Des Moines, Iowa – Mixed among the field of Olympic-caliber athletes in the 400-meter hurdles London Games Rematch Friday were two of Drake's own, hurdles coach LaRon Bennett and 2012 grad Jon DeGrave. The pair competed against the top 400-meter hurdlers in the world and 2012 London Olympic Games Silver Medalist Michael Tinsley, who won the event in 48.55.
“It was awesome,” said DeGrave, a three-time Missouri Valley Conference champion in the 400-meter hurdles. “Just to be down here, to compete again these guys, is a dream of mine. I'd like to have run a lot better obviously, but when you run with them you know what it takes to be able to run with them, they're on a whole nother level. You can look at it as depressing or you know what you've got to do, it's inspiring to try and run with them next year.”
DeGrave ran a time of 53.69, which is slow compared to some of his personal-bests but was unusually in the first lane and battled a strong head wind throughout.
Bennett has been in big races before, competing at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2004, 2008 and 2012. The experience brought back memories. He also felt a unique sense of pride wearing the honorary Drake white jersey for the first time.
“I really had a sense of pride,” Bennett said. “Even though I'm a Bulldog at heart, I think I was converted today. I was excited to at least take part of putting on a show.”
Bennett's biggest take away was being able to bring more notoriety to the Drake Relays.
“I came out healthy and I was able to help contribute to the notoriety of the Drake Relays. I think that people get a big sense that Drake is about the relays, but we also have some up and coming Drake athletes that are going to be making their showing on big stages like this,” Bennett said.
Senior Kevin Harp (Iowa City, Iowa) threw a season's best and his third best throw all time in the men's javelin competition. His throw of 206-2 was good enough for seventh place. His three top throws in his career have all come during the Drake Relays.
Harp's teammate freshman David Silkman (Lenexa, Kan.) was 15th in the event with a throw of 182-4.
Bennett was happy of his student-athletes effort.
“I'm proud of them,” he said. “Very proud of them. From the beginning I told them, this is a home meet for us, we should be representing Drake at the Drake Relays. From day one, I just mentally prepared them for it.”
On the women's side, seniors Sarah Yeager (Ottumwa, Iowa) and Marissa Smith (Ajax, Ontario) tore into a strong head wind in the 100-meter hurdles and just missed qualifying for the finals. Yeager was 11th in 11.44 while Smith was just behind in 12th in 14.47. Freshman Destani Welch (Des Moines, Iowa) who ran in the relays for the first time as a collegiate athlete was 26th in 15.21.
“I had a chance to warm-up with them so I told them 'This is practice now, you've just got people in the stands' so I'm very proud of them, very proud of them,” Bennett said.
The team also had a strong showing in the 4x200 relay. Spurred by a phenomenal anchor leg by former Drake Relays Most Outstanding Athlete senior Whitney Westrum (Waukee, Iowa), the squad that also included juniors Danyelle Cole (Kansas City, Kan.) and Tiara Winston (Denton, Texas) as well as sophomore Ariel Kinlow (Brown Deer, Wis.), finished fifth in a time of 1:38.25.
The same squad also finished 20th in the 4x100 relay in 47.44, their third best time this season.
104th Drake Relays
Drake Men
Individual Results
Javelin
7. Kevin Harp, 206-2
15. David Silkman, 182-4
London Games Rematch
6. LaRon Bennett, 51.47
8. Jon DeGrave, 53.69
104th Drake Relays
Drake Women
Individual Results
100-Meter Hurdles
11. Sarah Yeager, 14.44
12. Marissa Smith, 14.47
26. Destani Welch, 15.21
4x100 Relay
20. Drake 'A' – Cole, Winston, Kinlow, Westrum – 47.44
4x200 Relay
5. Drake 'A' – Cole, Winston, Kinlow, Westrum – 1:38.25
