ISU Distance Medley Makes Statement with Drake Win

04.23.2010 | Track and Field

DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa State's women's distance medley runners wanted to make a statement Friday at the Drake Relays. They did and it was emphatic. The Cyclone quartet of Semehar Tesfaye, Kianna Elahi, Erin Penticoff of Cedar Rapids and Lisa Koll of Fort Dodge went to the lead early and didn't relinquish their advantage to win the race in 11:08.64. Baylor was second in 11:18.21.

The Iowa State foursome crushed the previous school record of 11:27.78 set in 2000 by Jessica Haff, Barbara Szlendakova, Kelly Brinkman and Laurie Meythaler.

"The main goal was to come here and to represent Iowa State and to put together a good team to show that Iowa State is more than just a couple of good runners that get all of the attention," Koll said. "It's a group effort, and we are really on the rise."

Koll took the baton on the 1600-meter anchor leg with a 45-meter lead and closed out the win with a 4:30.90 split. Koll, the collegiate record holder in the 10,000-meter run, was dropping down to a distance that is not her forte'. It helped to start in the lead.

"I didn't have to do much today at all," Koll said. "I just had to keep the lead. These girls did all of the hard work, and I just had to maintain for the last mile. It was really fun to just get the baton. I don't get to do relays very often, and the mile is a little out of my comfort zone. It was fun to go out and just run and hear the crowd."

Tesfaye did the heavy lifting early, bolting to the lead over the final 150 meters of her opening 1200-meter leg.

"First I wanted to be in a good spot to the finish," Tesfaye said. "(Iowa State head coach Corey Ihmels) told me the first leg would finish fast so I was ready. I was very surprised when I took the lead. I just went for it."

After a strong one-lap leg by Elahi, Penticoff turned in a 2:07 800-meter effort to set up Koll.

"(The win) means a lot," said Penticoff, a former Cedar Rapids-Xavier prep. "I've gotten second a few times, but to win this in my senior year with a great group of girls means a lot. I think this is my ninth year at Drake Relays. You don't necessarily have to go for time, but just go for the win and try to have fun. I think that's what we did."

The race was run almost exactly the way Ihmels had scripted it.

"Semehar ran smart," Ihmels said. "We told Kianna and Erin that if they had the lead, go out hard and make people catch you. Erin went out at 59 seconds for her first 400 and did just that. We had talked with Lisa about opening up at 71 or 72 seconds for the first 400 meters. She actually went out in 69 or 70 but looked comfortable."

The win was Iowa State's first ever Drake Relays victory in the women's distance medley.

The ISU men's 4 x 1600-meter unit of Jory Zunich, Rico Loy, Brandon Rooney and Hillary Bor placed fifth in 16:34.40. Ohio State won the race in 16:25.42. The Cyclones were in contention for the lead until the final lap.

"[Ohio State] won the race with a lap to go," Bor said. "They made a move and my legs were heavy, I don't know why. I was just trying to close the gap but it didn't happen."

Ihmels said his team competed well.

"I think we might have missed a couple opportunities in the race early," Ihmels said. "But we had a good effort and will come back in the distance medley on Saturday."

Iowa State's Dan Newhouse placed fourth in the javelin with a best throw of 203-08.

The final day of the Drake Relays begins tomorrow morning for the Cyclones at 9:30 a.m. with the women's hammer throw.

Drake Relays Results:

Men:
4x200-meter relay: 1) Baylor, 1:21.64; 7) IOWA STATE, 1:26.44.
4x800-meter relay: 1) Ohio State, 7:17.68; 10) IOWA STATE, 7:32.06.
4x1600-meter relay: 1) Ohio State, 16:25.42; 5) IOWA STATE, 16:34.40.
Javelin: 1) Adam Wolkins, Nebraska, 219-00; 4) Dan Newhouse, IOWA STATE, 203-08.
Long Jump: 1) Caleb Lee, Mississippi, 24-11.00; 19) Tony Johnson, IOWA STATE, 22-03.50.

Women:
Distance Medley Relay: 1) IOWA STATE, 11:08.64.
Shot Put: 1) Aja Evans, Illinois, 51-07.00; 12) Britta Christofferson, IOWA STATE, 46-07.50; 21) Danielle Frere, IOWA STATE, 44-10.75; 22) Laishema Hampton, IOWA STATE, 44-09.75.
Javelin: 1) Anna Wessman, Texas El Paso, 165-01; 19) Mallory Henderson, IOWA STATE, 120-11.

Saturday Qualifiers:
Jenna Caffrey100-meter hurdles2:56 p.m.
Hawkins, Caffrey, Jacobson, Wright4x100-meter relay4:55 p.m.
Sama,Lewis, Colston, Martin4x100-meter relay5:00 p.m.