Iowa's Mahnee Watts wins 800-meter title at Drake Relays

DES MOINES — Iowa's Mahnee Watts went through the first lap of the 800-meter run without much of an agenda.

She wanted to see where things stood halfway through.

Watts knew the first lap time would be a good indicator of how she could finish the race. When the field finished the first lap two seconds slower than she anticipated, Watts knew she could make her move.

'I knew that I would have a good opportunity to cut in really fast and make my move right away,' Watts said. 'So I knew if I just got out and stayed controlled the first lap that I would be fine.'

The Hawkeyes junior — and Bettendorf native — surged ahead of the field on the homestretch and won the 800 meters going away in 2:07.93 to collect her first-career Relays flag. Watts hopped off the track into the waiting arms of her Iowa coach Jason Wakenight as she celebrated the school's first 800-meter Drake Relays title.

Watts brought a more aggressive mindset to the track Friday, which she credited to her experience last weekend at the Musco Twilight. She clocked a 2:07.41 there and finished second, but said it taught her how imperative it is for her to attack and with 300 meters to go in Drake Stadium, she made her move.

'I kind of got boxed in by like four girls and I just kind of stayed composed,' Watts said. 'I know I have a good kick so I knew if I could stay with the front girls I could kick the last 100.'

Iowa State's Jhoanmy Luque finished second in the women's long jump with a leap of 20 feet, 3 1/2 inches. She led the field until her final jump where she scratched and Purdue's Savannah Carson passed her, jumping 20 feet, 8 1/2 inches.

'I felt the pressure and I was like, 'OK, I need to put everything together,'' Luque said. 'I tried to do it and I feel like it was a good jump, but unfortunately with the fouls you never know. That got me excited a little bit in trying to put everything together (for conference in two weeks).'

Iowa's Montayla Holder took fourth in the women's 400-meter hurdles in 58.64 with Purdue's Symone Black taking the flag in 57.72. Holder owns the fastest 400-meter hurdle time in the Big Ten this season (56.70).

'It was really rocky and I'm still trying to get my rhythm down and things of that nature,' Holder said. 'I just wanted to go out there and really try to compete with those girls because I'll be seeing them at the Big Ten Championships.'

Iowa freshman Reno Tuufuli was fifth in the men's shot put with a toss of 58 feet, 5 3/4 inches while UNI senior Justin Baker was eighth (56 feet, 9 1/4 inches). ISU senior Christina Hillman was fifth in the women's discus, throwing 163 feet, 10 inches.

Hillman, an All-American shot putter, missed the finals of last season's discus at Drake and despite her best toss coming on her second attempt she felt like she started moving in a good direction Friday.

'It was nice to make the finals here,' Hillman said. 'It's really great so I'm trying to think of the positives and see where I can build for conference coming up soon.'