Jayhawks Wrap Up Day One of Drake/Penn Relays

April 22, 2010

DES MOINES, Iowa – Kansas track and field had nine athletes participate in the Drake Relays’ Thursday afternoon Distance Carnival. Highlighting KU’s performances were junior Nick Caprario and freshman Allie Marquis, who both finished in the top ten in the 5,000-meter run, while setting new personal records in the process.

Caprario clocked in at 14:36.25 to take ninth place in the men’s 5,000 meters. The junior from Kearney, Neb., bested his previous PR by nearly four seconds. Sophomore Zach Zarda also set a personal record in the men’s 5K, as he turned in a time of 14:45.21.

Marquis crossed the finish line of the women’s 5,000 meters in a season-best time of 17:06.84, earning seventh place overall in a competitive 20-person field. Joining Marquis in the women’s 5K were freshmen Tessa Turcotte and Kyra Kilwein, both of whom were running the event for the first time this season. Turcotte finished 16th in 17:45.10, while Kilwein was close behind in 17:47.73.

Junior Dan Van Orsdel competed in the men’s 10,000 meters, finishing 18th with a time of 33:41.72 and freshman Natalie Becker ran the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase for the first time in 2010, recording a time of 12:34.75.

Action from Des Moines, Iowa continues Friday with several relays and field events, including the men’s long jump, women’s high jump and men’s and women’s pole vault.

PHILADELPHIA, Penn.The women’s 4×400-meter relay team of Taylor Washington, Taissa Makhmayeva, Shayla Wilson and Kendra Bradley just missed the cut for the finals of the mile relay, after recording a preliminary time of 3:42.82 Thursday at the Penn Relays.

Kansas finished 22nd in a field of 88 teams separated in ten different heats. Although the KU squad raced well, only the top 16 teams, as well as the eight fastest ECAC teams advance to a final round. Kansas’ time of 3:42.82 was two seconds off its season-best time of 3:40.03, which ranks fourth in the Big 12 Conference and 17th in the West region.

The men’s 4×400-meter relay squad will have its shot Friday at 4:40 p.m. when they take on 108 other teams in the prelims of the mile relay. Sophomore Keith Hayes will also compete in the individual men’s 110-meter hurdle prelims at 3:40 p.m., which will feature six athletes currently ranked in the top 10 in the nation.

Kansas Results

Drake Relays

4/22/10

M 5,000-Meter Run

9. Nick Caprario, 14:36.25

12. Zach Zarda, 14:45.21

13. Bret Imgrund, 14:46.80

15. Josh Baden, 15:17.66

M 10,000-Meter Run

18. Dan Van Orsdel, 33:41.72

W 5,000-Meter Run

7. Allie Marquis, 17:06.84

16. Tessa Turcotte, 17:45.10

17. Kyra Kilwein, 17:47.73

W 3,000-Meter Steeplechase

19. Natalie Becker, 12:34.75

Penn Relays

4/22/10

W 4×400-Meter Relay (Prelims)

22. Washington, Makhmayeva, Wilson Bradley, 3:42.82