Drake Relays

Friday 4/23 

Highlights:

Overcast, cool and breezy conditions (40 degrees) on the opening day of
the 90th Drake Relays didn't hamper individual efforts by Junior
Michelle Lilienthal of Iowa City High in the 3000m run.  After towing
the field through the first 1200 meters, the Little Hawk forged ahead to
break the Relays record of 9:55.94 with a strong home stretch drive to
finish in 9:54.97.

Des Moines Roosevelt Senior Cyrus Nichols made Drake Relays history by
becoming the first prep to win the same event 3 times.  After suffering
an early season hamstring injury and reaggrivating it 2 weeks ago,
Nichols managed to win the 110 HH in 14.43. Only 2 other prep athletes
have turned that trick in 90 years, Clyde Duncan in the 100 yd dash
1962-64 and Doug Lane in the shot put 1966-68.

Nichols came back  a couple of hours later to run a 200 leg on the 1600
medley to help Roosevelt repeat their 1998 title.  Running alone in the
second section of three, Bobby Atkins anchored the team to a 3:34.49
effort. That time was suspect to being passed by the faster seeded 3rd
section but was good enough to hold off Dubuque Senior and Waverly-Shell
Rock.

In what appeared to be the most spectator supported high school event of
the day, Waverly-Shell Rock ran coast to coast to repeat as 4 x 800
champs in 7:56.34.  It looked as though the Go-Hawks were running free
of any contenders until Mitch Shaw of Ames brought his team back up into
the race at the final hand off.  That set up a dejavu scenario with Eric
Distler of Ames and Cody Neuendorf of Waverly-Shell Rock battling down
to the final 50 meters as they had done one year before.

West Des Moines Valley H.S. repeated their 4 x 200 victory of a year ago
with a 1:29.49 effort to turn back Urbandale.

Brian Stegall of Washington reinforced his 98 state championship 400 low
hurdles title by adding this years Drake gold in a winning time of
52.46.

Jessica Huff(Sr) of Marshalltown set the early pace in the girls 800 to
win going away in 2:14.58.

Andy Koehler of Ames missed 3 attempts at the 7 foot barrier in the high
jump but was pleased with his 6-11 winning effort.

 
Saturday weather:  Sunny, beautiful  65 degrees

Teesa Price of Iowa City High had a hand in helping the Little Hawks win
3 relays.  First she anchored the 800 medley to a 1:47.22 then ran the
3rd leg on the 4 x 100 48.98 and finished off the day with a strong
anchor on the 4 x 400 3:59.96.

Tim Orris of Dubuque Senior won a home-stretch duel with Eric Goff of
Bettendorf to take the 1600m run in 4:22.70 to 4:23.54