The Wildcats traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, over the weekend to compete in the annual Drake Relays. A select number of ACU’s finest were chosen to compete at the prestigious meet, but the select few fell even shorter when an unexpected injury shook up the men’s sprinting team.
Junior multi-event competitor Johnathan Farquharson strained his hamstring during the second leg of the 4×100-meter relay race and was unable to compete in the 100-meter prelims. Being a member of the sprinting group, the ‘Cats were incapable of competing or placing in the 4×200-meter relay.
The group was able to compete in the 4×400-meter relay with senior Osie Alleyne-Forte, junior Devan Brown, junior Deandre McBride and freshman Rosen Daniel. They came in 18th place with a time of 3:13.03. Daniel suffered from an injury the previous week and was unhappy with his performance due to the lasting injury pain.
“This meet tells me that for conference we should be ready for whatever hits us, and that circumstances can be unpredictable,” Daniel said. “Nevertheless, we should still be at the top of our game.”
Senior runner Daniel Block made only his second appearance of the outdoor season competition on Saturday during the 800-meter race. Block placed seventh out of nine competitors, but was only three seconds behind the front-runner Clayton Murphy with a time of 1:51.44. Freshman thrower Kai Schmidt placed 12th in discus with a throw of 49.66 meters, which was not enough to take him further than the prelim stages.
“Overall, the meet did not go as I expected it to go, which was caused through the weather conditions,” said Schmidt. “I would lie if I said that I am happy with my performance at the Relays, because I am not happy at all with it. I was throwing 20 feet under my personal best. All of the throwers there struggled with the rainy cold conditions that made the ring very slick and hard to focus on technical things.”
Senior Lexus Williams was another ACU Wildcat who stayed stuck in the prelims with a 14.66 in the 100-meter hurdles.
Freshmen like Schmidt, although not happy with the outcome, feel fortunate to have been able to attend the Drake Relays meet.
“I am glad I had the opportunity to go and compete at the Relays,” said Schmidt. “I look forward for a much better result in my Sophomore year.”
The ‘Cats will be back on the track as a whole this weekend at the Red Raider Open in Lubbock. This will be the Wildcats’ last chance to practice before the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships on May 8.
