Mike Mahon | On 26, Apr 2014

The professional outdoor track & field season in the US started off with a bang including a Canadian record and seven world bests set in a two hour span at Drake Relays Friday night. Here’s a look at those world best performances:

1)Men’s 110 hurdles— 13.14 (Hansle Parchmen, Jamaica) 

2)Women’s shuttle hurdle 50.93 — USA RED (Brianna Rollins, Lolo Jones, Vashti Thomas, Queen Harrison)
 

3)Men’s 400 — 44.44 LaShawn Merritt, Nike
 

4)Women’s Pole Vault — 15-3.5 Yarisley Silva, Cuba 

5)Men’s 400 hurdles — 48.57 Michael Tinsley, Nike
 

6)Men’s high jump — 7-10.5 Derek Drouin, Canada
 

7)Women’s 1500 — 4:04.88 Hellen Obiri, Kenya

 

TRACKING HISTORY: Drake Relays fans witnessed the third best high jump competition ever held on American soil Friday night when Canada’s Derek Drouin set a meet record with a 2014 world best outdoor mark at 2.40m/7-10.5. Erik Kynard and Dusty Jonas also broke the meet record, soaring 2.35m/7-8.5 with Kynard finishing second on fewer misses.

The only other track and field meets in the United States that had three competitors high jump at least 2.35m/7-10.50 occurred June 1, 2013 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore. as well as the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Mutaz Essa Barshim from Qatar won the Prefontaine Classic at 2.40m/7-10.5 while Kynard was second at 2.36m/7-8.75 with Drouin placing third 2.36m/7-8.75.

Charles Austin from TeamUSA won the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics at 2.39m/7-10 with Poland’s Artur Partyka second at 2.37m/7-9.25 and Great Britain’s Steve Smith third at 2.35m/7-8.5.

Men’s Invitational High Jump – Final
Derek Drouin, Nike, 7-10.5 (2.40m)
Breaks Drake Relays, Drake Stadium, and Canadian national record.
On breaking Drake Relays Director Brian Brown’s record at his own event …
“It’s cool, as long as he’s okay with it, I guess. I think it was with the field they brought in it was bound to be broken, it was only a matter of time.”

On what it was like battling against Erik Kynard and Dusty Jonas …
“It was as good as a competition as you will find anywhere. In Moscow last year, World Championships, it showed the direction the event is heading, we had three guys make 2.38, and it looks like that tier of event is not going anywhere. It looks like its here to stay”

On this being his first meet of the year, setting a personal best, and how it sets up 2014 …
“I tried to open the season indoors, and injured myself a little bit, so I’m starting a lot later than I ever have before so I’ve gotten a lot of training in. I think with it not being a championship season, it gives us a chance to relax, so things like this sometimes happen.

Second Place
Erik Kynard, Nike, 7-8.5
“I knew coming out of that competition (Monday grocery store exhibition) that it set up a great rematch.

“It was a great night. The wind was perfect. The crowd was amazing. Everything was perfect. Although I don’t like losing, I can’t say I’m not satisfied with my season outdoor opener.”
“We train (Derek Drouin) to compete with each other like this. I think we do feed off each other. It’s a perfect competitive relationship.

“It is going to be a crazy year. He (winner Derek Drouin) jumps 7-10.5, everyone is jumping well, so it is going to be a crazy year. It’s a competition. Once one guy goes over then you have to go over. You have to be patient and focus on the bar and create your own favorable position. You have to remain in tune and focus on you.”

On the experience ….
“I was focused on what I was doing. I was like Vin Diesel in ‘Fast and Furious.’ I didn’t even watch the meet really. I was looking at my mark and focusing on jumping well. All in all it was a good start for me and looking forward to see what the year is going to bring.”

DRAKE RELAYS RECORDS

Men’s Invitational 110 hurdles — Hansle Parchment, Jamaica, 13.14
Men’s Invitational high jump — Derek Drouin, Nike, 7-10 1/2
High school boys sprint medley relay — Linn-Mar, 3:26.89
High school girls 100 hurdles — Mary Young, Urbandale, 14.30
High school boys 800 — Carter Lilly, Sioux City East, 1:54.62

FAST TIMES AT DRAKE STADIUM
—Brianna Rollins, Lolo Jones, Vashti Thomas, Queen Harrison, women’s shuttle hurdle relay, 50.93, No. 2 all-time
—Hansle Parchment, Jamaica, men’s 110 hurdles, 13.14, No. 1 in the world
—Derek Drouin, Nike, men’s high jump, 7-10 1/2, No. 1 in the world
—LaShawn Merritt, Nike, men’s 400, 44.44, No. 1 in the world
—Michael Tinsley, Nike, men’s 400 hurdles, 48.57, No. 1 in the world
—Hellen Obiri, Kenya, women’s 1500, 4:04.88, No. 1 in the world
—Yarisley Silva, Cuba, women’s pole vault, 15-3 1/2, No. 1 in the world
—Washington, men’s 4×800 relay, 7:18.50, No. 3 nationally among collegians
—Jade Barber, Notre Dame, women’s 100 hurdles, 12.97, No. 12 in world, No. 8 in US
— Katie Wise, Indiana State, women’s 100, 11.33, ties for No. 7 nationally among collegians
—Alexis Franklin, Ohio State, women’s 400 hurdles, 57.81, No. 6 nationally among collegians
—Megan Malasarte, Georgia, women’s 800, 2:03.61, No. 6 nationally among collegians
—Freya Jones, Georgia, university-college women’s javelin, 171-4, No. 7 nationally among collegians

THREE TRIES ENOUGH FOR PATTERSON: American record holder Kara Patterson didn’t want to take any chances with a surgically repaired left knee but still uncorked a throw of 186-10 in the women’s javelin. Patterson hit that mark on her first attempt, threw 180-3 on her second try, then fouled on her third throw. Taking a cautious approach, she passed on her final three chances. Patterson competed during the university-college event, which Georgia freshman Freya Jones won with a throw of 171-4. Patterson has the top U.S. throw this year, a 198-4 at the Texas Relays. Jones’ throw ranks seventh among collegians.

Drake Relays Results/Schedule Photo Gallery