Bednarek blasts wind-legal 20.29 seconds in 200 meters, Robinson outlasts Lovett in jumpoff; Iowa State rallies past Iowa to repeat in 4x800 relay for first time since 1978-79

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

DES MOINES – Kenny Bednarek has been used to running without significant competition since his arrival at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa.

But even against the toughest field Bednarek has faced in his young career, featuring several Olympians, the freshman standout from Rice Lake High in Wisconsin was still a level above everyone else in the invitational 200 meters Friday night at the 110th Drake Relays at Drake Stadium.

Bednarek clocked a wind-legal personal-best 20.29 seconds, the second-fastest time among American performers and equal to No. 8 in the world this year.

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Former Northern Iowa standout Brandon Carnes placed second in 20.62, with Yancarlos Martinez of the Dominican Republic in 20.80. American Wallace Spearmon, who won the last invitational 200 held at Drake Relays in 2012, finished fourth in 20.89.

Reigning USATF Outdoor high jump champion Jeron Robinson won a jumpoff with Canada’s Django Lovett in the Tokyo Countdown elite invitational men’s high jump.

Robinson and Lovett both cleared 7-5.25 (2.27m) during the competition, then on the fourth height of the jumpoff, Robinson soared over 7-5.75 (2.28m) to secure the victory.

CJ Allen prevailed in the Tokyo Countdown elite invitational men’s 400-meter hurdles in 49.57 seconds, with four athletes running under 50 seconds. Jeffery Gibson of the Bahamas, last year’s champion, was second in 49.92.

Iowa State repeated in the men’s 4x800-meter relay, with Festus Lagat rallying past Iowa’s Carter Lilly on the anchor leg, helping the Cyclones prevail by a 7:20.77 to 7:22.50 margin.

It marked the first time since 1978-79 that Iowa State produced back-to-back 4x800 victories.

Riley Dolezal, the stadium record holder, won the men’s javelin with a third-round throw of 251-9 (76.73m), No. 3 among American performers this season.

Wisconsin Eau-Claire senior David Kornack, the NCAA Division 3 indoor record holder, won the men’s shot put with a sixth-round mark of 63-7 (19.38m). Kornack became the first Division 3 athlete in meet history to capture the shot put title.

Despite having to cut his competition short due to a sore right knee following the winning height, South Dakota junior Zack Anderson cleared 7-2.50 (2.20m) to earn the victory.

Purdue teammates Jah Strange and Tamar Greene took the top two spots in the men’s triple jump. Strange, a junior, produced a third-round effort of 53-1.50 (16.19m) and Greene, a sophomore, jumped 53-0.75 (16.17m) in the same round.

Wichita State junior Zack Penrod ran a personal-best 3:42.96 in the 1,500 meters, with Oklahoma State relying on a strong anchor from Hassan Abdi to secure its third title in five years in the 4x1,600 relay in 16:39.79.

Iowa Central Community College freshman Courtney Lindsey ran a wind-legal 20.56 in the 200, No. 3 among all two-year college athletes nationally, and Iowa State junior Eric Fogltanz prevailed in the 400 hurdles in 50.98.

Sioux City East IA senior Ardell Inlay prevailed in a thrilling 100-meter showdown with Urbandale IA junior Harrison Waylee by a 10.878 to 10.880 margin.

Despite returning only Jay Marcotte from last year’s winning lineup, Urbandale IA repeated in the 1,600-meter sprint medley relay in 3:28.33.

Johnston IA senior Joe Schaefer not only won the 800 in 1:54.13, but he also anchored the 4x800 relay from fifth to first over the final two laps, splitting 1:54.75 to rally the Dragoons to victory in 7:58.66.

Linn-Mar IA senior Trent Davis secured a win in the 110-meter hurdles in a wind-aided 13.99 and Bettendorf IA senior Darien Porter clocked 47.94 in the 400.

Dike-New Hartford IA junior Parker Kiewiet delivered the winning leap in the long jump in the sixth round with a state-leading effort of 22-8 (6.90m).

Cedar Rapids Kennedy IA senior Cam Jones captured the discus throw title with a third-round mark of 178-5 (54.38m) and West Des Moines Valley earned victory in the 4x200-meter relay in 1:27.76, securing its first title since winning three in a row from 2005-07.