April 24, 2025

DES MOINES, Iowa – Five Dakota State (S.D.) men's athletes were in action on the first day of the 115^th annual Drake Relays at Bulldog Stadium, featuring all collegiate levels from NCAA Division I to NAIA schools.  The Trojans highlighted with the national qualifying time in the 4 x 800-meter relay, as well as Top 10 mark in the 5000-meter run.

Evan Armstrong, Curtis Johnson, Mohamed Muse, and Nolan Slominski began the day in the 4 x 800-meter relay.  Armstrong started the first 800-meters with a time of 1 minute, 56.12 seconds and passed the baton to Johnson.  He finished the second 800-meters with a time of 1 minute, 56.24 seconds.

Muse ran the third leg in the 4 x 800-meter relay for the Trojans, clocking a time of 1:53.89.  Nolan Slominski ran the last 800-meters with a time of 1:54.51.

DSU finished 10^th overall in the race, producing NAIA 'B' provisional qualifying time of 7 minutes, 40.75 seconds.  The team also posted the sixth fastest time in school history, surpassing the previous sixth fastest time by Jed McNaughton, Paul Saville, John Ecklein, and Shaun Fransen with a time of 7:44.52 in 2000.

Caleb Sayler closed Thursday's session with his season best time in the 5000-meter run for the Trojans.  He finished 13^th overall in the 5000-meter run unseeded, clocking a time of 14 minutes, 57.24 seconds.  His time is the third fastest time in DSU men's outdoor 5000-meter run history, passing Anthony Drealan's time of 15:00.34 in 2011.

Dakota State continues their action on the second day of the Drake Relays Friday.  Chantz Minear is scheduled to run in the 110-meter hurdles at 12:29 p.m.  He will also run in the 400-meter hurdles at 2:37 p.m.

Friday's evening session includes a pair of relays, starting at 6:35 p.m. with the sprint medley relay team and 4 x 200-meter relay at 7:48 p.m.

Slominski will run the 800-meters Friday afternoon at 2:25 p.m.at the Kip Janvrin Open, hosted by NCAA Division III Simpson (Iowa) in Indianola, Iowa.