Stigler Stays Undefeated after Win at Drake Relays

Drake Relays
Drake Stadium // Des Moines, Iowa

Stigler ran to another victory in the 400-meter hurdles Saturday at the Drake Relays, clocking in at 49.47.
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DES MOINES, Iowa – Kansas junior Michael Stigler added another 400-meter hurdle victory to his list of 2014 accolades as he claimed the event title at the Drake Relays Saturday afternoon inside Drake Stadium. Stigler has yet to lose a 400-meter hurdle race this season and has now won nine of his last 13 hurdle races versus collegians dating back to last season.
 
Stigler entered the day coming off a stellar performance in the event at the Kansas Relays, one that saw home post the NCAA’s leading time of 49.35, which was also fifth in the world at the time. The Canyon, Texas product again turned in a dominating performance, this time for the nearly 12,000 fans inside Drake Stadium.
 
The junior got out to another fast start, but was quickly forced to navigate a tricky headwind as he battled through the first straightaway. By the end of the first 200 meters, Stigler had already put an end to any doubts of his victory as he managed to build a three-stride lead over the rest of the field. He put even more space between himself and his closest competitors down the home stretch and ran through the finish in 49.47. The time made Stigler the owner of the top two times in the NCAA this season and kept him undefeated this year.
 
Stigler also notched a prestigious accolade that has been a rare feat in recent years as he completed the Texas-Kansas-Drake Triple Crown in the 400-meter hurdles with his wins at the Texas Relays, Kansas Relays and the Drake Relays, all in the same season.
 
The women’s 4×100-meter relay team had high hopes of picking up a Drake Relays title of its own following its top qualifying time in the preliminary rounds Friday. It wasn’t meant to be however as a troublesome exchange between the third leg, Tianna Valentine, and the anchor, Sydney Conley, went outside the exchange zone and resulted in the team’s qualification.
 
An hour earlier, Conley lined up in the starting blocks for the final of the 100-meter dash. After posting a personal-best time the day before in prelims (11.66), The sophomore clocked in at 12.13, which was good enough for a 6th-place finish.
 
Kansas will be back in action next Saturday as the Jayhawks get in one final tune-up before the Big 12 Championships as they compete at the Ward Haylett Invitational in Manhattan, Kan., on Friday, May 3. Follow all the action from inside R.V. Christian Track Complex by logging on to KUAthletics.com for a complete recap and follow on Twitter and Instagram at @KUTrack.
 
 
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