Track & Field Posts Strong Start at Drake Relays

Friday, April 28

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Drake Relays

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Track & Field Posts Strong Start at Drake Relays

4/28/2023 8:29 PM | Track & Field

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The Utah track & field team saw another record fall as it concluded its first day at the Drake Relays.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The ever-changing Utah track & field record once again saw some edits Friday evening as the Utah 4x200m relay team broke the school record to close out day one action at the famed Blue Oval in the 113th running of the Drake Relays.

The distance squad opened the day of competition for Utah at America's Athletic Classic with the 4x1600m relay. Karli Branch ran the first leg for Utah and kept the Utes within striking distance before passing it on to Kylie Hartnett. The freshman gained some ground and pushed the Utes up two spots when she turned it over to Maddie Reed before handing things over to Ellie Lundgreen for the anchor leg for a final time of 20:06.77.

Later on, Utah's 4x100m relay team consisting of Dee Denis, Emily Martin, Maya LeBar and Josefine Eriksen took third in their heat and fourth overall in the prelims to advance to Saturday's finals with a mark of 44.82 – which was the second-fastest time ran by the quartet this season.

The 4x800m relay kicked off the evening for Utah and went on to take second with a time of 8:56.30 and earned its first points towards the Hy-Vee Cup standings. Millie Wilcox started with an opening leg run of 2:15.00 for the Utes before handing it off to Bri Rinn, who ran the fastest split among the Utah runners with a 2:09.30 – which was .06 faster than her previous PR in the 800m distance. Lauren Peterson then took the baton next to post a 2:17.50 in her leg of the race before Erin Vringer held off Southern Indiana's Kara Martin to secure the second-place finish with a split of 2:14.51 at the anchor position.

Utah adds to its point total in the hunt for the Hy-Vee Cup after taking 2nd in the 4x800m relay with a mark of 8:56.30. #GoRelays #GoUtes | #UtahTFXC | @DrakeRelays pic.twitter.com/nBr51wE415
— Utah T&F/XC (@Utah_trackfield) April 29, 2023

It wouldn't be a day of competition if there wasn't any movement in the Utah record books, this time came courtesy of the 4x200m relay team's 1:40.02 – which was good for fifth-overall. Kelise Davis started the race for Utah with a 25.59 followed by Malia Overton, who ran the fastest split among the Ute runners with a 24.62. Megan Race ran the third leg of the 4x200m relay and ran a 25.10 before Rachel Whipple finishing things out with a 24.44 split to help Utah edge the previous school record of 1:40.34.

Women of Utah wrap up Day 1? on the Blue Oval with a new SCHOOL RECORD time of 1?:4?0?.0?2? for 5th overall in the 4x200m relay.#GoUtes | #UtahTFXC pic.twitter.com/TeQiHEw6XF
— Utah T&F/XC (@Utah_trackfield) April 29, 2023

BENGAL INVITATIONAL
Running unattached, Bailey Kealamakia made her first-career appearance in the 100m dash with a final time of 12.29 (12.33 after adjusting for altitude) – which was just .04 away from earning a spot in the finals on Saturday. Kealamakia made it up in the 400m hurdles thanks to her section winning time of 1:01.06 (aa) – which was good for second-overall and earned her a spot in the finals Saturday while also narrowly edging her previous PR by .02.

Running in the 200m for the first time, Erin Palmer would up as the fastest Ute in the event, checking in at 26.03 (aa) while Chloe Shewell crossed the finish line at 26.26 (aa).

Palmer then qualified for the finals on Sunday with a run of 58.19 (58.30 after adjusting for altitude) in the 400m dash – which was good for sixth overall and second in her section. Shewell just missed out on qualifying for the finals with a run of 58.91 (aa).

The Women of Utah wrap the weekend up on Saturday, April 29, at both meets with the DMR squad kicking things off for Utah over at the Drake Relays at 11:23 a.m. (MT).

For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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