Two Records Fall, One Champion Crowned at Drake Relays

DES MOINES, Iowa – Two Air Force relay records fell, and the men claimed the 4x1600-meter championship on Friday, April 24, as members of the track and field team continued competition at the 116th Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa.

A thrilling sprint down the final straightaway from senior Ben Scheller secured the Falcons' third 4x1600-meter championship at the Drake Relays (2018, 2023, 2025). After strong opening legs from junior Dominykas Remeikis and sophomore Junior Allen that put the Falcons at the front of the 13-team race, senior Ethan Ashley took the lead during the third leg and quickly stretched his advantage out to 150 meters, handing the baton to Scheller with a three-second advantage on the field. Iowa State's anchor slowly closed the gap during the four-lap circuit, but as he attempted to hype the crowd and overtake Scheller with 120 meters left, the Air Force senior kicked into another gear and sprinted down home stretch, crossing the finish line a time of 16:25.88 – the third-fastest time in Air Force history.

With today's finish, Ashley has now raced on two winning 4x1600-meter relays at Drake – and on two of the three-fastest 4x1600 squads in Air Force history – as he led off the quartet that set the program record of 16:23.31 to win the championship in 2023.

After kicking off action on the Blue Oval with the 4x1600-meter victory, Air Force capped the night with back-to-back record-setting performances in the 4x800-meter relays.

The all-junior lineup of Liliane Aittama, Allison Fernstrom, Rachel Fereday and Cam Bodine shattered the women's program record with an 8:34.78 finish – a time that knocked nearly 20 seconds off the standard Aittama, Fereday and Bodine helped set during their last appearance at Drake (2024). The time, which was third in the meet, also took more than five seconds off a Service Academy Record that Army West Point set last spring.

In the very next race, the men's lineup of junior Jonah Hochstetler, sophomore Patrick Allen, senior Jevonte Eaves and sophomore Parker Hintz combined to break an Air Force Record that had stood for 20 years, as they clocked in at 7:23.61 – a program standard by nearly four seconds – to finish third.

AIR FORCE RECORDS

Women's 4x800-Meter Relays (8:34.78)

Men's 4x800-Meter Relay (7:23.61)

In addition, the women's 4x1600-meter quartet of junior Scarlet Fetterolf, classmate Anna Harden, sophomore Jasleen Sidhu, and junior Ella Johnson accounted for the sixth-fastest time in Air Force history (19:53.04) to earn a sixth-place finish in the meet.

From the infield, freshman Julie Segroves improved her own No. 2 clearance on the Academy's all-time pole vault standings, as she posted a career-best mark of 4.08 meters (13'4½") during a fourth-place finish in the "championship" division. That height also improves the Air Force Freshman Class Record that she set last weekend at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate.

Sophomore Evan Keefe, the Falcons' only other field competitor on Friday, recorded a distance of 56.03 meters (183'10") – a mark just two centimeters off his personal best – to finish fourth in the discus throw.

In addition to the championship events at Drake Stadium, one qualifying relay took place for the Falcons on Friday. Freshman Zachary DeWalt, sophomore Asher Jenkins, freshman Colton Manock and senior Jettason Rose teamed up to easily secured a spot in tomorrow's final of the 4x100-meter relay after posting their second-fastest time of the season (40.38) to finish third in the 14-team preliminary.

AIR FORCE TOP 10 MARKS

No. 2 - Julie Segroves, Women's Pole Vault (4.08m/13'4½")

No. 3 - Men's 4x1600-Meter Relay (16:25.88)

Mo. 6 - Women's 4x1600-Meter Relay (19:53.04)

The Falcons return to Drake Stadium tomorrow (April 25) for the final day of competition at the 116th Drake Relays. Action begins for Air Force at 12:30 pm (CT) and the meet's broadcast will be split between RunnerSpace.com and the CBS Sports Network (2:00-4:00 pm CT).

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