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04-28-05, 03:24 PM
More good Baylor pub.
Wariner heads star-studded Drakes
Posted: Thursday April 28, 2005 12:16PM; Updated: Thursday April 28, 2005 12:16PM
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- The last time he ran at the Drake Relays, Jeremy Wariner fell flat on his face.
Now a two-time Olympic gold medalist, Wariner will return to Drake on Saturday for the first time since losing that 2003 race, determined to show why he has become the world's top 400-meter runner.
"This year, I'm running better than I did last year," Wariner said. "I'm just going to go out there and run a great race."
Wariner became an international sensation last year when he won the gold medal in the 400 at the Athens Olympics. He earned another gold by running the third leg on the winning U.S. 1,600 relay team.
But when he ran at Drake two years ago, he was just a skinny freshman at Baylor, though one who already had shown tremendous potential. Because of an injury to another runner, coach Clyde Hart had Wariner anchor the 1,600 relay, which the Bears had won nine straight times at Drake.
The streak ended when Arizona State's Lewis Banda edged Wariner by .01 seconds.
"I just got out a little fast and at the end, I felt the Arizona State guy right next to me," Wariner recalled. "I was trying to lean as far as I could to get the win. I just lost my balance and fell."
Wariner, who turned pro after the Olympics, won't have an easy time in this visit, either. Baylor's Darold Williamson, who anchored the winning 1,600 relay team in Athens, also will run the 400. Williamson, 21, was the only runner to beat Wariner last year.
"I think he and Williamson will come out of the corner, hit that 100-meter mark, they'll be side by side and battling it out to the tape," Relays director Mark Kostek said. "If we get that, I wouldn't be able to script it any better."
Wariner and Williamson are among the headliners in a field that includes Olympians, world leaders and outstanding collegians. The meet starts Thursday with distance races and high school field events.
Kostek, in his fifth and final year as director, beams at the names on his entry lists.
"It's probably the finest field of athletes I've put together in my five years here," said Kostek, who'll become Drake's associate athletic director for external affairs.
Those names include Perdita Felicien, the world leader in the women's 100 hurdles; Ben Kipkurui, who has run the world's fastest mile this year; Kelli Suttle, the leader in the women's pole vault; sprinter Churandy Martina, who has run the fastest 100 this year; Olympic silver medalist Matt Hemingway in the high jump; longtime favorite Joey Woody, winner of 12 Drake Relays titles, in the 400 hurdles, and two Olympic medalists in the pole vault -- Nick Hysong (2000 gold) and Toby Stevenson (2004 silver).
On the collegiate side, the 110 hurdles will feature Mississippi's Antwon Hicks and Oregon's Eric Mitchum, who have the two fastest outdoor times in the college ranks this spring. Hicks is a two-time NCAA indoor champion in the 60 hurdles.
Indiana's Aarik Wilson won the long jump and triple jump at the NCAA indoor met this year and will take aim at the Drake triple jump record of 55 feet, 3\ inches. He has a personal best of 55-9.
Alabama's Beau Walker returns after winning four times in the women's division last year, while Michigan's Lindsey Gallo comes back after anchoring three relay victories.
Walker, then a sophomore, won the 100 and 400 hurdles last year and anchored victories in the 400 and shuttle hurdle relays. Gallo anchored first-place finishes in the 3,200, 6,400 and distance medley relays.
"You look at the list and think, my gosh, I didn't realize how good it was," Kostek said. "It's just a deep field."
Wariner heads star-studded Drakes
Posted: Thursday April 28, 2005 12:16PM; Updated: Thursday April 28, 2005 12:16PM
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- The last time he ran at the Drake Relays, Jeremy Wariner fell flat on his face.
Now a two-time Olympic gold medalist, Wariner will return to Drake on Saturday for the first time since losing that 2003 race, determined to show why he has become the world's top 400-meter runner.
"This year, I'm running better than I did last year," Wariner said. "I'm just going to go out there and run a great race."
Wariner became an international sensation last year when he won the gold medal in the 400 at the Athens Olympics. He earned another gold by running the third leg on the winning U.S. 1,600 relay team.
But when he ran at Drake two years ago, he was just a skinny freshman at Baylor, though one who already had shown tremendous potential. Because of an injury to another runner, coach Clyde Hart had Wariner anchor the 1,600 relay, which the Bears had won nine straight times at Drake.
The streak ended when Arizona State's Lewis Banda edged Wariner by .01 seconds.
"I just got out a little fast and at the end, I felt the Arizona State guy right next to me," Wariner recalled. "I was trying to lean as far as I could to get the win. I just lost my balance and fell."
Wariner, who turned pro after the Olympics, won't have an easy time in this visit, either. Baylor's Darold Williamson, who anchored the winning 1,600 relay team in Athens, also will run the 400. Williamson, 21, was the only runner to beat Wariner last year.
"I think he and Williamson will come out of the corner, hit that 100-meter mark, they'll be side by side and battling it out to the tape," Relays director Mark Kostek said. "If we get that, I wouldn't be able to script it any better."
Wariner and Williamson are among the headliners in a field that includes Olympians, world leaders and outstanding collegians. The meet starts Thursday with distance races and high school field events.
Kostek, in his fifth and final year as director, beams at the names on his entry lists.
"It's probably the finest field of athletes I've put together in my five years here," said Kostek, who'll become Drake's associate athletic director for external affairs.
Those names include Perdita Felicien, the world leader in the women's 100 hurdles; Ben Kipkurui, who has run the world's fastest mile this year; Kelli Suttle, the leader in the women's pole vault; sprinter Churandy Martina, who has run the fastest 100 this year; Olympic silver medalist Matt Hemingway in the high jump; longtime favorite Joey Woody, winner of 12 Drake Relays titles, in the 400 hurdles, and two Olympic medalists in the pole vault -- Nick Hysong (2000 gold) and Toby Stevenson (2004 silver).
On the collegiate side, the 110 hurdles will feature Mississippi's Antwon Hicks and Oregon's Eric Mitchum, who have the two fastest outdoor times in the college ranks this spring. Hicks is a two-time NCAA indoor champion in the 60 hurdles.
Indiana's Aarik Wilson won the long jump and triple jump at the NCAA indoor met this year and will take aim at the Drake triple jump record of 55 feet, 3\ inches. He has a personal best of 55-9.
Alabama's Beau Walker returns after winning four times in the women's division last year, while Michigan's Lindsey Gallo comes back after anchoring three relay victories.
Walker, then a sophomore, won the 100 and 400 hurdles last year and anchored victories in the 400 and shuttle hurdle relays. Gallo anchored first-place finishes in the 3,200, 6,400 and distance medley relays.
"You look at the list and think, my gosh, I didn't realize how good it was," Kostek said. "It's just a deep field."