Panthers Grab Two School Records at Drake Relays

Friday, April 29

Des Moines, IA

8 a.m.

University of Northern Iowa

Drake Relays

Panthers Grab Two School Records at Drake Relays

4/30/2016 3:01:00 PM | Track and Field

DES MOINES, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa track and field team finished up competition at the Drake Relays this afternoon, breaking two school records and bringing home multiple season-best performances.

Senior Justin Baker broke his own UNI record in the men's hammer throw for the third time this season, placing second overall in the competition. The Sioux City, Iowa native turned in a new personal-best with a mark of 212-8.50, keeping him ranked at the top of the MVC and No. 8 in the NCAA West Region.

The Panthers kicked off the Drake Relays in the multi-events on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, earning strong performances from Austin Heitland, Rachel Peth and Lauren Frederick.

Peth placed third overall in the heptathlon after earning a personal-best in the 200 meters (25.76) and season-bests in the high jump (5-4.25) and the javelin (122-9.75) for 4,948 points while Frederick finished in eight place with a personal-best 4,589 points. In the decathlon, Heitland finished in sixth place with new PRs in the 100 dash (11.02), high jump (5-11.25), 110 hurdles, discus (102-01.75), pole vault and javelin for 5,951 points.

Moving onto the track, UNI opened the relay competition with a school record in the women's shuttle hurdle relays. The team of Peth, Chaley Rath, Christine MacNeill and Paige Knodle qualified for the finals in the event with a time of 58.15 that would have ranked them No. 4 all-time at UNI, but then followed it up with a time of 55.59 in the finals to earn second place overall and the UNI record.

The Panther women continued on into the sprint medley relay, earning another spot on UNI's all-time list. The team of Maddie Irmen, Maddie Beeler, Maddie Bell and Ashley Norem finished fifth overall with a time of 3:56.90 to place them No. 4 all-time at UNI. On the men's side, the team of Raheem Black, Evan Long, Corey Hertz and Colynn Black also turned in a fast time, placing third overall with a time of 3:24.34.

Both the men and women turned in season-bests in the 4X400 meter relay, placing both teams at No. 2 in the Missouri Valley this season. The men's team (Hertz, Brett McCalla, Long, Bryce Newcomb) came across the line in 3:13.29 while the women (Beeler, Irmen, Knodle, Jennifer Roberts) finished in 3:42.77.

The men's 4X800 relay team also posted a quick team time, finishing in fourth place overall. The team of Luke Johnston, Colynn Black, Jordan Pingel and Dylan Eigenberger finished with a time of 7:29.38.
In the individual open races, Brandon Carnes picked up another win in the 100 meter dash, posting a time of 10.28, just off his season-best time of 10.27. Carnes ran a wind-legal 10.40 in the prelims to win his heat, eventually winning the event as a whole in the finals.

Knodle also qualified for the finals in the women's 100 meter hurdles, turning in a time of 13.49 in the preliminary race. She placed fourth overall in the finals, running a time of 13.56.

The Panthers have one more meet before heading into the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships. UNI will head to the Wisconsin Twilight on May 6 to wrap up its regular season.