April 26, 2002
DES MOINES, Iowa – For the first time in six decades, the University of Notre Dame won the men’s 4×1,600-meter relay at the prestigious Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, taking top honors Friday afternoon in a time of 16:35.34. The Irish foursome of senior Pat Conway (Springfield, Va./West Springfield HS), freshman Eric Morrison (Ancaster, Ontario, Canada/St. Mary’s HS), sophomore Kevin Somok (Southburg, Conn./Pomp Peraug HS) and senior Luke Watson (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS) covered the four-mile distance nearly four seconds faster than its nearest challenger, Eastern Michigan (16:39.31).
The last time a Notre Dame quartet won the 4×1,600-meter event at the Drake Relays was just over 60 years to the day — April 25, 1942 — when the team of William Kelly, Anthony Maloney, Francis Conforti and Oliver Hunter III claimed the crown in a time of 17:41.1.
This year marks the 93rd running of the Drake Relays, which is widely considered to be one of the premier track meets in the United States. Notre Dame is fielding a split team this weekend, with part of the squad participating in the Drake Relays (which end Saturday night) and the other half heading to West Lafayette, Ind., for the Boilermaker Open on Friday and Saturday.
— ND —