Friday, April 26
Des Moines, IA
9:00 am MT
Air Force Academy
at
Drake Relays
Photo by: Ginnie Coleman
Championships, Records Headline Day Two at Drake Relays
4/26/2024 9:28:00 PM | Track and Field
DES MOINES, Iowa -- A championship from junior Darek Hackett, an Academy Record from the women's 4x800-meter relay, and another stellar performance in the throwing circle from sophomore Texas Tanner headlined the second day of action at the Drake Relays for the Air Force track and field team on Friday (April 26).
Hackett became the first Air Force athlete to ever earn a Drake Relays' title in the 400-meter hurdles in dominating fashion, as he bettered the 27-runner field by more than one full second. The junior who immediately made up the stagger, controlled his heat and cruised to the 50.37 victory.
Senior Ava Gilliana anchored freshmen Liliane Aittama, Rachel Fereday and Camryn Bodine to a memorable return to the Drake Relays' 4x800-meter relay lineup, as the quartet combined for an Academy Record 8:54.51 finish. That time shattered the program's previous record, as it knocked 12 seconds off a standard that had been held by Joy Meyen, Arcolar Harrison, Laureli Mazik and Air Force Hall of Famer Gail Conway since 1984.
Tanner had another impressive outing in the throwing circle, recording a monster PR in the discus throw to move up to No. 2 on the program's all-time standings. Tanner, who initially took over that spot on his opening throw (59.00m, 193'7") improved that distance two throws later, as he recorded a career-best toss of 59.33 meters (194'8"). With that mark – a five-meter personal improvement that is just 0.02 off the program standard, Tanner finished second in the 22-thrower field and reset his own Air Force Sophomore Class Record. In addition to his performance in the discus, Tanner also finished seventh in the Championship section of the shot put with a distance of 17.35 meters (56'1¼").
Despite having to wait out an 86-minute weather delay after initially being set at the start line in the Falcons' first race of the day, the women's 4x1600-meter relay of junior Hallen Hamilton, senior Rebecca Wusinich, freshman Anna Harden and junior Ally Peterson combined for the third-fastest time in program history. Anchored by Harden and Peterson, back on the track after posting Air Force Top-12 times in the 5000-meter run in last night's Distance Carnival, combined for a time of 19:45.76 – the best time since 2018 – to finish third in the 12-team field. While the women's 4x1600-meter relay opened the day, the men's 4x800-meter relay of senior Alex Patton, freshman Jonah Hochstetler, sophomore Ben Scheller, and freshman Patrick Lawson closed out the Falcons' night – just ahead of another weather delay – with the seventh-fastest time in Academy history (7:36.07) and a top-five finish.
Javin Bostic broke his own Air Force Junior Class Record in the 100-meter dash (10.31) to advance into tomorrow's final, while a trio of Falcons joined Hackett in having strong performances in their respective 400-meter events. Freshman James Warmbrod IV moved up to No. 17 on the program's all-time standings in the men's dash to finish fourth our of 25 runner following a personal-best time of 47.38, while junior Taylor Rioux ran sub-55 for the second time in as many meets to finish seventh (54.83) in the women's event. In the women's intermediate hurdles, freshman Clara Teigland clocked a personal-best 1:03.14 to move up to No. 15 on the program's all-time standings.
The Falcons return to the Blue Oval tomorrow (April 27) to close out competition at the 114th Drake Relays, currently scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. (an updated schedule of events will be posted later tonight). While the rest of the Air Force squad was scheduled to travel to Fort Collins for Doug Max Invitational, that meet has now been moved to Sunday, April 28, due to an unfavorable weather forecast heading toward the Front Range tomorrow.
| DRAKE RELAYS CHAMPION |
| Darek Hackett, Men's 400-Meter Hurdles |
Hackett became the first Air Force athlete to ever earn a Drake Relays' title in the 400-meter hurdles in dominating fashion, as he bettered the 27-runner field by more than one full second. The junior who immediately made up the stagger, controlled his heat and cruised to the 50.37 victory.
| ACADEMY RECORD |
| Women's 4x800-Meter Relay (8:54.51) |
Senior Ava Gilliana anchored freshmen Liliane Aittama, Rachel Fereday and Camryn Bodine to a memorable return to the Drake Relays' 4x800-meter relay lineup, as the quartet combined for an Academy Record 8:54.51 finish. That time shattered the program's previous record, as it knocked 12 seconds off a standard that had been held by Joy Meyen, Arcolar Harrison, Laureli Mazik and Air Force Hall of Famer Gail Conway since 1984.
| AIR FORCE TOP 10 MARKS |
| No. 2 – Texas Tanner, Men's Discus Throw (59.33m, 194'8") |
| No. 3 – Women's 4x1600-Meter Relay (19:45.76) |
| No. 7 – Men's 4x800-Meter Relay (7:36.07) |
Tanner had another impressive outing in the throwing circle, recording a monster PR in the discus throw to move up to No. 2 on the program's all-time standings. Tanner, who initially took over that spot on his opening throw (59.00m, 193'7") improved that distance two throws later, as he recorded a career-best toss of 59.33 meters (194'8"). With that mark – a five-meter personal improvement that is just 0.02 off the program standard, Tanner finished second in the 22-thrower field and reset his own Air Force Sophomore Class Record. In addition to his performance in the discus, Tanner also finished seventh in the Championship section of the shot put with a distance of 17.35 meters (56'1¼").
Despite having to wait out an 86-minute weather delay after initially being set at the start line in the Falcons' first race of the day, the women's 4x1600-meter relay of junior Hallen Hamilton, senior Rebecca Wusinich, freshman Anna Harden and junior Ally Peterson combined for the third-fastest time in program history. Anchored by Harden and Peterson, back on the track after posting Air Force Top-12 times in the 5000-meter run in last night's Distance Carnival, combined for a time of 19:45.76 – the best time since 2018 – to finish third in the 12-team field. While the women's 4x1600-meter relay opened the day, the men's 4x800-meter relay of senior Alex Patton, freshman Jonah Hochstetler, sophomore Ben Scheller, and freshman Patrick Lawson closed out the Falcons' night – just ahead of another weather delay – with the seventh-fastest time in Academy history (7:36.07) and a top-five finish.
Javin Bostic broke his own Air Force Junior Class Record in the 100-meter dash (10.31) to advance into tomorrow's final, while a trio of Falcons joined Hackett in having strong performances in their respective 400-meter events. Freshman James Warmbrod IV moved up to No. 17 on the program's all-time standings in the men's dash to finish fourth our of 25 runner following a personal-best time of 47.38, while junior Taylor Rioux ran sub-55 for the second time in as many meets to finish seventh (54.83) in the women's event. In the women's intermediate hurdles, freshman Clara Teigland clocked a personal-best 1:03.14 to move up to No. 15 on the program's all-time standings.
The Falcons return to the Blue Oval tomorrow (April 27) to close out competition at the 114th Drake Relays, currently scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. (an updated schedule of events will be posted later tonight). While the rest of the Air Force squad was scheduled to travel to Fort Collins for Doug Max Invitational, that meet has now been moved to Sunday, April 28, due to an unfavorable weather forecast heading toward the Front Range tomorrow.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
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