Powell Leads Team ASICS at the 100th Drake Relays
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Heather Spears
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Latosha Wallace
Amy Acuff
Greg Nixon
100th Drake Relays
Des Moines, IA
April 23-25, 2009
In less than ideal conditions, American Record holder Suzy Powell (Modesto, CA) led Team ASICS at the 100th Drake Relays beating a very competitive field in the Women's Discus Throw including the Gold Medalist from the Beijing Olympic Games. Competing in cold and wet conditions, Powell's winning throw came in the 4th round measuring 59.15m/194' 1". Her victory at Drake gives Powell 2 wins this outdoor season as she won the same event at the Mt. SAC Relays one week earlier.
Latosha Wallace (San Marcos, TX) also found her way to the podium with a 2nd place finish in the Women's 400m Hurdles. Wallace was in 4th place coming off the last turn but ran well over the last 2 hurdles to secure 2nd place in a season best time of 57.02sec.
In other events, Amy Acuff (Isleton, CA), Greg Nixon (Columbia, SC), and Rory Quiller (Vestal, NY) each finished 4th in their respective events. Acuff cleared 1.81m/5' 11 1/4" in the Women's High Jump and Nixon, the defending champion in his event, ran 46.38sec in the Men's 400m. Due to the wet conditions, the Men's Pole Vault was moved indoors as the track surface became to slick and dangerous for the vaulters to jump in. Quiller, whose poles did not arrive until 4 hours before the event due to an airline baggage error, managed to clear 5.37m/17' 7/14" on his first attempt but failed to clear any more bars after. Tora Harris (Chula Vista, CA) finished 6th in the Men's High Jump and Sharon Day (San Luis Obispo, CA) failed to clear a height in the Women's High Jump.
Hometown favorite and Des Moines native LoLo Jones (Baton Rouge, LA) pulled up at the 8th hurdle and failed to finish the race. She was later diagnosed with a grade 1 hamstring tear and will be out of action during the month of May for rest and rehab.
