Kentucky, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and North Carolina A&T all produce strong relay performances, including the Wildcats winning the women’s 4x800 in 8:25.25, with Ross clocking a meet-record 44.95 in 400 and Basten ending 40-year drought in 1,500 for Drake by holding off Zahafi 

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor/Photos by Lily Dozier

DES MOINES, Iowa – Isaac Basten delivered one of the most memorable performances by a Drake athlete on Jim Duncan Track to energize the faithful crowd Friday at Drake Stadium.

Randolph Ross of North Carolina A&T showcased a pair of record-setting performances in individual competition and on the 4x100-meter relay.

And the Kentucky women’s 4x800-meter relay demonstrated the Wildcats are much more well-rounded than just an elite sprint and hurdle program Friday at the 112th Drake Relays Presented by Xtream and Powered by Mediacom and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

RESULTS | RACE VIDEOS | INTERVIEWS | PHOTOS

Iowa State won its fourth straight men’s 4x800 relay, Oklahoma State achieved a third consecutive women’s 4x1,600 title and Kentucky also swept the 4x200 relays, just like the Wildcats did in 2019, on a day when the most significant relay performance came from Phoebe McCowan, DeAnna Martin, Jenna Gearing and Jenna Schwinghamer.

The Kentucky quartet clocked a meet-record 8:25.25, eclipsing the 2019 mark of 8:25.41 by Oklahoma State, which finished second in 8:28.17. It was the first 4x800 crown for Kentucky in meet history, establishing a strong foundation for the Wildcats in their pursuit to capture the Relay Cup team title.

Kentucky also had Dajour Miles, Megan Moss, Shadajah Ballard and Alexis Holmes run 1:32.98 to prevail in the women’s 4x200, with Brian Faust, Kenroy Williams, Tai Brown and Rodney Heath clocking 1:23.11 to triumph in the men’s 4x200.

Cebastian Gentil, Peter Smith, Darius Kipyego and Jason Gomez led Iowa State to a 7:17.47 performance, helping the Cyclones become the first program in meet history to win at least four in a row in the 4x800 since Kansas captured five consecutive titles from 1958-62.

Ryan Ford, Chad Johnson, Ezekiel Kibichii and Nehemia Too rolled to victory in the 4x1,600 relay for Iowa State, which clocked 16:23.05 to capture the 10th title in the event in meet history for the Cyclones.

Heidi Demeo, Sivan Auerbach, Lilly Lavier and Taylor Roe extended Oklahoma State’s streak in the women’s 4x1,600, with a 19:03.37 effort, the third-fastest time in meet history.

North Carolina A&T took down a 1983 meet record in the men’s 4x100 prelims, with Tavarius Wright, Daniel Stokes, Javonte Harding and Ross clocking 38.84, eclipsing the record of 38.96 established by Alabama.

Ross also ran 44.95 in the 400 to add another record-setting performance.

Basten held off Moad Zahafi of Texas Tech in an eagerly anticipated 1,500 showdown, producing the first victory in the event by a Drake male athlete since 1981, edging the Moroccan challenger by a 3:39.11 to 3:39.59 margin.

Zahafi entered the meet as the world leader in the 800 at 1:43.69, but Basten closed in 56.47 in comparison to the Texas Tech standout running the final 400 in 57.39.

Illinois’ Olivia Howell split 63.47 on her final lap to triumph in the women’s 1,500 in 4:15.50.

Kentucky’s Masai Russell began her pursuit of sweeping the 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles and 4x100 shuttle hurdle relay. Russell secured a victory in the 400 hurdles in 56.27, along with qualifying for the 100 hurdles final in 13.59.

Cory Poole of North Carolina A&T clocked 50.27 in the men’s 400 hurdles to earn his first career Drake Relays flag after winning at Penn Relays as a high school at East Orange in New Jersey in 2017.

Ziyah Holman of Michigan prevailed in the women’s 400 in 53.36.

Rachel Hickey of Illinois State emerged victorious in the women’s 800 in 2:08.32.

Ackeen Colley of Western Illinois improved from a third-place effort last year in the men’s 800 to win in 1:48.57.

Iowa State’s Emily March became the first female athlete in program history to capture the Drake Relays flag in the discus throw with a sixth-round performance of 189-11 (57.88m).

Iowa’s James Carter produced an all-conditions best performance in the men’s long jump with a wind-aided leap in the first round of 25-8.75 (7.84m), securing his second title, along with a 2019 victory.

A pair of Estonian athletes achieved victories, along with Swedish thrower Axelina Johansson of Nebraska.

Johansson prevailed with a mark of 56-11.50 (17.36m) in the shot put and teammate Maxwell Otterdahl overcome a sluggish start to perform in the clutch with a sixth-round effort of 63-9.50 (19.44m) to surpass fellow Nebraska thrower Alexander Talley at 63-5 (19.33m).

Marleen Mulla increased South Dakota’s streak to five straight women’s pole vault victories with a 14-foot (4.27m) clearance and fellow Estonian athlete Lishanna Ilves achieved a fifth-round leap of 20-7.75 (6.29m) for Nebraska to win the long jump.

Mayson Conner of Nebraska survived a thrilling showdown against Rahman Minor of Kentucky, prevailing on fewer attempts after both individuals cleared 7-1 (2.16m).

Maddie Harris added another win for Nebraska, emerging victorious in the javelin with a throw of 165 feet (50.29m).

Miracle Ailes, a former two-time Drake Relays high school high jump champion at Keokuk, added a third victory competing as a freshman at Iowa Western Community College.

Ailes cleared 5-11.50 (1.82m) on her first opportunity, with Jenna Rogers of Nebraska needing two tries to extend the competition.

Matthew Peare of Kentucky achieved a 17-7 (5.36m) clearance in the men’s pole vault.

Marcus Weaver of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, the reigning NCAA Division 3 champion in the decathlon and javelin throw. Weaver produced a mark of 211-3 (64.38m) to become the first Division 3 competitor to win at Drake Relays since 1957.

D’Andra Morris of University of Mary secured victory in the women’s triple jump with a wind-aided 42-3.25 (12.88m) effort in the sixth round.

Northern Iowa’s Isaiah Trousil clocked 20.73 to take the men’s 200.

North Carolina A&T’s Delecia McDuffie ran 23.44 to prevail in the women’s 200.

Minnesota State earned a victory in the men’s 1,600-meter sprint medley relay in 3:22.75 with a lineup including Shaheed Hickman, Kenry Atubel, Carter Nesvold and Tanner Maier.

Gustavus Adolphus produced its first win in program history in the women’s 1,600 sprint medley relay, with Kate Carlson, Makenna Huetten, Birgen Nelson and Elizabeth Donnelly clocking 3:59.32 from the first of three sections.

Augustana of South Dakota had PJ English, Meagan Schenk, Caroline Sudbeck and Cami Streff team up to win its section of the women’s 4x800 in 8:57.75.

Loras College earned a men’s 4x800 victory in its section, as Carter Oberfoell, Ryan Harvey, Wyatt Kelly, Mike Jasa clocked 7:28.23.