Jones, 4x800m Win at Drake - Iowa State Athletics

Friday, April 26

Palo Alto, Calif.

Iowa State

Payton Jordan Invitational

04.26.2024 | Track and Field

DES MOINES, Iowa – Cam Jones cemented the first Drake Relays men's shot put title since 1997 while the men's 4x800-meter relay picked up the 14th ISU title Friday night to stand atop the podium and wave the flag at Drake.

Jones battled Nebraska's All-American Kevin Shubert in the six rounds of the championship shot put as he tied Shubert's leading mark of 63-2 1/4 on the third round. On the fifth go, Jones topped that mark with 64-9 3/4 (19.75m) to break the tie. That mark would hold to seal Jones' first-career Drake Relays title and third men's shot put Relays title for the Cyclones. The thrower set the program-leading mark (65-9 1/2) two weeks ago at Drake Stadium.

THE CHAMP.

Cam Jones takes the Drake Relays title in the shot put with a monster throw of 64-9 3/4 (19.75m)! Cam cements the third ISU men's title in the event and first since 1997. #Throw4ISU pic.twitter.com/q6ir68oMwW
— Iowa State Track & XC (@CycloneTrackXC) April 27, 2024

The tradition of the Iowa State men winning the 4x800m held strong as the team of Devan Kipyego, Emanuel Galdino, Tyler Carreon and Peter Smith took the title with a current world-leading 7:22.53. The time is the ninth-fastest in Cyclone history and won the event by 10 seconds. Smith earns his second title while Kipyego joins his brother Darius in running in a winning 4x800m. ISU has now won the event five of the last six years, missing just 2023 when the Cyclones raced the event at Penn Relays.

DRAKE RELAYS 4x800m CHAMPS (x14).

Devan Kipyego, Emanuel Galdino, Tyler Carreon and Peter Smith earn the 14th ISU Drake Relays 4x800 title and fifth in the last six years with a current world-leading 7:22.53! The time ranks at #9 in ISU history.#Run4ISU pic.twitter.com/m3sFhVIOhZ
— Iowa State Track & XC (@CycloneTrackXC) April 27, 2024

Kevin Sakson took silver in the championship discus with a new best of 195-8 (59.64m) to move up from fifth to third in school history. This is the second time this season for Sakson to hit a personal best as he brings in the third silver of his career at Drake.

In the women's championship discus, Betty Rosvold took fourth in the dominant field with 178-6 (54.51). The mark is just over a foot off her Iowa State personal best, which ranks second in school history.

After an 89-minute weather delay, the women's 4x1,600m relay started off day three with a runner-up finish behind Notre Dame who set the collegiate and Drake Relays record. Maelle Porcher led off with 4:45.15, who handed off to Bella Heikes who clocked a split of 4:45.97. Ashlyn Keeney then took the baton and posted 4:52.53. Janette Schraft anchored with 4:42.62 as the team combined for 19:06.26, the second-fastest time in school history.

It was then the men's turn for the 4x1,600m. Kelvin Bungei led off and handed off to Levi Taylor. Ernie Mattson took the baton next before Quinton Orr ran the final leg to finalize a time of 17:00.88 for fifth.

Jack Latham won his heat in 110m hurdles to automatically qualify for the final with an all-conditions personal best of 13.85. That time would go down as the second-fastest through four preliminary heats, and currently ranks 24th in the West region.

Braden Goellner cleared 6-8 and 6-9 3/4 in the high jump on his first attempt, and made it over the bar at 6-11 on his second go. His clearance of 6-11 (2.11m) would place him third in the university division.

In 400m hurdles, Alec Carr stormed up the pack to finish second in the third heat with a new personal best of 52.32. Carr finalized seventh overall while Joven Nelson took 10th with 53.01.

Late into the night at the Payton Jordan Invite hosted by Stanford, Silas Winders raced in the 5,000m and turned in a big time improvement from 2022 of 13:48.04 to now currently hold an NCAA West Prelims qualifying position. Ezekiel Rop then ran in the fast heat of the invitational 1,500m, clocking 3:39.39 for second, .34 seconds behind first.

ISU is back tomorrow for the final day of the Drake Relays.

Iowa State Results

Drake Relays

Women

4x1,600m Relay: 1. Notre Dame – 18:44.15; 2. Iowa State (Porcher, Heikes, Keeney, Schraft) – 19:06.26 (No. 2 ISU)

Discus Championship: 1. Shelby Frank, Minnesota – 191-5 (58.34m); 4. Betty Rosvold, Iowa State – 178-6 (54.41m)

1,500m University Division: 1. Erin Reidy, Minnesota – 4:16.53; 5. Riley Beach, Iowa State – 4:21.07 (PR)

Men

4x800m Relay: 1. Iowa State (Devan Kipyego, Galdino, Carreon, Smith) – 7:22.53 (No. 9 ISU)

4x1,600m Relay: 1. Gonzaga – 16:50.57; 5. Iowa State (Bungei, Taylor, Mattson, Orr) – 17:00.88

110m Hurdles Prelims: 1. Alexander Chukwukelu, Kentucky – 13.79w; 2. Jack Latham, Iowa State – 13.85w; 23. Grayson Hartman, Iowa State – 14.65

400m Hurdles Final: 1. Darek Hackett, Air Force – 50.37; 7. Alec Carr, Iowa State – 52.32 (PR); 10. Joven Nelson, Iowa State – 53.01