Stevens, Jr. Repeats as Drake Relays Triple Jump Champion
4/27/2018 9:16:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
DES MOINES, Iowa — Craig Stevens, Jr. successfully defended his men's triple jump crown at the Drake Relays on Friday.
The All-American recorded a top mark of 51'-0.75" to become just the eighth jumper to win the event at the Drake Relays in consecutive years and the first repeat winner since 1998. Ranked No. 8 in the country, Stevens, Jr. had the top two jumps of the competition to earn his first victory of the outdoor season after three straight runner-up finishes.
"It feels amazing to be a Drake Relays champion again," said Stevens, Jr. "I just go out there and do my thing. Just relax and execute what we practice every day."
Anthony Milliner placed ninth in the event with a mark of 47'-3.75".
Kent State had several standout performances in women's field events with a trio of Golden Flashes placing in the top-six in the pole vault leading the way. Maria Horrigan and Sam Tollerud were among the five athletes who recorded a top height 13'-3.5". Horrigan was successful on her first two attempts of the day before needing a second try at 13'-3.5" and tied for third. Tollerud had an additional missed attempt at 12'-9.5" and finished fifth. Ally Thompson cleared 12'-9.5" to place sixth.
Cayla Carey took sixth in the long jump with a top mark of 19'-4.75". In the discus, Jai'Lyn Mosley finished eighth with a throw of 156'-7" and Grace Tennant recorded a top throw of 153'-3" for a 10th-place finish.
Riak Reese ran the fastest time in the men's 100-meter dash prelims as he clocked a blazing-fast time of 10.14. Reese's time ranks third in the Kent State record book and he will look to break former world record holder Calvin Smith's meet record of 10.11 set in 1983 during Saturday's finals.
All four of the Flashes' relay teams also advanced to the finals. Gana Lopez, Nicole Yeargin, Carey and Bennisha Nunn recorded the third-fastest time in program history with a 45.74 in the 4x100 relay. Tyler Williams, Yeargin, Lauren Burnett and Irene Skinner nearly equaled their time from a week ago that placed them at No. 8 in the KSU record book with a time of 3:42.70 in the 4x400 relay.
On the men's side, Brandon Harris, JJ Johnson, Korie Davis II and Jonathan Grant ran a 41.57 in the 4x100 relay while the 4x400 relay team of Davis II, TJ Lawson, Johnson and Andrew O'Leary clocked a 3:14.93.
The Drake Relays will conclude on Saturday with running event finals in addition to remaining relay races and field events.
