Iowa earns third men’s team title and Kentucky women capture first; Muhammad adds to her 400 hurdles legacy at Drake Stadium, with Sowinski achieving milestone 200th career sub-1:50 performance in 800 at Jim Duncan Track

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

DES MOINES, Iowa – For an athlete who has achieved a world record at Jim Duncan Track inside Drake Stadium, winning a title at the 112th Drake Relays Presented by Xtream and Powered by Mediacom and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield might not seem to be of the greatest significance in the exceptional career of Dalilah Muhammad.

But following second-place finishes for Muhammad at “America’s Athletic Classic” in 2016 and 2018, the Olympic champion and World Outdoor gold medalist finally added a Drake Relays championship flag to her collection Saturday in the first 400 hurdles race of her outdoor season, eclipsing the meet record by clocking 53.88 seconds, with training partner Gianna Woodruff of Panama placing second in 54.88.

Muhammad, who ran 52.20 at the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships to produce a then world record, lowered the meet record of 54.41 established in 2013 by Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic.

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On a cold and windy day with light rain throughout the schedule, Muhammad’s performance was one of many highlights, along with Erik Sowinski achieving his 200th career sub-1:50 performance with a runner-up effort in the 800 meters and the Relay Cup team titles being captured for the first time by the Kentucky women and the third occasion by the Iowa men.

Sowinski, 32, appeared as if his milestone achievement might also come with a Drake Relays flag, but his late surge on the outside wasn’t enough to catch reigning NCAA Division 1 champion and U.S. Olympian Isaiah Jewett, who prevailed in 1:48.84. Sowinski, who ran sub-1:50 for the 14th time at Jim Duncan Track, clocked 1:49.38.

Two-time Olympic shot put champion Ryan Crouser returned to competition for the first time following a silver medal March 19 at the World Indoor Championships in Serbia – his first loss following 26 consecutive victories – to begin a new streak by winning with a fourth-round effort of 70-11.75 (21.63m).

Crouser has won six consecutive events at Drake Stadium since a second-place finish at the 2018 USATF Outdoor Championships.

A pair of Olympic gold medalists in the high hurdles experienced varying results, with Jamaica’s Hansle Parchment holding off former Iowa standout Jamal Britt by a 13.47 to 13.53 margin in the invitational 110 hurdles and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico not finishing the 100 hurdles.

Tia Jones, who trains with Camacho-Quinn, rallied over the final two hurdles to edge fellow American Tonea Marshall 12.84 to 12.85 to secure the victory.

Alison dos Santos, the Olympic bronze medalist in the 400 hurdles representing Brazil, repeated as Drake Relays champion in 48.41, just off his meet-record 48.15 last season.

Despite the strong winds, the invitational middle-distance winners all produced runaway victories.

Allie Wilson of Atlanta Track Club Elite was four seconds faster than the rest of the field on the second lap to win the 800 in 2:03.87.

Laura Galvan of HOKA ONE ONE, representing Mexico, prevailed in the women’s 1,500 in 4:09.82, including a 65-second final lap to move from fourth place and achieve the title, as Adelle Tracey of Great Britain was second in 4:11.09.

Sam Tanner of New Zealand, representing PUMA Elite, stretched his lead over the final two laps of the men’s 1,500 and cruised to victory in 3:41.28, with no other athlete running under 3:45.

The jumping and pole vault competitions presented several challenges for the athletes as well, evidenced by Olympic silver medalist Chris Nilsen and fellow American Jacob Wooten both clearing 18-4.50 (5.60m). Nilsen, who had a streak of 17 straight meets with a 19-0.50 (5.80m) clearance halted, prevailed on fewer attempts than Wooten.

Vashti Cunningham needed a third-attempt clearance at 6-2.75 (1.90m) to triumph in the high jump and secure a fourth consecutive victory at Drake Stadium.

Keturah Orji achieved a wind-aided effort of 21-11 (6.68m) in the first round of the long jump, forcing the rest of the field to try to chase her mark as the conditions became more uncertain as the competition unfolded. Chanice Porter of Jamaica finished second with a wind-aided fourth-round mark of 21-7.50 (6.59m).

Lara Boman, representing Velaasa, secured victory in the invitational women’s hammer throw with a fifth-round performance of 224-8 (68.49m).

Kentucky clinched its Relay Cup title with a women’s 4x400 victory in 3:33.60, finishing with 36 points.

The Wildcats also prevailed in the 1,600-meter sprint medley relay in 3:48.65, with their bid to challenge the collegiate record dashed by the inclement weather, resulting in Kentucky deciding to rest All-American Abby Steiner in preparation for the upcoming Southeastern Conference Championships.

Kentucky also took third in the distance medley relay in 11:21.15, an event won by Oklahoma State in 11:04.64, as part of a sweep by the Cowboys, who also prevailed in the men’s race in 9:40.60.

Alexis Holmes and Dajour Miles contributed to three victories for Kentucky, including Friday in the 4x200 win in 1:32.98.

It marked the second women’s team title for Kentucky coach Lonnie Greene, who was formally inducted Thursday in the Drake Relays Hall of Fame, after he led Purdue to the Relay Cup in 2018.

Iowa followed its men’s championships in 2017 and 2018 by winning with 36 points, including a 1,600 sprint medley relay victory in 3:18.06.

The Hawkeyes also triumphed in the 4x110 shuttle hurdles relay for the first time since 1984 by clocking 56.74, although the performance doesn’t contribute to the Relay Cup standings.

James Carter also became the first male athlete since 2006 to win the men’s long jump and triple jump in the same year at Drake Relays with a wind-aided 51-9.75 (15.39m) performance in the fifth round.

Iowa also took third runner-up by a 39.59 to 40.50 margin in the 4x100 relay, and added third-place finishes in the 4x400, 4x800 and DMR.

Following a meet-record in the 4x100 prelims, North Carolina A&T was disqualified for a baton pass outside of the exchange zone in the final.

The Aggies rebounded to win the 4x400 in 3:05.81, with Kentucky placing second in 3:07.39.

Michigan won the women’s 4x100 in 45.22, with Aasia Laurencin pulling double duty after emerging victorious in the 100 hurdles in 13.30.

Joshua Zeller also prevailed in the 110 hurdles for the Wolverines in 13.79.

Wisconsin’s Lawrence Johnson held off Northern Iowa’s Isaiah Trousil, the 200-meter champion, by a 10.56 to 10.66 margin.

North Carolina A&T’s Grace Nwokocha clocked 11.98 to win the women’s 100 final.

Makayla Jackson, the runner-up for Minnesota State in 12.17, helped the Mavericks win their section of the 4x100 relay in 45.47 to triumph for the second year in a row.

Indian Hills Community College of Iowa triumphed in its section of the men’s 4x100 in 40.19.

Augustana of South Dakota swept its sections of the distance medley, with the women equaling the record in its division of four consecutive victories achieved by Olivet Nazarene by clocking 11:42.94.

Ryan Hartman rallied the men’s team past Loras College in the final 200 meters to help Augustana secure victory in 9:53.62.

Amy Phillips helped North Dakota State win for the fourth straight time in the women’s hammer throw, rallying in the sixth round to prevail in 216-7 (66.01m).

Minnesota secured victories in the men’s discus and hammer throw events ahead of hosting the Big Ten Championships.

Kostas Zaltos of Greece won the hammer throw with a sixth-round effort of 236 feet (71.95m) and Kaleb Siekmeier triumphed in the discus with a third-round mark of 179-4 (54.67m).

Eastern Illinois emerged victorious for the first time in the 4x100 women’s shuttle hurdles in 58.03, despite competing in the opening of three sections.

Utah won its section of the women’s 4x400 relay in 3:41.95, along with the North Dakota State men in 3:09.90.

Iowa Western Community College was denied a sweep in its section of the 4x400 when the men’s team was disqualified, resulting in Minnesota State-Moorhead earning the win in 3:14.40. Iowa Western clocked 3:44.29 to prevail in the women’s race.