KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
DES MOINES, IOWA – Senior Robert Webb is sitting in fifth place overall (third collegian) in the men's Decathlon while junior Rachael Johnson is 12th and junior Kelly Steffen 16th in the Heptathlon after the first day of competition in the multi-events at the 104th Drake Relays Wednesday.
Webb's best event of the day was in the high jump as he tied for first by clearing 6'-6¼” (1.99m) which earned him 794 of his 3.621 first day points. The senior was also fourth in the long jump with a leap of 22'-2¼” (6.87m), sixth in the 100 meters with a time of 11.36 seconds, 10th in the shot put with a personal best distance of 36'-7¾” (11.17m), and 11th in the 400 meters with a time of 51.83 seconds.
Jake Arnold (Asics) leads the competition with 3,789 points with Ethan Miller (unattached) currently second at 3,687 points. Georgia freshman Devon Williams is third (3,657) with Central sophomore Eric Larson fourth (3,634) and Webb fifth.
Johnson was a perfect four-for-four in recording personal bests on the first day of the Heptathlon and is in 12th (the 10th collegian) with 2,777 points heading into the second day of competition. The junior ran 15.94 to finish 16th in the 100 meter hurdles, cleared 5'-5¼” (1.66m) for fourth in the high jump, threw 32'-6½” (9.92m) for 13th in the shot put, and ran 26.84 for 14th in the 200 meters which were all career bests.
Steffen is currently 16th (the 12th collegian) in the competition with 2,692 points. The junior ran 15.61 to place 14th in the 100 meter hurdles, cleared 5'-1¾” (1.57m) to tie for 11th in the high jump, threw 30'-4¾” (9.16m) for 14th in the shot put, and ran 26.58 to place 12th in the 200 meters.
Lindsay Lettow (unattached) leads the Heptathlon with 3,325 points with Mississippi junior Fabia McDonald second (3,133), Mississippi junior Mary Hall third (3,103), and Jessica Flax (unattached) fourth (3,102).
The Heptathlon wraps up with three events Thursday starting at 10:30 a.m. (ET) including the long jump, javelin, and 800 meters. The Decathlon also wraps up on Thursday starting at 11 a.m. (ET) with five events including the 110 meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1500 meters.
