Morton wins Drake Relays decathlon with career-best performance

DES MOINES, Iowa — Carter Morton set a new career-high score with 7,454 points to claim the decathlon title at the historic Drake Relays on Thursday afternoon at Drake Stadium. The first Panther to win the decathlon at the Blue Oval since Daniel Gooris in 2013, Morton's score cracks the top-four all-time in school history.

The Jefferson, Iowa native set new career-best marks in four events, including first place finishes in the high jump (2.11 meters), long jump (7.18 meters), 400-meter dash (49.55 seconds) and discus throw (36.22 meters). Morton, the reigning Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) runner up in the decathlon, finished last year's competition at Drake Stadium in fourth place with 6,697 points.

"Last year I thought I was going to win it but that did not end well", said Morton after the win. "I made a huge jump from last year to this year. It has always been my goal to get a Drake Relays flag and I finally got one."

Zach Butcher, who placed 5th in the decathlon at Drake Relays last year, placed second behind Morton with a career-best score of 6,875 points. The UNI redshirt junior notched career-bests in the shot put (13.06 meters), 400-meter dash (48.32 seconds) and in the 110 meter hurdles (15.20 seconds).

Brody Lovell finished in fifth place with a total score of 6,074 points with career performances in the 400-meters (50.06 seconds) and 110-meter hurdles (15.86 seconds), while sophomore Drew Bartels placed seventh with 5,798 points.

Katy Stephens led the Panthers in the heptathlon with an ninth place finish with 4,625 points, with career-best in four events, while Kelly Proesch recorded a career-high 4,327 points with personal-best marks in the shot put (10.14 meters) and 100-meter hurdles (14.96 seconds).

Darci Wiseman placed 14th in the heptathlon with 4,249 points with career-best in the 100-meter hurdles (15.49 seconds), javelin throw (31.02 meters) and 800-meter run (2:28.02), while Lydia Berns-Schweingruber took 15th place with 4,004 points and three career-best results along the way. Amanda Lietz rounded out the UNI field in 16th place with a career-high 3,780 points with best marks in the 100-meter hurdles (17.16 seconds) and 800-meters (2:39.08).

In the distance carnival, Sophia Jungling led the Panthers to a 13th place finish in the women's 800-meter run with a time of 2:14.01, while Drake Hanson took 13th in the men's 800-meters crossing the finish line in 1:51.30. Chase Knoche finished 15th in the men's 800-meters (1:51.42) with Micaiah Ellis taking 18th (1:52.21).

Dropping 4.27 seconds off her career-best time, Emma Hoins placed sixth in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, improving the second fastest time in program history to 10:30.59. In the women's 10,000-meters, Kate Crawford dropped one minute, 18 seconds of her career-best time to clock the second-fastest time in school history at 35:52.65 in fifth place, while Caleb Shumaker took 20th place in the men's 10,000-meter run (32:04.42).

UNI RESULTS AT THE DRAKE RELAYS (Wednesday/Thursday)

Decathlon

1st - Carter Morton (7,454 points)
2nd - Zack Butcher (6,875 points)
5th - Brody Lovell (6,074 points)
7th - Drew Bartels (5,798 points)

Heptathlon

9th - Katy Stephens (4,625 points)
12th - Kelly Proesch (4,327 points)
14th - Darci Wiseman (4,249 points)
15th - Lydia Berns-Schweingruber (4,004 points)
16th - Amanda Lietz (3,780 points)

Women's 800-Meters

13th - Sophia Jungling (2:14.01)

Men's 800-Meters

13th - Drake Hanson (1:51.30)
15th - Chase Knoche (1:51.42)
18th - Micaiah Ellis (1:52.21)

Women's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase

6th - Emma Hoins (10:30.59)

Women's 10,000-Meters

5th - Kate Crawford (35:52.65)
27th - Isabelle Schaffer (38:10.21)

Men's 10,000-Meters

20th - Caleb Shumaker (32:04.42)

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