Impressive Performances at Drake Relays Trump Poor Weather

Adam Nelson. Photo by Glenda Boyd.

-Des Moines, Iowa - April 25, 2009. By Jerry Boyd.

The big stories were nonstop from the 100th Drake Relays in Des Moines, IA. Twenty of the century’s top athletes were honored for their participation over the years, from Jessie Owens to Essie Kelly Washington. Michael Johnson and Gwen Torrence were selected as the male and female athletes of the century. The Drake Relays is in its first year as one of the first outdoor events in the 2009 Visa Championship Series. The weather also claimed its share of the news starting with near perfect weather the first two days and a cold, rainy Saturday for the final day of competition.

Lolo Jones was scheduled to run the 100m hurdles and the fans came to life as she stepped on the wet track in a tuxedo like two-piece uniform. She got a good start but started pulling up before the 8th hurdle and was unable to finish the race. The crowd was stunned as she was carted off holding her right hamstring. Jones later came back on the field to speak to the sold out stadium saying that there had been some soreness for a few weeks and if it had not been the Drake Relays she “would have pulled out” of the meet.

Jones reassured everyone saying, “it is only a slight tear, and is not as bad as it seems.”  Again the fans responded with appreciation as Jones walked gingerly off the field.  Michigan’s Tiffany Ofili won the race with the worlds third fastest time of 12.82.

In the men’s 400m Special, Olympic Gold medalist and former Drake champion Jeremy Wariner dominated the field, starting strong and hit it hard at the 300m mark to finish with a convincing 45.06 for the second fastest time in the world. This is Wariner’s first 400m of the season and after wards Wariner said, “I really wanted to give the crowd a good show.”  The four time Olympic medalist is competing in two week in Osaka.

Lauren Hagans won the women’s 1500m with a strong run of 4:18.24 and Alan Webb continues to be unbeaten at Drake in the men’s mile at 4:00.61

The men’s 400m hurdles featured a heavily loaded field with former LSU standout Isa Phillips taking the win with a 49.60. The cold and rain required a little extra warm up, but Philips said, “at this level you have to be able to compete regardless of the weather”. His next appearance will be in Jamaica next week.

The best race of the day might have been the high school boy’s 4 X 400m relay. On the anchor leg Indianola and Waukee came down the home stretch shoulder to shoulder with Waukee appearing to cross the line first but an out of control lean and hard fall got the win for Indianola by one, one hundredth of a second, 3:23.15.

Once again Baylor is the Drake Relays 4X400m relay champion at 3:05.11. They have compiled an impressive string of victories winning 18 of the last 21 years and 5 straight titles in Des Moines. The victory was also the relays 40th consecutive 4 X 400m collegiate win.

Suzy Powell-Roos won the women’ discus with a throw of 59.15m – 194’01” but second place winner and Olympic champion Stephanie Brown-Trafton 58.76m – 192’09” was able to put the day in perspective. Brown-Trafton was prepared for the rain and saying ”it is a great opportunity to not be afraid to compete in wet weather” because the U.S. Championships will be held in Des Moines next year. This was Brown-Trafton’s first competing in Drake and  she went on to say, “I am happy that there is a town outside of Eugene that is into track and field”.

Jerry Boyd is a sportswriter for PreRaceJitters.com. All photos by Glenda Boyd.

Related posts:

1. Begley & McLain post record-setting performances at USA Outdoor Championships
2. Lolo Jones is back and it shows
3. Dix, Wariner, Oliver, Payne, & Crawford headline men’s sprints & hurdles at USA Outdoor Championships
4. Olympic medalists headline men’s sprints & hurdles at USA Outdoor Championships
5. Felix, Jones and Rowbury lead the way into Des Moines