Elahi is Drake Relays Champion

04.30.2012 | Track and Field

AMES, Iowa - It is shaping up to be a big year for Iowa State 400-meter hurdler Kianna Elahi. The senior is engaged to be married. Next week she will walk in graduation ceremonies in Hilton Coliseum. She will receive her degree in electrical engineering with honors this summer. She is one of the nation's top performers in her track specialty and claimed her first Drake Relays crown Saturday after previously placing third, second and second her previous three tries in Drake Stadium. It is almost overwhelming.

"In high school I would never have dreamed that I would be running here, let alone winning," Elahi said.

Elahi and her runner-up teammate Ese Okoro clocked efforts of 56.78 and 57.61 (PR), respectively.

"It was a lot easier out there today," Elahi said. "Yesterday the wind was wreaking havoc with my steps," Elahi said. "Today was not as windy and it was a much smoother run."

Iowa State sprint and hurdles coach Nate Wiens said Elahi's race went as planned.

"She wanted to be the Drake Relays champion, and we knew what we had to do today," Wiens said. "Kianna has made herself into a steady 56-second hurdler with great consistency. Today she was not to be denied."

Ian Warner ran real fast Saturday. The senior placed third in the 100-meter dash final in 10.33w. The wind of +2.2 was slightly above the allowable. He has a non-windy best of 10.36. Warner had a strong anchor on the fifth place Cyclone 4 x 100-meter relay team.

"Ian is right on schedule," Wiens said. "The important part of the season is coming on with Big 12, regional and national championships and that is what we have been focusing on. "

Current Iowa State roster man Edward Kemboi finished third in the special mile behind Boaz Lalang, who won the race in 4:04.29.

Iowa State's women's 4 x 400-meter relay team of Dana Christensen, Ese Okoro, Elahi and Ejiro Okoro finished fourth, putting forth a great effort of 3:38.48, the No. 2 clocking in school history. The school is 3:38.22 set in 1989.

"We are very happy about the relay," Wiens said. "I think we are putting it all together and to come that close to the school record underscores that effort."

Iowa State will compete in the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships May 11-13 in Manhattan, Kan.

Results

Women:
400-meter hurdles: 1) Kianna Elahi, IOWA STATE, 56.78; 2) Ese Okoro, IOWA STATE, 57.61; 11) Donnise Powell, 59.75; 14) Krista Shoeman, IOWA STATE, 60.43
4x400-meter relay finals: 1) Texas, 3:33.15; 4) IOWA STATE, 3:38.48
Sprint medley relay: 1) Arkansas, 3:45.48; 12) IOWA STATE, 4:01.36

Hammer throw: 1) Jeneva McCall, Southern Illinois, 217-00; 21) Laishema Hampton, IOWA STATE, 168-06

Men:
100-meter dash finals: 1) Isiah Young, Mississippi, 10.08; 3) Ian Warner, IOWA STATE, 10.33
4x100-meter relay: 1) Georgia, 39.71; 5) IOWA STATE, 40.24
Mile run (special): 1) Boaz Lalang, Kenya, 4:04.29; 3) Edward Kemboi, unattached, 4:05.91
Distance medley: 1) Minnesota, 9:36.21; 10) IOWA STATE, 9:57.11

Hammer throw: 1) Jeremy Postin, Florida, 232-01; 10) Zack Richards, IOWA STATE, 191-02
Triple jump: 1) Troy Doris, Iowa, 53-10.25; 11) Akeem Holmes, IOWA STATE, 48-02.00