Thursday, May 2, 2013
What's Ahead: The Drake men's track and field squad will head west to Lincoln, Neb. on Sunday to compete in the 2013 Nebraska Invitational. Held at Ed Weir Stadium, field events will begin at 1 p.m. with the shot put while events on the track will begin at 3:20 p.m. with the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Following the Meet: Live results will be available through a link at GoDrakeBulldogs.com or through this link: http://www.huskers.com/fls/100/trackstats/13NebraskaInvite/index.htm?&&SPSID=92&SPID=32&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=100
Last Time Out: Junior Brogan Austin (Boone, Iowa) became the first Drake student-athlete in 18 years to win a title at the Drake Relays by winning the men's 5,000 meters on Thursday night.
Austin was with the leaders the entire race but was trapped in on the inside lane for a good portion of it. He was able to fight his way outside and kick with 400 meters to go, taking the lead on the backstretch and holding off North Central's John Cain for the victory.
Austin's winning time of 14:12.20 is the best mark in the MVC this season. The win is the first since Gina DeWitt won the women's 800 meters in 1995 and the first male to win since Shaun Benefield who won the men's 800 meters in 1995.
Junior Omet Kak (Des Moines, Iowa) ran a season's best in the 800 in 1:52.75. Freshman teammate Jim Saxton (La Crosse, Wis.), 1:53.62, and fifth-year senior Charlie Lapham (Golden Valley, Minn.), 1:54.60, were ninth and 11th respectively.
Friday saw javelin standout junior Kevin Harp (Iowa City, Iowa) throw the third best mark of his career in 206-2. It was the second time in as many weeks he has throw a mark over 200 feet and a season's best for any Drake athlete. Each of Harp's three career best throws have come at the Drake Relays.
Freshman David Silkman (Lenexa, Kan.) threw his second best throw of his career, 182-4.
Saturday saw freshman Rob McCann (Mississauga, Ontario) run a Drake season best in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. His time of 9:05.80 was almost 20 seconds faster than his previous best and good enough for fifth in a talented field.
A Year Ago: Lapham ran a personal best in the 1500 at the Arkansas Twilight meet against some of the nations top competition. His time of 3:46.79 earned sixth while Kak was eighth in 3:47.79.
The majority of the team spent their time at the Messersmith Invitational in Cedar Falls, Iowa and claimed three titles.
Jon DeGrave won the 200 meters in 21.78 while Brett Wright (Longmont, Colo.) was third in 21.97. DeGrave also had a critical role on the 4x100 and 4x400 relays that also won.
The 4x1 sprinted to a 42.42 time while the 4x4 claimed a winning time of 3:21.19.
Up Next: It'll be back to the blue oval for the Bulldogs who will host the 2013 MVC Outdoor Championships running May 10-12.
