Brandon Barnes arrived at the hand-off spot in second place. All-American Edward Kemboi had carried the team into third position. Barnes kept that pace and then some.

An opposing runner nicked Patrick Peterson from behind and down went the third leg onto the cold hard track surface—and with him, the baton. Peterson made a quick recovery that may have saved the team from disaster. Even with the spill, Peterson ran the fastest 800-meter time split in the relay at 1:51.09.

The last leg of the race, Brian Biekert, finished in sixth place. 

The distance medley team with All-American Kemboi, Barnes, Peterson and Biekert saw the light after a strong start, but it dimmed after the collision dropped the team back. 

“[The collision] definitely kind of ruined some of the momentum we had going and it brought [the team] back a little bit—farther than we wanted to be,” Barnes said. “We had a little moment that got out of control. It kind of sucks that happened, but sometimes it happens and you have to push it out.”

Kemboi, known for his performances in the 800-meter races, ran an 1,200-meter race in the first leg. He said that he wasn’t happy with the way he performed on April 25 and that he just didn’t feel it.

The weather may have had something to do with the Kenyan native’s performance. Cold and rainy isn’t exactly his forte. 

“I don’t know what happened today. I wasn’t as smooth as I was three or four races before,” Kemboi said. “I’m not used to this type of weather, but I did the best I could.”

One of the other spotlights for the Cyclones on Saturday, Cameron Ostrowski, had his work cut out for him in the high jump, competing with multiple All-Americans and the No. 1 college jumper in the nation. 

Ostrowski bowed out at the 6 feet, 9 3/4 inch mark, which was more than an inch below his only other jump this outdoor season at the Tiger Track Classic.

Later in the day, Derek Jones, who has had a “frustrating” outdoor season so far after setting his personal record in the 400-meter hurdles in the Big 12 Outdoor Championships a year ago, finished 16th with his time of 53.78 seconds. 

It was his worst time this outdoor season.

“My performance today was not as good as I want it to be, but that’s kind of how it’s been all year outdoor this year,” Jones said on his frustrations. “It’s just something— I don’t have it in me right now to run the fast times I want to.”

The Cyclones may have not performed to their liking, but there is a lot to take away on the last day of the Drake Relays.

“There were good and bad things over the relays,” said Matt Bevil, who was in the sprint medley in the morning. “It’s something to build off of and look forward to.”