn, Williams, Duax - 44.50, Q

Men’s 4x800 Relay
1. Lane, Levy, Schreiner, Johnson - 7:20.36, 3rd at Iowa

Women’s 4x800 Relay
4. Uche, Arthur, Cortez, Lewis - 8:34.81, 2nd at Iowa

Men’s Discus
1. Bryce Ruland - 57.06 meters (187’ 2”)
6. Duke Faley - 52.70 meters (172’ 11”)

Women’s Long Jump
6. Lovisa Ulvenstam - 5.76 meters (18’ 10.75”)

Men’s Shot Put
22. Landon Prince - 15.27 meters (50’ 1.25”)

Men’s Shot Put Championship
8. Bryce Ruland - 17.75 meters (58’ 3”), PR

Women’s Shot Put
3. Wisdom Williams - 15.42 meters (50’ 7.25”)

Kip Janvrin Open
Women’s 800 Meters
11. Lily Johannes - 2:14.24

Men’s 1,500 Meters
35. Elias Arbuckle - 4:01.79

Men’s 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
1. Hayden Kuhn - 8:48.01, PR + 4th at Iowa