WORLD-LEADING TIME, SEVEN DRAKE RELAYS RECORDS HIGHLIGHT SECOND DAY AT DRAKE STADIUM
DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa a ran a world-leading time in the men’s university 4×800 relay en route to capturing its first Drake Relays title in the event since 2017, highlighting Friday’s action at the 115th running of the Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom.
Seven Drake Relays records were set, capped by the WACT women’s steeplechase, which produced not only a Relays record but added five runners to the top 15 on the world list. Sophie Novak, a former Notre Dame standout who came in ranked third in the world, won in 9:28.48 to break the meet record.
The Oregon women, making their first appearance at the Drake Relays since 1999, captured two titles in a span of 50 minutes before Iowa’s eye-opening time of 7:21.88 in the 4×800.
Native Iowans Derek Leicht (Dubuque) and James Fingalsen (Mason City) ran the opening two legs for the Iowa, with Fingalsen’s 1:49.10 leg pushing the Hawkeyes into a lead they never relinquished. They held off 14-time Relays champion Iowa State, which finished second in 7:23.10.
“We’re beyond proud,” said junior Ryan Schreiner, who ran the third leg for Iowa. “We’ve been flying under the radar for so long and this was really our moment to get on stage, get out there and show what we’re made of. It’s been a long time coming.”
“We had a very good day today at the Drake Relays capping off the night with a spectacular win in the men’s 4×800 relay,” Director of track and field Joey Woody said. “The men’s 4×800 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 4×800 relay since 2017.”
Oregon sophomore Juliet Cherubet, the defending Big Ten Conference outdoor 1500 champ, got things started for the Ducks by capturing the women’s university-college 1500 in 4:13.11, marking Oregon’s first Drake Relays title since 1999.
Thirty-five minutes later, the Ducks posted the third fastest time in the world en route to winning the university 4×800 relay in 8:30.12. Senior Klaudia Kazimierska, who finished 10th in the 1500 at the 2024 Olympics for Poland, ran a 2:06.42 anchor leg for Oregon, which also got strong legs from junior Ella Nelson, sophomore…
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