(Eugene, OR) – A total of five former Drake Relays Alumni are headed to the U.S. Olympic Team. Two Iowans also have a chance to make their mark as they’ll be racing in the semifinals on Thursday.
In the women’s High Jump Finals, Charity Hufnagel of Kentucky and 2024 Drake Relays Champion, made her first Olympic team with a personal best of 6-4 1/4. Alongside Hufnagel, Vashti Cunningham, the 2018 and 2022 Drake Relays Champ, earned third at 6-3 1/4 to make her third Olympic team. In the women’s 5000-meter final, Karissa Schweizer, formally of Dowling Catholic High School and 2018 Drake Relays Champion, earned third with a season-best 14:45.12 to make her second straight Olympic team. Jumping over to the women’s 800-meter final, Allie Wilson, marked her second-best time while placing second at 1:58.32. Lastly, in the Heptathlon, Taliyah Brooks earned third with 6,408 total points to make her first Olympics appearance.
Monday also featured two Iowans who will be running in the semifinals. Jamal Britt, formally of Iowa University, ran a personal-best of 13.07 in the 110-meter hurdles as he will run this coming Thursday. Also participating on Thursday will be Wakuee High School graduate and Iowa thrower, Kat Moody, who threw 192-5 in the first round.
Atlantic’s Gratt Reed ran in the first round of the men’s 110-meter Hurdles and unfortunately will not advance to the semifinals after running 13.95. One of Iowa State’s top athletes, Janette Schraft, will also not advance to the finals in the women’s 3000 Steeplechase after running at 9:51.35. Former Logan-Magnolia Panther, Alex Gochenour-Brondyke did not finish in the Heptathlon. Lastly, Laulauga Tasaga-Collins, former 2023 World Champ will also not advance to the finals in the women’s Discus.
