Arkansas women set Drake Relays record in sprint medley

For the Arkansas women, Saturday brought an early record and a late victory lap.

The Razorbacks were dominant in the sprint medley and 4x400 at the 106th running of the Drake Relays.

They set a new mark of 3:43.64 in the first, and pulled away to win the second in 3:31.35.

"That was our goal, so we definitely went out confident and expecting to win both," said junior Taylor Ellis-Watson. "It was my first Drake Relays, so to win two is pretty awesome."

Chrishuna Williams anchored the Arkansas medley, which beat a record of 3:45.48, set by the Razorbacks in 2012.

"As I looked at the screen, I saw I had kind of a big lead," Williams said. "As I ran, I was watching to make sure nobody was catching up to me."

Nobody was.

"On the home stretch I heard him (the public address announcer) talking," Williams said. "And I saw the time, so I was like, 'I just need to go for it.'

"My legs were really numb, so I just said, 'let's finish it.'''

While sprinters expressed concerns about straining their hamstrings, steeplechase winner Maddie Van Beek seemed to thrive in the damp, chilly conditions.

The North Dakota State senior reached the finish line in 10:15.03.

"You get wet, anyway," Van Beek said. "And I'm from the Midwest, so I can't complain.

"Definitely not a big deal."

One of the day's most dramatic finishes took place in the distance medley, and involved a former Iowa prep star.

Shelby Houlihan, who won eight Relays titles while running for Sioux City East, took the baton in 11th place and nearly completed a jaw-dropping triumph for Arizona State.

Houlihan led on the final lap, but was caught by Oklahoma State's Kaela Edwards.

"It kind of brought back high school days," Houlihan said of the crowd reaction. "I really thought I was going to be able to win it.

"I could see (Edwards) out of the corner of my eye. I did what I could."

The Cowboys won in 11:15.03. The Sun Devils were next in 11:15.13.

"I'm always bad at running out by myself," Edwards said. "When everyone was catching me, I was like, 'Just stay in it. Just be tough.'"

The Nebraska men set a tone in the afternoon, winning a university division shuttle-hurdle relay in 56.28.

It was the Cornhuskers first victory in that event since 2008.

"I've never been here before," anchor runner Oladapo Akinmoladun said. "I didn't know how I'd be able to compete here and how nervous I would be.

"We came together as a team and it's an accomplishment we can all share."