Drake Relays: Hellen Obiri Crushes Americans in 1500 for $25,000, LaShawn Merritt Over Kirani James in Round 1, Derek Drouin 2.40m Canadian Record
by: LetsRun.com
April 25, 2014
$50,000 was on the line at Drake in each of the Moscow rematch track races at the Drake Relays on Friday (for comparison’s sake, realize a Diamond League event only features $30,000 in prize money), with $25,000 on the line in the field events. LaShawn Merritt got round 1 vs Kirani James in the 400m, Derek Drouin had the performance of the night, and Hellen Obiri won the women’s 1500m in dominating fashion.
Women’s 1500m: Obiri Shows She’s a Level Above These Americans
Obiri crushing it the final 100m
The richest 1500m in the world in 2014 took place at the Drake Relays and it was no contest.
World’s bronze medallist Hellen Obiri of Kenya took on some of America’s best with the winner taking home $25,000 and it was not contest the final 300m.
Molly Beckwidth-Ludlow rabbited the first few laps and the splits were 50.81 (300), 1:58.28 (700- so 67.47 for 400), and 3:04.88 (1100 – 66.60) at the bell. Obiri was in front with Morgan Uceny and Brenda Martinez on her tail as they went around the turn.
On the backstretch with 300m to go, Obiri took off. She shifted into another gear and this one was all over. Obiri blitzed the final 400m in 60.00 to get the dominant win and the $25,000.
Martinez moved up for second in 4:06.96 and took home $15,000 as Uceny faded down the stretch. Heather Kampf, winner of the US Road Mile Champs earlier this week, got third for $10,000.
Results below.
Quick Thought #1: Watching Obiri dominate today made us think that Martinez really made the right call last summer in opting for the 800, not 1500 at Worlds as Obiri was third at Worlds in the 1500 and Martinez was third in the 800.
Quick Thought #2: *Video of race here
Event 465 Women 1500 Meter Run Moscow Games Rematch
===============================================================
Name Year School Finals
===============================================================
Finals
1 Hellen Obiri Kenya 4:04.88
2 Brenda Martinez New Balance 4:06.96
3 Heather Kampf Asics 4:07.15
4 Shannon Rowbury Nike 4:07.83
5 Treniere Moser Nike 4:08.58
6 Morgan Uceny adidas 4:08.68
7 Katie Mackey USA 4:08.78
8 Lea Wallace Unattached 4:09.34
9 Heather Wilson Unattached 4:11.74
10 Amanda Winslow USA 4:14.24
11 Gabriele Grunewald Team USA Minnesota 4:17.66
-- Molly Beckwith-Ludlow Saucony DNF
Men’s 400m: Merritt over James
Ato Boldon called this the greatest sprint rivalry in the sport and it started off with a bang in 2014 as Merritt got the win in 44.44 over James in 44.60 with Santos also under 45 in 44.72. Merritt and James are the best and they love racing each other. Hopefully, fans see them race a handful of more times this year. Is this Jeremy Wariner’s final Drake?
Drake Stadium - Site License 4/25/2014 - 8:03 PM
2014 Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee
America's Athletic Classic
Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa - 4/23/2014 to 4/26/2014
Event 390 Men 400 Meter Dash Moscow Games Rematch
===============================================================
Name Year School Finals
===============================================================
Finals
1 LaShawn Merritt Nike 44.44
2 Kirani James Nike 44.60
3 Luguelin Santos Puma 44.72
4 Yousef Al-Masrahi Saudi Arabia 45.02
5 Christian Taylor Li-Ning 45.17
6 Tony McQuay adidas 45.46
7 Josh Mance USA 45.83
8 Jeremy Wariner adidas 46.90
Men’s High Jump: Derek Drouin Sets New Canadian Record!!
Drouin, the bronze medallist at the Olympics and worlds, got the win, a PR, and a new Canadian national record of 2.40. The performance of the night for sure. Only four men have ever jumped higher: Javier Sotomayor (2.45), Patrik Sjoberg (2.42), Igor Paklin and last year’s sensation Bohdan Bondarenko (2.41).
Bondarenko was unbeatable last year going 2.41 twice, but he may now have a challenger.
Event 415 Men High Jump Moscow Games Rematch
==========================================================================
Name Year School Finals
==========================================================================
Finals
1 Derek Drouin Nike 2.40m 7-10.50
2.06 2.11 2.16 2.21 2.25 2.29 2.32 2.35 2.38 2.40
PPP O O O O O O O O XXO
2 Erik Kynard Nike 2.35m 7-08.50
2.06 2.11 2.16 2.21 2.25 2.29 2.32 2.35 2.38
PPP PPP O O O O XO O XXX
3 Dusty Jonas USA J2.35m 7-08.50
2.06 2.11 2.16 2.21 2.25 2.29 2.32 2.35 2.38
PPP PPP O XO O XO XO O XXX
4 Trevor Barry Bahamas 2.25m 7-04.50
2.06 2.11 2.16 2.21 2.25 2.29
PPP O O O O XXX
5 Mickael Hanany Nike J2.25m 7-04.50
2.06 2.11 2.16 2.21 2.25 2.29
PPP PPP O XO O XXX
6 Garrett Huyler Zensah 2.21m 7-03.00
2.06 2.11 2.16 2.21 2.25
PPP O XXO XO XXX
7 Jessie Williams Nike J2.21m 7-03.00
2.06 2.11 2.16 2.21 2.25
PPP O O XXO XXX
8 Geoff Davis USA 2.16m 7-01.00
2.06 2.11 2.16 2.21
PPP O O XXX
8 Mike Mason Canada 2.16m 7-01.00
2.06 2.11 2.16 2.21
PPP O O XXX
8 Jamaal Wilson Bahamas 2.16m 7-01.00
2.06 2.11 2.16 2.21
PPP PPP O XXX
11 Donald Thomas Bahamas J2.16m 7-01.00
2.06 2.11 2.16 2.21 2.25
PPP XO O PPP XXX
12 Donte Nall Unattached 2.11m 6-11.00
2.06 2.11 2.16
PPP O XXX
-- Brendan Williams Dominican Republic DNS
2.06
DNS
Mens 110m Hurdles: Hansle Parchment Wins the $25,000
Hansle Parchment the bronze medallist in London got the win over last year’s World Champ David Oliver with ease.
Drake Stadium - Site License 4/25/2014 - 8:03 PM
2014 Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee
America's Athletic Classic
Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa - 4/23/2014 to 4/26/2014
Event 400 Men 110 Meter Hurdles Moscow Games Rematch
=====================================================================
Name Year School Finals Wind
=====================================================================
Finals
1 Hansle Parchment Jamaica 13.14 1.0
2 David Oliver Nike 13.23 1.0
3 Ryan Wilson Mizuno 13.30 1.0
4 Jeff Porter Nike 13.35 1.0 13.341
5 Andrew Riley Puma 13.35 1.0 13.348
6 Spencer Adams USA BLUE 13.40 1.0
7 Omo Osaghae USA 13.50 1.0
8 Ryan Brathwaite Barbados 13.58 1.0
Men’s 400m Hurdles: Michael Tinsley Gets “Gold”
Tinsley got silver at Worlds and the Olympics. $25,000 was a nice way to start of 2014. Johnny Dutch edged Jeshua Anderson by .01 for third – which netted Dutch $10,000 and Anderson 0.
Event 405 Men 400 Meter Hurdles Moscow Games Rematch
===============================================================
Name Year School Finals
===============================================================
Finals
1 Michael Tinsley Nike 48.57
2 Javier Culson Puerto Rico 48.68
3 Johnny Dutch USA 49.24
4 Jeshua Anderson Nike 49.25
5 Bershawn Jackson Nike 49.32
6 Felix Sanchez Dominican Republic 49.84
7 Reggie Wyatt USA 50.65
8 LaRon Bennett USA 50.82
Women’s Pole Vault
Silva was the class of the field on paper with Jenn Suhr out and she showed it.
Event 480 Women Pole Vault Moscow Games Rematch
==========================================================================
Name Year School Finals
==========================================================================
Finals
1 Yarisley Silva Cuba 4.66m 15-03.50
4.11 4.26 4.36 4.46 4.56 4.66 4.76
PPP PPP PPP XXO XO O XXX
2 Mary Saxer Unattached 4.46m 14-07.50
4.11 4.26 4.36 4.46 4.56
PPP PPP O XXO XXX
3 Katerina Stefanidi Greece 4.36m 14-03.50
4.11 4.26 4.36 4.46
PPP O O XXX
4 Becky Holliday Asics J4.36m 14-03.50
4.11 4.26 4.36 4.46
PPP XO O XXX
5 Marion Flack Unattached J4.36m 14-03.50
4.11 4.26 4.36 4.46
O O XO XXX
6 Kylie Hutson Nike J4.36m 14-03.50
4.11 4.26 4.36 4.46
PPP PPP XXO XXX
7 April Steiner-Bennett Asics J4.36m 14-03.50
4.11 4.26 4.36 4.46
PPP XO XXO XXX
8 Tori Pena Ireland 4.26m 13-11.75
4.11 4.26 4.36
PPP O XXX
9 Melinda Owens USA J4.26m 13-11.75
4.11 4.26 4.36
PPP XXO XXX
10 Melissa Gergel USA 4.11m 13-05.75
4.11 4.26
O XXX
11 Marion Lotout France J4.11m 13-05.75
4.11 4.26
XO XXX
Shuttle Hurdle Relay: Lolo Wins Again at Drake
Lolo Jones is the Drake hometown here and she got the win here as the match-up with Dawn Harper’s team didn’t happen because of an injury to Harper’s team in warm-ups.
Finals
1 USA RED 50.93
1) Brianna Rollins 2) Lolo Jones
3) Vashti Thomas 4) Queen Harrison
2 Jamaica 52.01
1) Shermaine Williams 2) Andrea Bliss
3) Monique. Morgan 4) LaToya. Greaves
-- USA BLUE DNF
1) Jackie Coward 2) Candice Davis
3) Teanya Jones 4) Chelsea. Eades
-- USA WHITE DNS
1) Kristi Castlin 2) Tiffany Porter
3) Kellie Wells 4) Dawn Harper-Nelson
Saturday has 4 pro events. Men’s High Jump, Men’s Pole Vault, Women’s 400m hurdles, women’s 100m hurdles
Viewing info below: Saturday, April 26
12:30-3 p.m. EDT – USA vs. The World at the Penn Relays – NBCSN (TV)
3-5 p.m. EDT – Drake Relays – NBCSN (TV)
5 p.m. EDT – The Cool Down – USATF.tv (Internet)
More: AP Recap of Drake: Jones returns to podium at Drake Relays