by Larry Eder
Mike Mahon provides some incredible notes, comments, and coverage of the Drake Relays. The Drake Comm team gets it right and is providing fans with info on the 115th Drake Relays.
2025 Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom
Friday, April 24, 2025
Friday Weather
8 a.m. – Cloudy, 54 degrees, north wind 9 mph, gusts to 15 mph
Noon – Cloudy, 57 degrees, north wind 12 mph, gusts to 20 mph
6 p.m. – Cloudy, 56 degrees, north wind 12 mph, gusts to 21 mph
FRIDAY ATTENDANCE
Day Session – 8,355
Night Session – 7,724
Total to Date – 22,920
DRAKE RELAYS RECORDS
TWO-DAY TOTAL: 11
FRIDAY: 7
WOMEN – 1
—3000 steeplechase – 9:28.98, Sophie Novak, USA (Old record: 9:31.03, Annie Rodenfels,
Boston Athletic Association, 2024).
BOYS HIGH SCHOOL – 3
—1600 Medley Relay – 3:25.35, Dowling Catholic. (Old record: 3:25.94, Cedar Rapids Prairie,
2016)
—4×200 Relay – 1:26.55, Ankeny Centennial (Old record: 1:27.51, Cedar Rapids Jefferson,
2018)
—800 – 1:51.76, Quentin Naumann, Western Dubuque TIES record set by Ryan Schweizer,
Dowling Catholic, 2016
GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL – 2
—100 Hurdles – 13.82, Emma Havighurst, West Des Moines Valley (Old record: 14.19, Sydney
Winger, Waukee, prelims, 2018)
—400 – 55.45, Reese Brownlee, Clear Lake TIES record set by Anjelena Carder, Waukee, 2024
MIDDLE SCHOOL – 1
Boys Sprint Medley Relay – 3:47.08 Des Moines Christian (Old mark: 3:49.70, Pella Middle
School, 2019)
WORLD-LEADING MARKS
FRIDAY
Men
4×800 Relay – 7:21.88, Iowa, ranks No. 1 on world list
Women
3000 Steeplechase – 9:30.41, Elise Thorner, New Balance, ranks No. 6 on world list…9:34.48,
Angelina Ellis ranks No. 7 on the world list…9:37.87. Janette Schraft ranks No. 12 on the world list
9:38.84, Aneta Koniecrek ranks No. 14 and India’s Ms Ankita at 9:30.00 (No. 15).
COLLEGIATE LEADING MARKS
FRIDAY
Men’s 4×800 relay – 7:21.88, Iowa ranks No. 1 on collegiate list
Women’s 4×200 Relay – 1:34.45, Kentucky ranks No. 2 on collegiate list
Men’s 4×1600 relay – 16:38.06, Iowa State ranks No. 1 on collegiate listWomen’s 4×1600 relay – 19:04.83, Oregon State ranks No. 1 on collegiate list….19:04.88,
Notre Dame ranks No. 2 on collegiate list.
Women’s college sprint medley – 4:00.86, Minnesota State ranks No. 1 in NCAA Division II.
Men’s college sprint medley – 3:25.42, Loras ranks No.1 in NCAA Division III…3:23.14 by
Minnesota State ranks No. 1 in NCAA Division II
FRIDAY NOTES
Invitational Divisions
Women’s Steeplechase Delivers On Promise
The WACT women’s steeplechase looked to be one of the premier events this weekend, and it
delivered on that promise, producing a Relays record and adding five runners to the top 15 on
the world list. Sophie Novak, a former Notre Dame standout ranked third in the
world, won in 9:28.48 to break the meet record. Novak passed Elise Thorner with 200 meters to
go and easily broke the old record of 9:31.03 that Annie Rodenfels set last year. Thorner
finished second in 9:30.41, which put her at No. 6 on the world list. Angelina Ellis took third in
9:34.48, No. 7 in the world, and former Iowa State runner Janette Schraft, who won 11 state
high school titles on the Blue Oval, climbed into 12th on the world list with her fourth-place time
of 9:37.87. Two-time Polish national champion Aneta Koniecrek finished fifth in 9:38.84 (No. 14)
and was followed by India’s Ms Ankita at 9:30.00 (No. 15).
University-College Divisions
Disappointment For Iowa Sprinter
One of the top sprinters in the country won’t be competing for a Relays title in the men’s
university-college 100. Iowa’s Kalen Walker, who has the fifth-fastest time in the collegiate ranks
this spring, was knocked out of the race when he false-started in the preliminaries. Walker
has run a 10.06 and was considered a threat to break the Relays record of 10.11, set in 1983
by Alabama’s Calvin Smith. Samuel Blaskowski of Wisconsin-LaCrosse was the fastest qualifier
in 10.19. Blaskowski, the NCAA Division III record holder, has the nation’s seventh-fastest time
this spring at 10.09.
Easier By The Dozen For The Cyclones
The Iowa State men have a long history of success in the university-college 4×1600 relay, and
the Cyclones made it an even dozen titles with a runaway victory in 16:38.06. That’s top
collegiate time this year. The Cyclones are now tied with Illinois for the most Relays
championships in the event, though the Illini have not won it since 1982. Iowa State’s lead was
so comfortable that anchor runner Devan Kipyego could turn and wave to the crowd as he
neared the finish line. It was an all-Iowa top three as Drake finished second in 16:58.69 and
Iowa Central Community College was third in 16:59.78. Iowa State holds the Relays record in
the event, running 16:09.45 in 1981.
Memorable Debut For Oregon State Women
Oregon State freshman Ainsley Herron sprinted past Notre Dame’s Gretchen Farley in the final
stretch to give the Beavers a victory in the women’s 4×1600 relay. This is the first year the
Oregon State women have competed in the Relays and the program came away with a
memorable victory, finishing in 19:04.83 to edge Notre Dame, the defending champion, by five-
hundredths of a second. Notre Dame led from the start, and Ainsley stayed on Farley’s heels in
the final carry until her move came out of the final turn. It looked for a moment that
Farley might regain the lead, but Herron held on. Oregon State’s time is the best in the collegiate
ranks this spring. Oregon Women Return With a Flourish
Oregon ran away from the field to win the women’s university 4×800 relay, giving the Ducks
their second title of the evening session and their first wins at Drake in 26 years. The Ducks set
the pace early and increased their lead with each carry, finishing in 8:30.12 to post the third-
fastest time in the world this year. The victory came 50 minutes after Oregon sophomore Juliet
Cherubet won the 1500 in 4:13.11. This is the first time Oregon has brought a whole team to the
Relays since 1999, and the Ducks are making the most of their opportunity. Iowa State ran a
good race for second in the relay, finishing in 8:40.86.
Iowa Wins Cy-Hawk Duel With Sizzling Performance
The men’s university 4×800 relay turned into a Cy-Hawk showdown, with Iowa outrunning
perennial contender Iowa State for the title – and posting the No. 1 time in the world so far this
year. The Hawkeyes finished in 7:21.88 for their third Relays victory in the event, the two others
coming in 1929 and 2017. No one in the world has run faster this year. Iowa State sought
its second straight title in the event, sixth in the last seven Relays, and 15th overall. The
Cyclones settled for second in 7:23.10.
Two runners from Iowa high schools ran the opening legs for the Hawkeyes – Derek Leicht of
Dubuque Hempstead and James Fingalsen of Mason City. Ryan Schreiner and Terrick Johnson
followed to take the quartet to its victory.
Hometown Champ In Women’s 800
Thirty years after Gina DeWitt became the first Drake runner to win the women’s university-
In college 800, the Bulldogs’ Emilie Meye repeated the feat. Meyer, the Missouri Valley
Conference indoor 800 champion this year, outdueled Oregon’s Ella Nelson to win the race in
2:03.85 – less than nine-tenths of a second off the meet record. Nelson got second in 2:04.50.
Another Title For Tyus
Nebraska’s Tyus Wilson emerged from a championship showdown in the men’s university-
college high jump with his second straight Drake Relays title. Wilson, the reigning NCAA indoor
champion, cleared 7-3 (2.21m) to beat the defending Division II outdoor champ, Jaivon Harrison
of Grand Valley State. Harrison also cleared 7-3, but Wilson won on fewer misses. Harrison also
won the D-II indoor title last year and was second this year.
The Streak Goes On For Bradley
A Bradley duo continued the Braves’ success in the men’s university-college 1500. Sophomore
Jaxson Copeland won the race in 1:49.02, with freshman teammate Jamie Phillips behind
in 1:49.29. It’s the third straight year a Bradley runner has won the race after Jack Crull won in
2023 and 204. Crull will run in the invitational 1500 on Saturday. Copeland was the runner-up in
the mile at the Missouri Valley Conference indoor meet this year and finished fifth in the Drake
1500 last year. Phillips was the MVC indoor 800 champion.
Back On Top In The Shot
Minnesota’s Isaiah Schafer returned to the victory stand in the men’s university-college men’s
shot after a one-year absence. Schafer threw 62-11 ¼ (19.18m) to earn his second Relays title
in the event. He also won in 2023 but did not compete at Drake last year. He hit his
winning mark twice – on his second and fourth attempts. Nebraska’s Maxwell Otterdahl finished
second at 60-6 (18.44m). Mercy, Mercy Me
Iowa Western’s Mercy Honesty came into the meet as a three-time national junior college
champion, and now she owns a Drake Relays title. Honesty went 42-10 ¾ (13.07m) to win the
women’s university-college triple jump. She led after four rounds and secured the title
with her best jump of the day on her next attempt. Journey Amundson of Saint Louis finished
second at 41-7 ¾ (12.69m). Honesty is the national juco leader in the event, a 43-¼ (13.11), a
mark she posted at the national indoor championships.
It’s Francois By A Whisker
The university-college 400 produced one of the nation’s top times in the junior college ranks
while featuring a tight finish. Iowa Western’s Michael Francois edged Kansas State’s Tavon
Underwood to win in 46.44. That matches the No. 2 time among the nation’s juco runners this
year. Underwood was also timed at 46.44. Carrying those times out to another digit, Francois
came out six-thousandths of a second ahead (46.433 to 46.439).
Keeping Those Streaks Alive
Minnesota State continued its domination of the college sprint medley relay in both the men’s
and women’s divisions. The men won for the fourth straight year in 3:23.14, which is No. 1
among NCAA Division II teams this year. The women made it three in a row by running 4:00.86.
That is also the top time in Division II. Loras finished second in the men’s race with the No. 1
time in Division III this year, running 3:25.42.
High School Divisions
A Quick Entry Into The Record Book
It took all eight minutes to get the first noteworthy performance of the day. In the fourth heat
of the girls’ 100-meter hurdles preliminaries, West Des Moines Valley’s Emma Havighurst sped
to an all-time best in the event. Her time of 13.82 seconds bumped Iowa Girls’ High School
Athletic Union Hall of Famer Alex Gochenour of Logan-Magnolia is at the top of the list.
Gochenour had held that spot since 2010 with her time of 13.9. Havighurst’s time was faster
than the Relays record of 14.19, but the favoring wind was too strong to allow it as a record.
Havighurst matched her prelims time in the finals, and in that race, the wind was legal, so it goes
down as the Relays record. Waukee’s Sydney Winger set the old mark in 2018. Indianola’s
Josie McGraw was second in 13.98, which is No. 5 on the all-time list. Dowling Catholic’s Annie
Smith moved to No. 11 with her third-place time of 14.22.
Prairie Ace Follows Suit In Boys Race
Not to be outdone, Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Quinton Alexander improved his all-time best in the
boys’ 110 hurdles. Alexander won his preliminary heat in 13.55 seconds, slightly faster than the
13.64, he ran on his home track 11 days ago. Again, the favoring wind was too strong to allow
his time to stand as a relay record. That record is 13.84, set last year by Jaden Damiano of
Iowa Falls-Alden.
The final, later in the morning, went a different way. Alexander clipped the penultimate hurdle and
finished fourth in a race won by Treynor’s Brady Wallace in 13.80. Spirit Lake’s Cooper Winkel
was second in 13.98, Knoxville’s Koby Higginbotham took third in 14.15, and Alexander finished
in 14.18.Record Run For Dowling Catholic Boys
With Owen Wolfe running a swift anchor, Dowling Catholic of West Des Moines sped to a
The relay record is in the boys’ medley relay. Wolfe turned the final 800 meters in 1:50.76 to bring the
Maroons home in 3:25.35, moving them to No. 6 on the state’s all-time list. Norwalk was second
in 3:28.22, and Iowa City West, the champion the two previous years, was third in 3:29.49.
Prince Joins Throwing Royalty
Clear Creek-Amana’s Landon Prince put himself in an elite group with his victory in the boys’
discus, giving him a sweep of the throwing events. Prince threw 185-¼ to win the event by more
than 10 feet. That follows his victory in the shot put on Thursday, making him the sixth
thrower in Drake Relays history to double in the two events. Bishop Heelan’s Carson McInerney
was second at 174-3 ¾.
Morton Salts Away Third Shot Title
Charlee Morton of Hampton-Dumont-CAL became the second athlete to capture three straight
titles in the girls’ shot put with her winning throw of 46-9 ¼. She was the runner-up in the discus
on Thursday after winning that event the two previous years. Hall of Famer Danica Haight of
Iowa City West was the first to three-repeat in the shot from 2005-07. Spirit Lake’s
Lauren Travis was second in Friday’s competition at 45-6. Morton’s mark puts her at No. 14 on
the state’s all-time list.
Pella Christian Rules In Girls’ Medley
In a race filled with larger schools, Pella Christian grabbed the white Relays Flag in the girls’
Sprint medley relay. While running the 200 leg, Meredith Van Wyk gave the Eagles the lead, and
anchor Bailey Vos held off a charge by Clear Lake’s Reese Brownlee to give her team the
victory in 1:46.36. Brownlee, the long jump champion on Thursday, ran her 400 leg in 55.5 to
give the Lions second place in 1:46.88. Vos ran a 47.02 anchor.
Jaguars Sprint To Meet Record
Ankeny Centennial picked up its first victory in the 4×200 relay, and the Jaguars did it with a
record run. Centennial finished in 1:26.55 to break the Relays record of 1:27.14 that Cedar
Rapids Jefferson was set in 2018. The Jaguars’ time goes in at No. 7 on the state’s all-time list.
Second-place Newton also ran under the old record, finishing in 1:27.11.
Northwest Girls Repeat In 4×200
Waukee Northwest won the girls 4×200 relay for the second straight year, one of the best
times in state history. The Wolves turned the two laps in 1:40.97, putting them at No. 8 on the
state’s all-time list. Pella Christian, which won the sprint medley earlier in the day, was second
in 1:42.06 with three of the four members of the medley team.
Two Wins And Counting For Nauman
Western Dubuque’s Quentin Nauman became the first double winner in the boys division with a
record-tying victory in the 800. Nauman outran Des Moines Christian’s Caleb Ten Pas in the
final 50 meters to win 1:51.76. That ties the meet record that Dowling Catholic’s Ryan
Schweizer, set in 2016, is No. 12 on the state’s all-time list. Ten Pas finished second in
1:52.02. Nauman will try for victory No. 3 when he runs the 1600 on Saturday.
Kadence Counts Off A Victory
Nashua Plainfield’s Kadence Huck, a two-time Class 1A state champion in the girls’ 800, is now
a Drake Relays champ in the event. Huck beat a strong field and pulled away at the end, finishing at 2:10.51, which is No. 19 on the state’s all-time list. Pleasant Valley’s Brace
Boelyn was second in 2:11.73.
Put ‘Em On The List
Along with celebrating their Relays titles, the two 100-meter winners put their names on the state’s all-
time lists in their respective divisions. Girls winner Kelly Grobstich of Davenport Assumption ran
11.82, which is No. 14 all-time. That time matches the relay’s record but won’t count because
the favorable wind was too strong. Dowling Catholic’s Luke Nevitt charged out of lane 2 to win
the boys race in 10.57, which checks in at No. 7 on the all-time list. Runner-up Ben Frazier of
Waterloo West finished in 10.61, which ties for 16th on the all-time list.
She Runs As Well As She Jumps
Clear Lake’s Reese Brownlee earned her second girls championship of the weekend with a
near-record run in the 400. Brownlee won in 55.45 to match the relay record that Waukee’s
Angelina Carder set in 2024. That ties Brownlee with Carder for the No. 14 spot on the state’s
all-time list. Brownlee repeated her title in the long jump on Thursday.
That Was Close!
The boys’ 400 hardly could have been any closer, coming down to a difference of two-
thousandths of a second. Johnston’s Joshua Anglo got the victory with a time of 48.84, which
Nathan Miller of Center Point-Urbana ran in the first section. Taking their times out in another
place, Anglos came to 48.836 and Miller to 48.838.
Stafford Rolls To Third Straight Wheelchair Title
Mid-Prairie’s Jayden Stafford rolled to a third straight title in the boys’ wheelchair 400.
Stafford won the race with his fastest time ever, finishing in 1:02.90. Bedford’s Eli Johnson was
second in 1:06.61.
Live Results: https://results.
