Relay squads shine for Dutch at day two of Drake Relays

Central College

DES MOINES — Blazing the track in its fastest time this season, the women’s 4×400 meter relay team highlighted a full day for the Central College track and field squads at the Drake Relays Friday.

The quartet of Ashlee Downs (senior, Urbandale, West Des Moines Valley HS), Abi Davis (senior, West Des Moines, Dowling Catholic), Kate Patton (sophomore, Murray) and Hope Heitman (freshman, Guttenberg, Iowa, Clayton Ridge HS), clocked in at 3 minutes, 49.73 seconds to finish ninth in the college division of the 4×400 relay. Their time is the third-fastest mark in school history

“The highlight of the weekend so far was certainly our women’s 4×400 relay,” coach Joe Dunham said. “They’re ranked fourth in the nation after today and pretty much solidified a spot at the national meet.”

Individually, Davis finished 28th in the 100-meter dash in 12.18 seconds.

The men’s distance medley relay also registered a top-10 finish, playing sixth in a time of 10:13.09. The quartet of Mark Fairley (sophomore, Dubuque), Alex Bleadorn (senior, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS), Tanner Rathje (sophomore, Marion, Linn-Mar HS) and Cole Decker (senior, Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS) just missed a top-five time in school history.

“Our distance medley relay ran relatively well,” Dunham said. “I was pleased with their effort.”

Logan Mulford (junior, Mount Pleasant) is the final Dutch athlete competing at the Drake Relays where he is scheduled to high jump Saturday morning at 10 a.m.