Two Spartan records set at Drake

DES MOINES — Two Southwestern Community College records were broken in the Spartans’ appearance at the 2024 Drake Relays.

The sprint medley group of Sam Foreman, Jedd Weinkoetz, Rouce Sayee and Chase Oates set a new record of 3:38.40 in placing 18th in the college division Friday evening.

On Saturday, the shuttle hurdle relay unit of Sayee, Peyton Embree, Ross Stephens and Foreman set a SWCC record by placing 11th in the university/college division in 1:04.44.

Coach Scott Vicker was pleased with both performances, especially with a new lineup for the sprint exchange portion of the medley.

“I was really proud of Jedd Weinkoetz in stepping in for us as an alternate in the medley after Tyus Wills injured his hamstring this week,” Vicker said. “Jedd ran two seconds faster over 200 meters than he had in an open 200 for us.”

Foreman led off with a 22.69 split and it was a smooth handoff to Weinkoetz for his 23.37 split. Both are former southwest Iowa standouts as Foreman graduated from CAM High School in Anita and Weinkoetz competed at AC/GC based in Guthrie Center.

Sayee, from West Des Moines Valley, ran 51.81 in his 400 meter carry before handing off to Spartan distance star Chase Oates, who covered his 800 meters in 2:00.39. Oates is a native of Columbia Heights, Minnesota.

“Rouce had his best 400 of the year and did a great job of getting us back into the race,” Vicker said. “I know Chase wanted to run under 2:00 and he was right there again. He got out in 57 seconds which is right where I wanted him. He was just a little too far back from that next pack in that second lap to push him under 2:00-flat.”

The public address announcer prior to the shuttle hurdle relay noted that all four of Southwestern’s runners are former Iowa preps — Sayee from Valley, Peyton Embree from East Mills, Ross Stephens from Pleasantville and Foreman from CAM. Stephens had the fastest split of 15.64.

“I thought the shuttle went way better than I was expecting,” Vicker said. “Those guys haven’t really had a chance to practice hurdles a lot lately. They’ve been kind of banged up and working on some other events. We weren’t sure how we would do. I told the guys before they went out there, just finish and have a fun time out there. They accomplished both of those. I was hoping for faster than 1:07 and they ran 1:04!”

Most of Southwestern’s entries had competed on the Drake track, but competing against the nation’s best collegians enhanced the experience.

“It’s really fun. I enjoyed running here last year and this year,” said Oates, who holds several SWCC distance and cross country records. “It’s not always that you come to a meet and see it packed out there. It’s good energy and a good environment ... definitely one of my favorite meets.”

“It’s great to have the chance to come out here and compete against really good competition,” said Foreman, a state meet runner for CAM last year. “Everybody that made it here does something right throughout the season. In high school it was always cool to come here and watch the college athletes.”

Men’s college sprint medley — 1. Minnesota State, 3:27.71; 18. Southwestern Community College (Sam Foreman, Jedd Weinkoetz, Rouce Sayee, Chase Oates), 3:38.40.

Men’s university/college shuttle hurdle relay — 1. Air Force, 57.33; 11. Southwestern Community College (Rouce Sayee, Peyton Embree, Ross Stephens, Sam Foreman), 1:04.44.