Results / Saturday Start Lists
DES MOINES, Iowa - The Boilermakers claimed three coveted Drake Relays white flags - the prize given to each event winner - Friday. Senior Micaela Hazlewood broke the school record to win the discus before freshman Rahman Minor was the champion of the men's high jump. Senior Brionna Thomas wrapped up the day with a win in the 200-meter dash.
Hazlewood advanced to finals in the women's discus with a throw of 54.60 meters (179-1), which came on her second attempt. That was the second-best throw of the competition to that point. She would remain in that spot until her final attempt when she uncorked a throw of 57.34 meters (188-1), which broke her own school record by 1 foot, 11 inches. The toss was the best in Friday's competition by 6 feet, 10 inches and is the best throw at Drake since 2006 (Becky Breisch, Nebraska - 202-5). Hazlewood now ranks 11th in the country this season.
"I was pretty excited to end with a personal record," Hazlewood said. "There was a tailwind, so we were a little concerned with how the discus would fly, but I'm excited with the outcome. I've finished second, third and fourth in the discus at this meet in the past, so it seems only right I finally got the win."
Moments after Hazlewood's victory, Minor became the third Purdue man in school history to win the Drake Relays high jump competition. As he did all afternoon, the freshman came up clutch on a third attempt. He need three attempts at 2.08 meters (6-9.75) and 2.12 meters (6-11.50) before heading to 2.16 meters (7-1). After two misses, he was set to finish runner-up if he did not clear. But, for the third bar in a row, he cleared to win the meet. He is the first Boilermaker to win the Drake Relays high jump since Geoff Davis in 2013. Richard Kilpatrick also won the event for Purdue in 1945.
"I started out slow and had a few misses," Minor said. "When it came down to the top seven, I had to really lock in. I got the crowd to help me out and I think that was the difference. It feels good to get the win because it's my first year in college and it's my first Drake Relays. It was a good experience to win and have the crowd help me out with everyone watching. I really liked that a lot."
Thomas gave the Boilermakers their third win of the day with the women's 200-meter dash. Aided by a tailwind of 3.1 meters per second, Thomas was side-by-side with Ohio State's Maggie Barrie out of the curve. From there, Thomas used the straightaway to pull away and finish with a time of 22.99 seconds. It is her first career sub-23-second 200-meter dash.
"I feel great breaking 23, even if it's with the wind," Thomas said. "It's just my second 200 of the year, so I'm excited with my time. I knew I had to drive out to get through the wind at the start. I don't get much curve and sprint practice since I usually run the 400, it was just a strength race."
The Purdue women earned two spots in the 100-meter dash finals after qualifying through the prelims. Freshman Sekayi Bracey won her heat with a time of 11.83 seconds to earn an automatic bid, while junior Yakira Love ran a wind-legal (+2.0) PR with a time of 11.59 seconds to earn the fastest at-large berth. Love's time ranks fifth in school history.
Senior Savannah Roberson had the top overall time in the 100-meter hurdles prelims. She ran a time of 13.38 seconds into a headwind of 1.5 meters per second. Her time was the fastest by 0.19 of a second to earn her a spot in Saturday's final.
Roberson was also part of the fastest 4x100-meter relay team. She teamed with Bracey, Love and Charlton to finish with a time of 44.52 seconds. That was 1.06 seconds faster than anyone else on the day to earn them a spot in Saturday's final.
The women's 4x400-meter relay had the fastest qualifying time Friday. The team of sophomore Myia Dorsey, sophomore Samara Miller, junior Kyelah Hodges and senior Symone Black ran a time of 3:38.10 to advance to finals. The group's time was 5.19 seconds better than anyone else in the prelim.
Sophomore Waseem Williams advanced to the men's 100-meter dash final with a wind-legal PR. He posted a time of 10.24 seconds (+1.8), which was the second fastest of the prelims. His time ranks second in school history.
Williams was also part of the 4x100-meter relay team that advanced to Saturday finals. He teamed with senior Gerald McGee, junior Shawndail McLaren and freshman Jordan Hollis to post a time of 40.23 seconds. That time was the fourth fastest of the prelims.
McLaren and Hollis also ran with the 4x400-meter relay team that advanced to finals. They teamed with junior Kinard Rolle and sophomore Malcolm Dotson to finish with a time of 3:13.53, which was the fifth-fastest of the day.
Senior Justin Veteto advanced to the 110-meter hurdles finals after running a time of 14.29 seconds into a headwind of 3.5 meters per second. He will compete Saturday for the Relays crown.
Freshman Jalil Brewer finished third in the shot put in his inaugural Drake Relays. He had a best throw of 18.17 meters (59-7.50) which came on his opening toss.
Freshman Tessa Sheets tied her personal record in the women's pole vault. She cleared 3.90 meters (12-9.50) on her first attempt. She finished tied for seventh in the competition.
The Boilermakers conclude the Drake Relays Saturday. Action is set to begin at 10 a.m. ET.