LoLo Jones was the featured female performer on the final day of the 2008 Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. A capacity crowd of 14,457 - the 43rd consecutive year the Saturday program was sold out - was treated to a preview of what to expect from rising stars for both the upcoming NCAA Championships at Drake June 11-14 as well as the Olympics in Beijing, China, in August.
World Indoor champion LoLo Jones captured her fourth straight Drake Relays title in the women's 100m hurdles, winning in 12.74 seconds just off her 2008 world leading time of 12.72, but good enough to break her previous Drake Relays record of 12.93 set in 2005. Jones also bettered the Drake Stadium mark of 12.92 set by former Illinois star Perdita Felicien in 2001.
"It's exciting to be back. It's a great opportunity for people to see me run who never get a chance to," said Jones, who celebrated her victory by tossing her sunglasses into the crowd. "The emotion is just running like crazy here. My performance was definitely a good stepping stone."
2006 Big Ten champion Emily Brown from Team USA Minnesota set a Drake Stadium record in the women's 3,000m steeplechase of 9:45.38, breaking the mark of 9:52.04 set by Korene Hinds of Jamaica in 2005.
For more information on the 2008 Drake Relays, including the complete results, visit: www.godrakebulldogs.com.
Tigers dominate at Penn Relays
The LSU women's quartets dominated collegiate action at the 2008 Penn Relays in Philadelphia, which concluded on Saturday.
The LSU women have dominated recently at Penn and this year's competition was more of the same. The Tigers have now won 39 Championship of America crowns since 1985 following victories in the sprint medley and 4x800m relays, which were both anchored by LaTavia Thomas. The Tigers also added wins this year in the shuttle hurdles and 4x100m relays.
The Tigers were upset in the 4x200m relay by TCU and in the 4x400m by Penn State, which kept them from winning an unprecedented six Championships of America relay titles in one year.
For more information on the 2008 Penn Relays, including the complete results, visit: www.thepennrelays.com.
