DES MOINES, Iowa – The University of Iowa track and field team concluded an incredible weekend of competition at the Drake Relays winning the women’s Drake Relays Cup for the second time in program history. The Iowa women’ last won the Drake Relays Cup in 2019.

“We had a terrific final day at the Drake Relays securing the women’s Drake Relays Cup for the second time in our program’s history,” Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “I was very proud of how our team competed this entire weekend. The Drake Relays is always a great atmosphere for our athletes, and it also challenges our program to compete as a team in many open events and non-traditional relays which prepares us for the championship season.”

The Hawkeyes took home the women’s Drake Relays Cup after first place finishes in the women’s sprint medley, the women’s 4×400 relay invitational and open. The women’s sprint medley team of Holly Duax, Lia Love, Damaris Mutunga and Alli Bookin-Nosbisch secured an event win and a school record with its time of 3:44.12. This marks the Hawkeyes’ first win in the sprint medley since 2019.

Duax dominated the day, earning two flags in the sprint medley and 100-meters, where she clocked in an 11.98 finish. Duax secured Iowa’s first-ever win in the 100 meters at the Drake Relays.

The women’s 4×400 relay invitational was dominated by Alivia Williams, Olicia Lucas, Mutunga and Chioma Nwachukwu, finishing in 3:31.13. This marks Iowa’s first 4×400-relay win at the Drake Relays. In the women’s 4×400 university relay, Ellie Rickertsen, Gabby Cortez, Ali Fransen and Jaiden Itson also finished first with a time of 3:40.67.

“I was very excited for our women’s sprint medley to secure our first relay win in a few years,” Woody said. “I was very proud of how well Holly (Duax) competed to win the women’s collegiate 100 meter to match her 100 meter title from high school. I loved seeing the women dominate the field by almost four seconds in the 4×400-relay invite to secure the Drake Relays Cup for the team. Then, the women’s B team came right after and won the open collegiate 4×400 showing how deep our 400 group is.”

Sophomore Ryan Johnson led the men’s hammer throw, hitting the 71.16-meter mark to secure Iowa’s first win in the event. Teammates Sean Smith and Austin Busch were also in the top five, with Smith taking second (65.97 meters) and Busch claiming fifth (64.33 meters).

The men’s 4×110 shuttle hurdles team of Kalil Johnson, Tyler Kenaga, Drew Dillard, and Kai Graves-Blanks claimed a flag with a time of 57.26. The group now ranks second all-time at Iowa, securing its first win since 2022.

“The men also had a terrific day starting things off in the championship hammer throw with a huge 1-2 finish for Ryan (Johnson) and Sean (Smith) and another Drake Relays flag secured by the men’s team. Then, the men’s shuttle hurdle relay race for the first time in a few years came out on top of a great field to capture their relay’s flag,” Woody added. “Kai (Graves-Blanks) came back right after that and ran a terrific race into a pretty stiff headwind to finish runner up and continue his impressive and consistent season. The men’s 4×400 ran a great race to finish second and almost come out with another relay victory in front of the great Drake Relays crowd. It was fun to see those guys hit a season’s best time and set us up well heading into the championship season.”

The women’s distance medley relay team of Jalyssa Blazek, Gabby Cortez, Jaiden Itson, and Elena Torres picked up a fourth all-time mark at Iowa, finishing in 11:28.80.

Up Next: The Hawkeyes host the Musco Twilight meet celebrating senior day in Iowa City at the Francis X. Cretzmeyer Track. Tickets will be for sale on hawkeyesports.com. Admission is $5. Ages 2 and under are free. Iowa will also travel to the Desert Heat Classic in Tucson, Arizona. Action begins May 2.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Women’s 100 Meters Finals
1. Holly Duax – 11.98

Men’s 110-Meter Hurdles Finals 
2. Kai Graves-Blanks – 13.75

Women’s 4×100 Relay Finals
2. Duax, Lucas, Al. Williams, Love – 44.91

Men’s 4×110 Shuttle Hurdles
1. Kalil Johnson, Tyler Kenaga, Drew Dillard, Kai Graves-Blanks – 57.26, 2nd at Iowa

Men’s Sprint Medley
3. Jaylin Holmes, Braedin Zondervan, Josh Pugh, Ryan Schreiner – 3:18.46, 7th at Iowa

Women’s Sprint Medley
1. Holly Duax, Lia Love, Damaris Mutunga, Alli Bookin-Nosbisch – 3:44.12, 1st at Iowa

Men’s 4×400 Relay Invite
2. Terrick Johnson, Landon Fontenot, Tyrese Miller, James Fingalsen – 3:05.78

Women’s 4×400 Relay Invite
1. Alivia Williams, Olicia Lucas, Damaris Mutunga, Chioma Nwachukwu – 3:31.13

Women’s 4×400 University
1. Ellie Rickertsen, Gabby Cortez, Ali Fransen, Jaiden Itson – 3:40.67

Men’s Distance Medley Relay
9. Carson Lane, Braedin Zondervan, Derek Leicht, Carson Houg – 9:54.74

Women’s Distance Medley Relay
7. Jalyssa Blazek, Gabby Cortez, Jaiden Itson, Cameron Kalaway – 11:28.80, 4th at Iowa

Men’s Hammer University
12. Walker Whalen – 56.97 (186’ 11”)

Men’s Hammer Championship
1. Ryan Johnson – 71.16 meters (233’ 5”)
2. Sean Smith – 65.97 meters (216’ 5”)
5. Austin Busch – 64.33 meters (211’ 0”)

Women’s Hammer University
7. Alivia Bauer – 56.36 meters (184’ 11”)
10. Peyton Wilson – 55.07 meters (180’ 8”), PR

Men’s Javelin University
10. Drake Woody – 55.05 meters (180’ 7”)

Kip Janvrin Open
Men’s 400 Meters
2. Braedin Zondervan – 48.13

Women’s 400-Meter Hurdles
10. Isabelle Woody – 1:08.79, PR

Women’s 800 Meters
16. Lily Johannes – 2:20.11