Hurdle stars steal the show in Des Moines

By Scott Bush, DyeStat Editor

Programming Note: The Drake Relays can be watched on-demand on USATF.TV with a +PLUS subscription.

Despite rainy and windy conditions at the Drake Relays, top professional track and field talent took to the track and the field Saturday, putting on a show those in attendance would not forget. While every event featured its own memorable moments, there were a few events in particular that stood out. 

McLeod Eases to Victory in World-Leading Time

Few athletes have been as dominant in their event since the beginning of 2016 than hurdler Omar McLeod. The reigning Olympic champion has been on a tear and showed no signs of slowing down Saturday in Des Moines as he won by an incredible two-tenths over a stacked field, not only taking home the win, but the world lead as well. 

McLeod's time was the fourth fastest of his career and four-hundredths of a second faster than his winning time last year at Drake. While McLeod will certainly face tougher fields during upcoming Diamond League competition, Saturday's contest was a good indicator of the former University of Arkansas star's fitness.

Men's 110m Hurdles - Top Five Finishers

McLeod now sets his sights forward to the IAAF Diamond League, where he will compete in the Shanghai event in two weeks time. The Jamaican will face plenty of competition in China, including Rio silver medalist Orlando Ortega as well as the return of Russian Sergey Shubenkov, the 2015 World Champion, to international competition. 

Harrinson Continues Dominance Over Competition

Keni Harrison is on a mission. After failing to qualify for the Olympic Games last summer, when she finished sixth in the 100 hurdles at the Olympic Trials, the former University of Kentucky standout has been crushing her competition time and time again. 

Saturday's race pitted Harrison against a top-notch field, one that included multiple Olympians, including 2008 gold and 2012 silver medalist Dawn Harper-Nelson and 2016 bronze medalist Kristi Castlin. 

From the gun, Harrison simply took over, pulling away from her competition half way to the finish and running the top wind-legal time of the year in 12.56. Not only that, she beat runner-up Jasmin Stowers by two-tenths of a second. Similar to McLeod, that is just fantastic knowing the level of competition. 

Women's 100m Hurdles - Top Five Finishers

12.56 Keni Harrison
12.76 Jasmin Stowers
12.79 Dawn Harper-Nelson
12.86 Queen Harrison
12.89 Devynne Charlton

Harrison now turns her sights on the Doha Diamond League event on May 5. After winning the IAAF Diamond League crown last year, she will once again enter as the pre-race favorite, this time squaring off against reigning Olympic silver medalist Nia Ali. 

Murphy Completes One Amazing Week

Last Sunday, April 23, Rio 800 bronze medalist Clayton Murphy used a vicious kick to take home the 4x800 relay victory for Team USA at the IAAF World Championships. Two days later on Tuesday, after a flight from the Bahamas to Des Moines, Murphy earned another title, this time winning the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships. 

Then, on Satudrday, in pouring rain, Murphy once again used his world-class speed to edge out John Gregorek for the 1,500 on the blue track at Drake. While none of Murphy's times were all that fast over the past week, he showed time and again that his race instincts are second to none and when it matters most, he can shift gears and blow past nearly any competitor.

Men's 1500m - Top Five Finishers

Moline is Back on Track 

At the Olympic Trials last summer, Georgeanne Moline seemed poised to make Team USA in the 400 hurdles. It would be a challenge, sure, but she entered as one of the top three favorites in the always competitive event. Despite being in tremendous shape as the Trials approached, Moline had to withdraw from competition due to a herniated disk in her back.

Despite the set back, the 2012 Olympian is back on the track competing, this time winning the Drake Relays 400 hurdles over another top field in a world-leading time of 54.66. Moline edged out fellow American Kori Carter and Leah Nugent of Jamaica, who placed sixth in Rio, as well as Rio bronze medalist Ashley Spencer - who didn't finish after falling on the backstretch.

Women's 400m Hurdles - Top Five Finishers