RESULTS - DRAKE RELAYS | HAMLINE

DES MOINES, Iowa - After missing out on the Drake Relays last year, the 2021 track and field season brought back a familiar seen in Des Moines for the Royals. Bethel had two individuals and two relays competing at this year's Drake Relays - the longest standing track and field meet in the Midwest. 

On Friday morning, Gabe Irons got things going for the Royals in the discus. Irons, who set the school record just last week (52.04m / 170'9"), sat in 7th place after his 5th throw. However, he saved his best for last. On his final throw of the competition, Irons threw 50.28m / 164'9" to move all the way up to 2nd place. On Saturday morning, Irons competed in the hammer throw, an event in which he holds another school record. His best throw of 50.92m / 167'1" placed him 8th overall.

Freshman Annessa Ihde was the first Royal to race on the Blue Oval this weekend. Ihde ran the 800m in a field that boasted multiple All-Americans at the Division II and Division III levels. After a very physical race, Ihde finished in 2:21.04 putting her in 17th place.

Ihde joined teammates Hannah Sankey, Britta Nordberg, and Mikayla Turek to team up in the 4x400m relay. That team combined for a time of 3:56.94, which placed them 4th in their heat and 11th overall. That time also places Bethel 11th on the Division III honor roll. 

The Royal men also raced in the 4x400m relay on Saturday morning. Joel Smith, Jacob Parent, Tyler Sealock, and Josh Sampson ran a season best time of 3:17.67 placing them 6th. That time puts them 10th on the Division III honor roll.

On Saturday evening, the Royals had several distance runners competing at Hamline. Erika Swanson started things off for Bethel with a bang! She won the 3000m steeplechase in a personal best time of 11:51.29. That time is the 6th fastest in program history, and currently stands as the 3rd best time in the MIAC this year. 

Ike Mendel was up next for Bethel, this time in the men's 5000m. Mendel went up against a very deep field and came away with a lifetime best of 15:08.62 for 7th place overall. His time ranks as the 6th best in program history.

The men's 10000m crew put up multiple historic performances late into the evening. During the 25 lap race, Jonathan Sweeney, Aidan St. George, and Josh Halverson solidified themselves as the 8th, 9th, and 10th fastest performers in program history in the 10k. Sweeney led the way finishing in 7th place with a time of 32:51.54. St. George took 9th in 33:07.25, and Halverson was 10th in 33:17.57.

Laura Hardwick finished off the weekend for Bethel in the women's 10000m run. In her first 10k on the track, Hardwick came away with a time of 41:10.09 while finishing in 6th place.

The Royals will come together with the entire team next week as they compete at the St. Thomas Invite on Friday, April 30th.