DES MOINES, Iowa & DECATUR, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's and women's track and field teams utilized strong competition at the Drake Relays, Friday, April 25, as the men's 4-by-400-meter relay set a new school record in the event and sophomore Imani Ogunbribido (Hanover Park, Ill.-Lake Park) improved her triple jump mark in the Division III rankings. IWU also had a group competing in Decatur at the Millikin Friday Night Invite, where seven Titans placed in the top-three in their respective events. 

Drake Relays
The men's 4-by-400m relay of sophomores Reece Dusek (Peoria, Ill.-Dunlap) and Carson Green (Centralia, Ill.-Centralia), junior Evan Lowder (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community), and senior Alex Harvey (Galesburg, Ill.-Galesburg) set a new school record in the event by two-hundredths of a second, clocking a 3:13.31 to finish first in their heat, sixth in the field, and earn a spot in tomorrow's final at 4:37 p.m. The time is the fastest by a Titan squad since 2008 and ranks eighth-best in Division III this season.

Out of the second flight in the women's triple jump college/university division, sophomore Imani Ogunribido (Hanover Park, Ill.-Lake Park) turned in her best jump of the outdoor season at 12.23-meters (40'1.50") to finish second in the 21-person field that saw competitors from all NCAA divisions. The improved mark moves Ogunribido into the No. 4 spot in Division III this season. 

Millikin Friday Night Invite
IWU came away with the top-two spots in the men's pole vault as senior Isaac Whitaker (Bloomington, Ill.-Central Catholic) won the event with freshman Sam Churchill (Seneca, Ill.-Seneca) taking second based on attempts, as both cleared 4.14m (13'7"). Freshman Sophia Baczak (Aurora, Ill.-Oswego East) placed second in the women's pole vault with a 3.09m (10'1.50") clearance.

Senior Brooks Johnson (Elburn, Ill.-Kaneland) posted a season-best mark in the men's long jump with a 6.56m (21'6.25") mark as he finished second in the field. Junior Jordynn Griffin (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community) clocked a 25.70-second effort to finish second in the 200m to round out IWU's top-two finishers.

The Titans also turned in a pair of third-place finishes in the men's and women's triple jump in senior Sam Okewole (Tinley Park, Ill.-Tinley Park) and freshman Rylee Bramley (Bloomington, Ill.-Tri-Valley). Okewole jumped a 13.18m (43'3") to finish top-three while Bramley notched a personal-best of 10.52m (34'6.25").

Illinois Wesleyan returns to the Drake Relays tomorrow, April 26, for the final day at the historic meet. The women's distance medley relay is set to run at 9:10 a.m. followed by the men's 4-by-400m relay final at 4:37 p.m. Senior Ernie Waterson (Bloomington, Ill.-Cornerstone Christian Academy) will represent the Green and White at the University of Illinois Fighting Illini Twilight meet on Saturday, as he races the men's 800m. 

IWU Individual Results
Drake Relays
Men 4x400m
6. C. Green, R. Dusek, A. Harvey, E. Lowder 3:13.31 Q

Women triple jump
2. Imani Ogunribido 12.23m, 40'1.50"

Millikin Friday Night Invite
Men 100m
5. Jaden Preston 10.98
10. Joe Freedman 11.11

Men 110m hurdles
4. Kamden Reynolds 15.84
5. Keagan Uphoff 16.09

Men 200m
5. Noah Sadowski 22.55
9. Brooks Johnson 22.82
12. Joel Weber 23.24

Women 200m
2. Jordynn Griffin 25.70
5. Bella Gonzalez 26.33
8. Caroline Hill 26.73
10. Carly Edwards 27.11

Women 400m
8. Kelsey Moore 1:02.82

Men 800m
5. Aidan Nishimura 1:58.67
18. Sam Fogarty 2:07.15
26. Angel Macias 2:34.38

Men 1500m
18. Carson Davis 4:23.44

Women 1500m
5. Annika Blackburn 5:43.78
Men 5000m
10. Martin Howley 17:29.36

Men discus throw
14. Nate Henderson 29.11m, 95'6"

Women discus throw
7. Lauren Patterson 25.18m, 82'7"

Women javelin throw
7. Lauren Patterson 19.62m, 64'4"

Men long jump
2. Brooks Johnson 6.56m, 21'6.25"

Men pole vault
1. Isaac Whitaker 4.14m, 13'7"
2. Sam Churchill 4.14m, 13'7"

Women pole vault
2. Sophia Baczak 3.09m, 10'1.50"

Men shot put
10. Nate Henderson 10.08m, 33'1"

Men triple jump
3. Sam Okewole 12.18m, 43'3"
6, Caleb Eads 12.41m, 40'8.75"

Women triple jump
3. Rylee Bramley 10.52m, 34'6.25"
6. Sarah Polley 9.91m, 32'6.25"