NU Relay Team Sets School Record at Drake

Des Moines, Iowa - The Nebraska women’s 4x1,600-meter relay team opened the Drake Relays with a school record for the Husker track and field team Thursday evening in Des Moines, Iowa.

The relay team, made up of Kathryn Handrup, Ann Gaffigan, Kim Pancoast and Anne Shadle, ran a time of 19:49.42, improving the previous school record by more than 17 seconds and taking a third-place finish.

Handrup opened the race with the lead, clocking the best time of the four with a 4:50.4 split. Gaffigan took over, running a time of 4:56.0. Pancoast followed in 4:58.7 and Shadle ran the anchor with a time of 5:04.3.

"They ran well and it was a good tuneup for the conference meet," assistant head coach Jay Dirksen said. "It was our only distance event at Drake, and it was a good effort."

Michigan won the event with a meet record, running a time of 19:15.56. Northern Arizona took second in 19:28.99.

Several other Huskers will compete in the Drake Relays on Friday and Saturday, while a large contingent will compete in the Nebraska Wesleyan Twilight on Friday night.