| April 29, 2005
Contact: Kyle Stephens (210) 458-4907
Dupree wins second straight Drake Relays heptathlon crown Meet Information/Results
DES MOINES, Iowa - UTSA junior All-American Ryanne Dupree captured her second straight Drake Relays heptathlon crown with an NCAA provisional-qualifying performance Thursday at Drake Stadium.
Dupree was in second place entering the final three events Thursday after posting a day-one point total of 3,269. She clocked 13.76 in the 100m hurdles, the only athlete under 14 seconds, cleared 5-4 1/4 in the high jump, measured 35-6 in the shot put and sped to a 24.83 in the 200m on Wednesday.
On Thursday, it did not take Dupree long to pass first-day leader Iveta Grunte of Wichita State (3,278) as the two-time conference champion leaped to a 717-point effort of 18-3 in the long jump to take the lead for good, 3,986-3,848. The East Central High product went on to throw 108-7 in the javelin and clock a 2:21.00 in the 800 meters in finishing with a season-best 5,331 points. Dupree finished 56 points ahead of runner-up Melissa Talbot of Wisconsin (5,275).
“Any time you’re in the top five going into the second day, you have to feel good about how you can do,” Dupree said. “I was in the same position last year so I guess that made me a little more confident today. It’s great to repeat in this event and I just feel so privileged to accomplish such a feat, especially at a place like the Drake Relays. Winning this event last year was great, but this year it’s just unbelievable.”
Dupree’s 5,331-point effort easily meets the NCAA provisional-qualifying standard of 5,000 and ranks as her second-best career performance behind the school record of 5,383 she set in winning the 2004 Texas Relays. Dupree also won last year’s Drake Relays heptathlon with 5,087 points and with the victory this year becomes just the seventh heptathlete to win a second title at the 96-year old meet.
Freshman teammate Ashley Allen placed 11th in the 22-person heptathlon field with 4,773 points. She posted marks of 15.33 in the 100m hurdles, 5-3 in the high jump, 31-7 1/2 in the shot put, 26.31 in the 200m, 17-1 3/4 in the long jump, 109-0 in the javelin and 2:21.66 in the 800m. Allen, the 2005 Whataburger/UTSA Relays heptathlon champion, owns a season best of 4,789 turned in at the Texas Relays in early April.
The Drake Relays continue Friday and Saturday on the blue track at Drake Stadium. For complete meet information and results, please visit www.drakerelays.org. Fans may watch portions of the meet live on the Internet at www.drakebroadcasting.com with air times of 12-6:30 p.m. on Friday and 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday.
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