DES MOINES, Iowa—The Arizona State track and field team wrapped up competition at the 106th Drake Relays at Drake Stadium and the Triton Invitational, hosted by UC San Diego on Saturday.
At the Drake Relays, the women’s distance medley relay team of sophomore Chelsey Totten, freshman Melese Crozier, junior Cristina Juan Torres, and senior Shelby Houlihan led the way with a second-place finish at 11:15.13. The last time ASU ran a DMR, at the MPSF Indoor Track and Field Championships in March, the quad finished at 11:20.80.
“I’ve been doing this for 35 years as a Division I coach, and the leg that Shelby Houlihan ran today in the DMR was unbelievable,” Director of Track and Field Greg Kraft said. “She was, without exaggeration, about 120 meters behind when she got the stick, and ran a 4:28 anchor leg for us when it was probably 44 degrees and cold and windy. My hat’s off to her, she has demonstrated to be not only the most versatile middle distance-distance runner we’ve had at Arizona State University, and I can’t imagine a more competitive spirit than hers. For us, I don’t think there was a prouder moment than watching her get after it. That was the highlight and we look forward to the dual meet with Arizona next Saturday.
The men’s DMR team of redshirt junior Daniel Wong, redshirt junior Trevor Landry, junior Michael Julian, and redshirt junior Ryan Herson ran 9:53.18, knocking more than 10 seconds off the time ASU ran during the indoor season, 10:05.86.
The women’s 4x400m relay team of senior Sara McDonald, sophomore LaTroya Franklin, Crozier, and senior Brianna Tate placed fifth in the finals at 3:39.02, while the 4x100m relay squad of junior Jasmine Gibbs, Tate, McDonald, and Franklin placed sixth at 45.53.
In the field, junior Josh Dixon placed third in the men’s triple jump at 15.53m (50-11.50).
In San Diego, the throwers led the way, with ASU recording three PRs each in both the men’s shot put invitational and the men’s hammer invitational.
Redshirt senior Kyle Lillie set a personal best in the shot put at 18.20m (59-8.50), and threw 60.69m (199-01) in the hammer, which is now the No. 8 mark in the ASU Outdoor Record Book.
Junior Ahmed Hassan set a new shot put best at 17.99m (59-0.25), as did redshirt sophomore Thomas Anderson at 17.81m (58-5.25). Anderson also set a new best in the discus at 47-15m (154-08).
Redshirt sophomore Kyle Long threw a new best mark in the hammer at 60.39m (198-01), which remains at No. 9 in the ASU Outdoor Record Book, while redshirt senior Ryan Leslie also set a new hammer best at 58.65m (192-05).
In the women’s shot put, redshirt senior Alex Hartig placed 14th with a season best 15.87m (52-0.75), while redshirt sophomore Ashley Weber placed fourth in the open section with a throw of 14.67m (48-1.75).
Also in the field, freshman Darreyl Woodson set a personal best in the long jump at 5.20m (17-0.75), as did fellow freshman Chelsea Chess at 5.17m (16-11.50). Additionally, Woodson placed eighth in the triple jump with a mark of 11.39m (37-4.50).
On the track, sophomore Anna Long set a new personal best in the 3000m steeplechase at 11:29.15 for fifth, while senior Kayla Springford placed eighth at 11:55.78.
Up next, ASU returns home to host the Duel In The Desert – Arizona vs. Arizona State, on May 1-2 at Sun Angel Stadium. The meet will be aired on a tape delay on the Pac-12 Networks.
Quotes
Director of Track and Field Greg Kraft
“When you come to the Drake Relays, one, it’s a great event for the sport of track and field. Middle school kids, high school kids, and some of the best athletes in the world are all competing in one place. With our team, I’m most proud of how we competed. We had some freezing rain today and some really adverse conditions, so how we competed and took care of business was very impressive.”
Arizona State Results
Drake Relays
Women’s 4x100m Relay Finals
6. Gibbs, Tate, McDonald, Franklin – 45.53
Women’s 4x400m Relay Finals
5. McDonald, Franklin, Crozier, Tate – 3:39.02
Women’s Distance Medley Relay
2. Totten, Crozier, Juan Torres, Houlihan – 11:15.13
Women’s Triple Jump
15. Keyasia Tibbs – 11.76m (38-7.00)
Men’s Distance Medley Relay
8. Wong, Landry, Julian, Herson – 9:53.18
Men’s Triple Jump
3. Josh Dixon – 15.53m (50-11.50)
Triton Invite
Women’s 200m Dash
27. Kendra Purifoye – 26.26
Women’s 800m Run
15. Paisley Pettway – 2:16.95
22. Mia Townsend – 2:18.35
Women’s 100m Hurdles
14. Kendra Purifoye – 14.29
Women’s 400m Hurdles
6. Kiera Bulluck – 1:02.13
Women’s 3000m Steeplechase
5. Anna Long – 11:29.15 (PR)
8. Kayla Springford – 11:55.78
Women’s Pole Vault
24. Haleigh Fritts – 3.69m (12-1.25)
29. Kristiana Warth – 3.52m (11-6.50)
30. Nicole Kennedy – 3.52m (11-6.50)
Women’s Long Jump
23. Darreyl Woodson – 5.20m (17-0.75) (PR)
24. Chelsea Chess – 5.17m (16-11.50) (PR)
28. Kendra Purifoye – 5.00m (16-5.00)
Women’s Triple Jump
8. Darreyl Woodson – 11.39m (37-4.50)
15. Chelsea Chess – 10.47m (34-4.25)
Women’s Shot Put Invitational
14. Alex Hartig – 15.87m (52-0.75) (season best)
Women’s Shot Put Open
4. Ashely Weber – 14.67m (48-1.75)
Women’s Javelin
9. Alex Hartig – 42.87m (140-07)
26. Alyssa Cornell – 35.62m (116-10)
32. Ginger Jarchow – 32.82m (107-08)
Men’s 800m Run
20. Noah Kenyawani – 1:55.43
30. Tommy Williams – 1:56.90
Men’s 5000m Run
4. Riley Wattier – 14:46.32
Men’s Pole Vault Invitational
4. Dillon Groener – 4.75m (15-7.00) (matches season best/PR)
12. Tanner Greeley – 4.60m (15-1.00)
13. Josiah Becker – 4.60m (15-1.00) (matches season best/PR)
13. Jacob Flores – 4.60m (15-1.00)
Men’s Shot Put Invitational
12. Kyle Lillie – 18.20m (59-8.50) (PR)
14. Ahmed Hassan – 17.99m (59-0.25) (PR)
15. Thomas Anderson – 17.81m (58-5.25) (PR)
Men’s Discus Open
6. Michael Ohakwe – 56.32m (184-09)
12. Kyle Long – 52.77m (173-01)
21. Thomas Anderson – 47.15m (154-08) (PR)
Men’s Hammer Invitational
7. Kyle Lillie – 60.69m (199-01) (PR, No. 8 in ASU Outdoor Record Book)
9. Kyle Long – 60.39m (198-01) (PR, remains No. 9 in ASU Outdoor Record Book)
11. Ryan Leslie – 58.65m (192-05) (PR)