April 28, 2006
NOTE: This is the first release of two today. The 4x800-meter relays are being ran at approx. 8:45 and a release will follow around 9:30 with results from those relays and of the men's and women's shot put. Live results and a live broadcast are on drakerelays.org.
COLUMBIA, Mo.--The 97th Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, is off to a fast start and so are the Missouri Tiger track and field squad. Before a steady rain set in Friday afternoon, the Tiger men's 4x1600-meter relay and women's distance medley relay both grabbed top five positions, getting ready for competitive 4x800-meter relays to be ran under the lights late Friday evening. The Drake Relays will feature events in the evening for the first time since 1967.
The men's 4x1600-meter relay team started the day as a pleasant surprise for the Tigers. Placing fifth in a field that started like a stock race with 32 teams, Missouri clocked an impressive 16:34.35 thanks to four near-perfect legs. It was the team's best finish in the relay since the 1996 squad placed fourth.
Garett Jeffries (St. Louis, Mo.) opened by putting the Tigers in great position, sticking in the middle of the pack, drafting to cruise to a 4:11.6 leg. Jeffries handed to Tim Cornell (Columbia, Mo. / Hickman HS) in seventh and Cornell also stuck near the back of the lead-pack of 10 runners before motoring to a 57.2 closing-lap to his 4:07.0 leg to surge the Tigers from eighth to third in the backstretch.
Cornell handed to redshirt freshman Michael Barrows (Flint, Mich.), who battled with Illinois for third before getting spiked in the backstretch of his second lap to fall to sixth. By the third lap, Barrows had fell to eighth before closing to third with a 60.4 final lap to hand to senior Matt Noonan. Noonan (Baldwin City, Kan.), traditionally a steeplechaser, may have run one of the best races of his career, running a 4:05.1 closing leg to keep the Tigers in the top five.
The women's distance medley relay team had a rougher go than expected, but was able to salvage a fourth-place finish, the team's fourth top five finish in six years, clocking a 11:21.30. After a great opening 1200-meter leg by Ashley Patten of 3:25.7 that put Mizzou in second, the baton went to sophomore Kaela Rorvig. Rorvig was cruising along the backstretch when suddenly a small bump by a passing runner caused her to lose the baton. Rorvig picked up the baton and continued to race and was able pull within seven seconds with a fifth-place standing. Sophomore Trisa Nickoley ran a solid 800-meter leg at 2:07.9 to pull the team to fourth. Senior Amanda Bales kept the team in their position with her 1600-meter anchor leg.
Thursday Review
Senior Serena Ramsey ran a 16:22.67, placing second in the women's 5000-meter run Thursday evening. Her time is good for NCAA-regional qualifying and places her in the top-five all-time at Missouri and in the top-25 in the NCAA so far this season.
Sophomore Colten Green placed ninth in the men's 10,000-meter run, clocking a 31:14.36. Senior Josh Davis was 13th in the men's 5000 meter with a 14:40.27.
Saturday Preview
Tomorrow, many events will feature Tigers with chances to place high. Tiger collegiate events Saturday include the women's 4x1600-meter relay, the men's distance medley relay, and the men's 800-meter run. In addition, Tiger throwers will compete in the hammer throw events as well as the women's discus.
Post-collegian Christian Cantwell looks to continue his hot start to the outdoor season in the men's special invitational shot put. Many believe Cantwell is an odds-on-favorite to break the elusive 34-year-old Drake Relays record in the event. Timothy Dunne and 2004 Olympian Derrick Peterson in entered in the special men's 800-meter race.
Live Results and Live Broadcast
Watch the free, live webcast via Drake Broadcasting system here, http://www.drakebroadcasting.com/.
Live results can also be found at drakerelays.org.
Unofficial Relay Splits
Men's 4x1600-meter Relay
Final time: 16.34.35 ... place: 5th
Lead off: Garrett Jeffries (Fr.), 4:11.6 ... 63.7, 66.6, 61.4, 60.4
Second leg: Tim Cornell (Fr.), 4:07.0 ... 62.5, 63.4, 64.1, 57.2
Third leg: Michael Barrows (Fr.), 4:08.9 ... 62.5, 63.6, 62.4, 60.4
Anchor leg: Matt Noonan (Sr.), 4:05.1 ... 58.6, 62.0, 64.3, 60.2
Women's Distance Medley Relay
Final time: 11:21.30 ... place: 4th
1200-meter leg: Ashley Patten (Sr.), 3:25.7 ... 67.1, 71.5, 67.3
400-meter leg: Kaela Rorvig (So.), 59.5
800-meter leg: Trisa Nickoley (So.), 2:07.9
1600-meter leg: Amanda Bales (Sr.), 4:47.7 ... 67.9, 73.2, 74.3, 72.3