Cyclones Prepare for Drake Relays

AMES, Iowa- The Drake Relays is set to kick off on April 25 in Des Moines and the Iowa State men's track and field team looks to duplicate its strong performance at last year's meet, spurring momentum for the Big 12 Championships.

Last year's Drake Relays yielded one victory for ISU, in the shuttle-hurdle relay. Several Cyclones earned runner-up and third-place finishes. This year's shuttle-hurdle relay squad consisting of, junior Sterling Frison, sophomore Eric Parker, senior Kellen Burl and freshman Scott Lynn, looks to repeat its 2006 championship performance. Frison, Parker and Burl all return from last year's winning team.

“The team certainly has the capacity to run faster than they did last year, they're better than they were last year,” Iowa State men's head track and field coach Steve Lynn said. “Texas Tech has an outstanding team. They should be the favorite. Nebraska has a really good team also. So our guys won't be the favorite going down there, but they weren't last year either. They'll be getting after it and giving it a shot.”

The 4x400-meter relay squad will be looking to continue its compelling outdoor season in Des Moines. Junior Tony Stanfield, junior Jared Lewis, senior Elijah Braimah and senior Jared Graham will be competing for their third victory of the season. Their field is riddled with strong competition.

“Baylor is the prohibitive favorite there, they have got a great team and are national champions,” Lynn said. “But then there are six other teams that are in the top 12 in the country, and we are included in that group. So, it is going to be a chance for our guys to really do something.”

ISU's distance runners also expect to gain some quality experience at Drake, as weather has hampered their outdoor season thus far. Freshmen Guor Majak and Kiel Uhl, as well as senior Dan Taylor will all be competing in the 5,000-meter run. Other distance runners competing include Brandon Rooney in 1,500-meter run and junior Jayden Russ in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

“With the weather the way it has been earlier in the year we had to have those guys run as an individuals at Drake,” Lynn said. “That hurts us a little bit with the distance relays. We will still be good in those events, other guys will have to step up and take their opportunity to do something down there.”

Newcomer Julian Morris competes in the high jump on Saturday. The freshman has inched closer to the regionally-qualifying mark of 6-10 3/4 throughout the outdoor season and hopes to clear the height this weekend. Fellow freshman Robbie Utterback also will perform this weekend in the discus throw. The Clive native regionally qualified in the event last Saturday at the John McDonnell Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark.

“Julian Morris is ready to jump over seven feet,” Lynn said. “It will be good to see him jump that high and get that out of the way.”

America's Athletic Classic is the biggest track meet in the Midwest, with one of the best fields in the entire country. First run in 1910, some of the best athletes in the world have competed at the Drake Relays.

“It's a meet that we always point to,” Lynn said. “The kids get excited about this meet because it's in the newspapers all the time on the front page and talked about on talk shows. Taking a victory lap here is one of the biggest things they will remember in their collegiate career.”

Events begin for ISU with the 5,000-meter run on Thursday at 6:45 p.m.

Players Mentioned

Elijah Braimah

Kellen Burl

Jared Graham

Scott Lynn

Julian Morris

Eric Parker

Jayden Russ

Jayden Russ

Jayden Russ

Tony Stanfield

Dan Taylor

Dan Taylor

Dan Taylor

Kiel Uhl

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