University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Drake Relays
Drake Relays: Oamen Takes Title As Part of 1-2 Panthers Finish In High Jump
4/26/2008 8:00:00 AM | Track and Field
April 26, 2008
DES MOINES, Iowa - University of Northern Iowa sophomore Ehi Oamen claimed the men's high jump championship Saturday at the 99th annual Drake Relays, holding off teammate and defending champion Julian Morris as the Panthers earned a 1-2 finish in the event. Morris, who claimed the 2007 Drake Relays high jump crown while competing for Iowa State, asserted himself as the competitor to beat early in the competition, clearing each of the first three heights on his first attempt. The sophomore missed on his first try at 7 feet, 1/4 inch, however, and opened the door for Oamen, an All-American in the indoor high jump, to steal the show in front of a sellout crowd at Drake Stadium. Oamen, a native of Hinton, Iowa, earned his first Drake Relays title - and the Panthers' first in the high jump - by clearing the winning height on his first try. Morris made it over the bar on his second attempt at 7-0 1/4 to reduce the field of competitors to just the UNI pair. Each missed on three attempts at 7-1 3/4 to give Oamen the victory on the criteria of fewest misses at the previous height. The finish marked the fifth time between indoor and outdoor competition that the duo has finished 1-2 in a meet this season, and the second time in as many weeks. "I like jumping at this track, but I've never liked the Drake Relays," said Oamen, who competed in the prestigious meet three times in high school and now has two collegiate competitions under his belt. "Since (Morris and I) jump one-on-one a lot that wasn't so special, but I wanted a Drake Relays title and he wanted to defend it, so that was special. "And with us being from UNI, the crowd got into it, and it was fun." Oamen's title was the second of the weekend for the Panthers, who also won their second-consecutive 4x800 crown during Friday's evening session. The Panthers also were part of an outstanding race in the men's distance medley relay, with Indiana thwarting UNI's attempt to defend its title from the 2007 Drake Relays. Anchor leg Dorian Ulrey, who powered the Panthers to the finish line last year, did his part to put them in contention again this time around. The sophomore took the baton from teammate Mike Craddick with the Panthers in ninth place and found himself in fifth by the start of the third lap of his 1,600-meter leg. He remained fifth at the bell and moved into second by the time he hit the backstretch for the final time. Ulrey made his move to the front entering the final turn and had the Panthers in the lead with 100 meters to go, but Indiana's Brennon Plotner kicked into the lead for good with 30 meters left. The Hoosiers finished in 9:49.05. The Panthers were second in 9:49.38 thanks to an outstanding split of 4:02.41 by Ulrey. "That's the toughest way to lose a race," he said. Junior Tyler Mulder, the reigning NCAA indoor 800 meters champion, led off the Panthers' effort with a clocking of 3:04.02 for his 1,200-meter leg and handed to five-time All-American Terrance Reid, who turned his 400-meter split in 48.36. Craddick handled the 800-meter third leg in 1:53.80. SCHOOL RECORD IN HAMMER THROW HIGHLIGHTS JANSEN'S BIG DAY Senior Rachel Jansen, who Friday was unable to defend her Drake Relays title in the women's discus, bounced back Saturday with strong performances in the hammer throw and shot put. Jansen posted a school-record throw of 201 feet, 2 inches to take fifth place in the hammer, improving on the previous UNI standard of 199-7 she set last season. Southern Illinois' Brittany Riley claimed the title with a throw of 217-5. The three-time All-American followed her performance in the hammer with a third-place effort in the shot put, posting a best throw of 54 feet, 2 inches. Jessica Pressley of Arizona State took the championship with a throw of 56-10 1/4. Also Saturday, UNI's effort in the men's sprint medley relay took fourth place, clocking in at 3:23.71 after the Panthers had difficulty with the first exchange. Junior Cory Goos followed with a 400-meter split of 48.12 and handed the baton to Mulder, who anchored the Panthers home in 1:51.58. UNI took seventh in the finals of the 4x400 relay, with the team of Dani Stipe, Alyssa Fischer, Meredith Kosmacek-Simon, Caedryn Schrunk clocking in at 4:06.96. The squad of Rozle Bucalo, Jarrel Anderson, Wojciech Jurkowski and Raven Cepeda posted the top preliminary time in the event, clocking in at 58.67 seconds. The time is the fourth-fastest shuttle hurdle clocking in school history. The Panthers were disqualified in the finals, however, as Nebraska went on to win the race in 57.74. The Panther women also were disqualified in the 100-meter shuttle hurdle relay after posting the fourth-fastest qualifying time in the preliminaries. The foursome of Stipe, Jamie Wieck, Carruthers and Kosmacek-Simon clocked in at 59.38 in the prelims. The Panthers return to action next weekend in the Musco Invitational, hosted by Iowa, taking to the track Saturday (May 3) in Iowa City, Iowa.
Players Mentioned
