May 4, 2005
DES MOINES, IOWA - Baylor senior Darold Williamson (San Antonio, Texas) and Wyoming senior Shauna Smith have been named the outstanding men's and women's performers, respectively of the 2005 Drake Relays.
Kelsey Steffens, a senior at Central DeWitt, was was the named the recipient of the Gerry Cooley Award as the outstanding high school girls performer.
Charles City senior Greg Offerman was named recipient of the Robert Kramme Award as the outstanding high school boys performer.
Williamson, who anchored TEAM USA to a gold medal in the men's 4x400-meter relay at the 2004 Summer Olympics, was recipient of the Maury White Award named after the long-time decorated sportswriter for the Des Moines Register who died in 1999.
He won the Drake Relays men's invitational 400-meter dash in in 45.24 seconds, posting the fastest outdoor time in the world this year, while beating 2004 Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner who was second in 45.42.
Less than 80 minutes later, Williamson turned around and ran the anchor leg to spur Baylor to victory in the men's university division 4x400 relay in a season best 3:05.19 clocking.
He becomes the third Baylor athlete to win the men's outstanding performer award at the Drake Relays joining pole vaulter Bill Payne in 1991 and long sprinter Brandon Couts in 1998. In addition, Baylor graduate Michael Johnson won the award in 1996 and 1997.
Smith ran the fastest collegiate time in the U.S. this spring en route to wining the Drake Relays women's invitational 400 hurdles in 55.45. It also was the fourth fastest clocking in the world this spring.
Smith's time also was the second fastest overall in the U.S. trailing only the time of 55.29 set by Sandra Glover in altitude at El Paso, Texas, April 16.
Smith also keyed Wyoming to victory in the women's university division 4x400 relay by running a strong opening leg. She also ran the third leg on Wyoming's 4x200 relay which finished second in the women's university division.
Indiana senior Aarik Wilson who won both the Drake Relays men's university-college long jump and triple jump also received votes in the men's division for outstanding performer.
Lolo Jones, who set a meet record in the women's invitational 100 hurdles, received votes for the outstanding women's performer along with Wyoming junior Mary Fox who won the women's invitational 400 and Eastern Michigan senior Lela Nelson who won the women's university-college 100 hurdles.
Steffens ran the anchor leg on Central DeWitt's wining 4x100 relay. She was second in the 100 hurdles (14.27) and anchored Central DeWitt to second in the shuttle hurdle relay. She also was sixth in the 100 (12.62).
Offerman defended his title in the high school boys' 400 hurdles in 52.28 and also led Charles City to victory in the boys's 1,600 sprint medley relay crown.
