NORMAL, ILL.  --  Sophomore Jon DeGrave (Lake Villa, Ill.) posted the second fastest qualifying time in the 400 hurdles to pace five Drake athletes who advanced into the finals at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday.

DeGrave, who entered the meet owning the fastest 400 hurdle time in the MVC at 51.50, was clocked in 53.52 seconds en route to winning the first preliminary heat.

Drake had two runners advance into Sunday's finals in the 800-meter run led by junior Brandon Lewis  (Plymouth, Minn.) who ran a season best 1:53.21.

Sophomore Charlie Lapham (Golden Valley, Minn.) also advanced by running 1:53.69, while senior Kevin Earl (Overland Park, Kan.)  just missed by posting the ninth fastest overall time of 1:53.90.

Senior Troy Kimberlin (Rochester, Ill.) advanced into the finals of the 400-meter dash after running 49.23 in the second preliminary heat.

Sophomore Shaun James (Lawrence, Kan.) made the finals in the 200-meter dash after clocking a 21.75 qualifying time. He fell short in qualifying for the 100 finals by posting the ninth fastest overall time of 10.90.

Junior Colin Coomer (Overland Park, Kan.) was seventh in the finals of the 3,000-meter steeplechase in a season-best 9:35.60. Freshman Dan Karys (Bartlett, Ill.) was ninth in the long jump at 21-11.5, while senior Josh Bangert (Washington, Mo.) was 16th at 20-10.

Freshman Kevin Harp (Iowa City, Iowa), who set a school record in the javelin Friday, placed 14th in the shot put at 45 feet 9.75 inches.

Event 12  Men Long Jump
===============================================================================================
MVC All Time: @    26-10  1999        Frankie Young, Indiana State            
    MVC Meet: ! 25-07.50  1978        Don DuVall, Wichita State               
    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Wind           Points
===============================================================================================
Finals
  1 Simmons, Tyler            JR Wichita St.            7.52m      7.44m   4.4  24-05.00  10  
  2 Childs, Brandon           FR Wichita St.            7.22m      7.23m   1.9  23-08.75   8  
  3 Watts, Sam                SR Illinois St.           7.09m      7.20m  +0.0  23-07.50   6  
  4 Cole, Alvin               SR Northern Ia.           7.11m      7.14m   0.5  23-05.25   5  
  5 Bakana, Maxim             SO Southern Il.           6.99m      7.00m   2.3  22-11.75   4  
  6 Taylor, Justin            SR Wichita St.            7.37m      6.99m   1.1  22-11.25   3  
  7 Crawford, Josh            JR Wichita St.            6.92m      6.98m   2.9  22-11.00   2  
  8 Bucalo, Rozle             SR Northern Ia.           7.05m      6.85m   0.1  22-05.75   1  
  9 Karys, Dan                FR Drake                  6.95m      6.71m   1.7  22-00.25
 10 Jackson, Patric           JR Wichita St.            6.52m      6.69m   2.3  21-11.50
 11 Johnson, Vincent          SO Southern Il.           7.01m      6.63m   1.1  21-09.00
 12 Shepherd, Derrick         SO Wichita St.            6.51m      6.58m   1.5  21-07.25
 13 Dickman, Chris            SR Wichita St.            7.17m      6.56m   1.5  21-06.25
 14 Dick, Devin               SO Wichita St.            7.20m      6.54m   3.8  21-05.50
 15 Knight, Tyler             SO Illinois St.           6.85m      6.38m   3.1  20-11.25
 16 Bangert, Josh             SR Drake                  6.68m      6.35m   3.3  20-10.00


 Men 3000 Meter Steeplechase Final
================================================================================
MVC All Time: @ 8:27.34  1984        Eddie Wedderburn, Southern Illinois     
    MVC Meet: ! 8:39.29  1981        Vern Iwancin, Drake                     
    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points
================================================================================
Finals
  1 Disher, Michael           JR Indiana St.          8:55.37    8:55.98   10 
  2 Sava, Marius              JR Wichita St.          8:57.11    8:59.36    8 
  3 Ordway, Jason             SR Southern Il.         9:06.53    9:00.84    6 
  4 Navarro, John             JR Illinois St.         9:19.43    9:14.70    5 
  5 Cherry, Lucas             FR Southern Il.         9:20.52    9:16.71    4 
  6 Betz, Dustin              FR Indiana St.          9:32.18    9:18.05    3 
  7 Coomer, Colin             JR Drake               10:00.28    9:35.60    2 
  8 Query, Brandon            FR Indiana St.          9:39.76    9:37.40    1 
  9 Mark, Alex                SO Northern Ia.         9:35.85    9:39.39
 10 Egan, Brett               FR Northern Ia.         9:37.65    9:40.03
 11 Roberts, Jon              JR Illinois St.         8:58.07   10:00.57
 12 Vosberg, Aaron            SO Northern Ia.                   10:28.06

 Men Shot Put Final
==========================================================================================
MVC All Time: @ 62-09.75  1984        John Smith, Southern Illinois          
    MVC Meet: ! 61-07.25  1992        Joel Sward, Drake                      
    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals            Points
==========================================================================================
Finals
  1 Paradiso, Joe             SR Southern Il.          16.29m     17.62m   57-09.75  10 
  2 Pounds, Brandon           SO Indiana St.           17.64m     17.32m   56-10.00   8 
  3 Williams, Jordan          FR Northern Ia.          16.00m     17.04m   55-11.00   6 
  4 Shumaker, Ryan            SR Southern Il.          16.93m     17.03m   55-10.50   5 
  5 Jensen, Curtis            FR Illinois St.          16.03m     16.95m   55-07.50   4 
  6 Lambert, J.C.             SO Southern Il.          16.67m     16.45m   53-11.75   3 
  7 Tapia, Bryan              SR Wichita St.           16.29m     16.16m   53-00.25   2 
  8 Eader, Matt               SO Southern Il.          16.83m     16.02m   52-06.75   1 
  9 Tong, Quan                SO Wichita St.           15.44m     15.84m   51-11.75
 10 Romero, Justin            SO Northern Ia.          16.78m     15.46m   50-08.75
 11 Wirth, Anthony            SO Illinois St.          14.09m     14.90m   48-10.75
 12 Trofimuk, Patrick         SO Illinois St.          15.63m     14.86m   48-09.00
 13 Fane, Colin               JR Illinois St.          14.51m     14.32m   46-11.75
 14 Harp, Kevin               FR Drake                 13.79m     13.96m   45-09.75


 Men 800 Meter Run
============================================================================
8 Advance:  Top 2 Each Heat plus Next 2 Best Times
MVC All Time: @ 1:43.90  1996        Einars Tupuritis, Wichita State         
    MVC Meet: ! 1:46.44  1996        Einars Tupuritis, Wichita State         
    Name                    Year School                  Seed    Prelims  H#
============================================================================
Preliminaries
  1 Fritz, Brady              SO Northern Ia.         1:51.15    1:52.35Q  3
  2 Arvanis, Stephen          SO Southern Il.         1:51.92    1:53.64Q  1
  3 Dahleen, Zach             FR Southern Il.         1:54.15    1:54.50Q  2
  4 Geyer, Nick               JR Illinois St.         1:53.50    1:53.20Q  3
  5 Lapham, Charlie           SO Drake                1:54.47    1:53.69Q  1
  6 Neisler, John             SR Illinois St.         1:52.81    1:54.90Q  2
  7 Lewis, Brandon            JR Drake                1:53.80    1:53.21q  3
  8 Craddick, Mike            SR Northern Ia.         1:54.04    1:53.77q  1
  9 Earl, Kevin               SR Drake                1:54.68    1:53.90   3
 10 Slaymaker, Kyle           FR Northern Ia.         1:54.59    1:54.03   3
 11 Krogmann, Ryan            FR Northern Ia.         1:53.27    1:54.13   1
 12 Megli, Samuel             SO Southern Il.         1:55.48    1:54.63   1
 13 Tewolde, Yosef            JR Illinois St.         1:53.15    1:54.93   2
 14 Hahn, Corey               FR Indiana St.          1:56.49    1:56.35   2
 15 Griffith, Brian           FR Illinois St.         1:55.57    1:56.56   2
 16 Lepkowski, Andrew         SO Indiana St.          2:00.79    1:57.79   1

 Men 110 Meter Hurdles
=================================================================================
8 Advance:  Top 2 Each Heat plus Next 2 Best Times
MVC All Time: @ 13.36  2001        Aubrey Herring, Indiana State             
    MVC Meet: ! 13.47  2001        Aubrey Herring, Indiana State             
    Name                    Year School                  Seed    Prelims  Wind H#
=================================================================================
Preliminaries
 11 Knox, Willie              JR Southern Il.           15.14      15.17   0.7  2
 12 Mitchell, DeJuan          FR Indiana St.            15.22      15.20   0.7  2
 13 Offerman, Greg            SR Northern Ia.                      15.21   0.7  2
 14 Malone, Mike              SO Northern Ia.           15.20      15.24  -0.1  3
 15 Bankston, Jeremy          FR Southern Il.           15.46      15.44   2.1  1
 16 Lynn, Scott               SR Northern Ia.           15.21      16.11  -0.1  3
 -- Slupkowski, Krzysztof     JR Wichita St.            15.13        DNF   2.1  1
  1 Roberts, Michael          JR Indiana St.            14.42      14.22Q  0.7  2
  2 McKown, Todd              SO Wichita St.            13.97      14.48Q -0.1  3
  3 Allen, Chris              SR Wichita St.            14.50      14.51Q  2.1  1
  4 Beenken, Cory             FR Wichita St.            14.65      14.61Q  2.1  1
  5 Pope, Josh                SO Illinois St.           14.95      14.80Q  0.7  2
  6 Smith, Kendric            SO Illinois St.           14.81      14.81Q -0.1  3
  7 Hanning, Cooper           SO Wichita St.            15.06      14.85q  2.1  1  14.8422
  8 Garrison, Sam             JR Wichita St.            14.85     J14.85q -0.1  3  14.8450
  9 Puls, Channing            FR Northern Ia.           14.77      14.99   0.7  2
 10 Mendenhall, Patrick       SR Indiana St.            15.35      15.07   2.1

 Men 100 Meter Dash
=================================================================================
8 Advance:  Top 2 Each Heat plus Next 2 Best Times
MVC All Time: @ 10.19  2002        Devon Davis, UNI                          
    MVC Meet: ! 10.19  1998        Clarkson Reid, Missouri State             
    Name                    Year School                  Seed    Prelims  Wind H#
=================================================================================
Preliminaries
  1 Cole, Alvin               SR Northern Ia.           10.76      10.64Q  0.8  2
  2 Adegoke, Kayode           SO Illinois St.           10.66      10.69Q  0.5  1  10.6857
  3 Giurdanella, Giorgio      SO Northern Ia.           10.65     J10.69Q  1.0  3  10.6887
  4 Simmons, Tyler            JR Wichita St.            10.54     J10.69Q  0.5  1  10.6897
  5 Dickman, Chris            SR Wichita St.            10.54      10.73Q  0.8  2
  6 Deloney, Brandon          SO Southern Il.           10.65      10.75Q  1.0  3
  7 Sparkman, Benjamin        FR Illinois St.           10.98      10.80q  0.8  2
  8 Bannerman-Thompson, Rupe  SR Northern Ia.           10.86      10.88q  1.0  3
  9 James, Shaun              SO Drake                  10.73      10.90   0.8  2
 10 Johnson, Tim              SO Northern Ia.           10.80      10.92   0.5  1
 11 Baxtron, Justin           FR Indiana St.            10.88      10.93   0.5  1
 12 Jackson, Kalente'         JR Southern Il.           11.03      11.01   1.0  3
 13 Kozak, Justin             JR Southern Il.           10.99      11.04   0.8  2
 13 Blanks, Kenny             JR Southern Il.           10.84      11.04   1.0  3
 15 Seay, Anthony             SR Southern Il.                      11.13   0.5  1
 16 Hunn-Andreae, Kyle        FR Illinois St.           11.08      11.19   1.0  3
 17 Swinford, Steven          JR Indiana St.            11.02      11.66   0.5  1

  Men 200 Meter Dash
=================================================================================
8 Advance:  Top 3 Each Heat plus Next 2 Best Times
MVC All Time: @ 20.36  1984        Dwight Williams, Indiana State            
    MVC Meet: ! 20.53  1992        Ed Williams, Southern Illinois            
    Name                    Year School                  Seed    Prelims  Wind H#
=================================================================================
Preliminaries
  1 Deloney, Brandon          SO Southern Il.           21.27      21.26Q  0.4  2
  2 Adegoke, Kayode           SO Illinois St.           21.28      21.34Q  0.5  1
  3 Simmons, Tyler            JR Wichita St.            21.75      21.35Q  0.5  1
  4 Stull, Andrew             SO Indiana St.            21.61      21.58Q  0.4  2
  5 Giurdanella, Giorgio      SO Northern Ia.           21.35      21.43Q  0.5  1
  6 Hartnett, Dylan           SO Wichita St.            21.81      21.67Q  0.4  2
  7 McKown, Todd              SO Wichita St.            21.73      21.45q  0.5  1
  8 James, Shaun              SO Drake                  21.64      21.75q  0.4  2
  9 Sparkman, Benjamin        FR Illinois St.           22.33      21.89   0.5  1
 10 Kozak, Justin             JR Southern Il.           22.01      21.91   0.5  1
 11 Baxtron, Justin           FR Indiana St.            21.98      21.97   0.4  2
 12 Hunn-Andreae, Kyle        FR Illinois St.           22.30      22.45   0.5  1
 13 Blanks, Kenny             JR Southern Il.           22.25      22.47   0.4  2
 14 Albrecht, Corey           FR Northern Ia.           22.16      22.58   0.4  2
 15 Jackson, Kalente'         JR Southern Il.           22.47      22.84   0.4  2
 16 Swinford, Steven          JR Indiana St.            22.11      23.19   0.5  1

  Men 400 Meter Dash
============================================================================
8 Advance:  Top 3 Each Heat plus Next 2 Best Times
MVC All Time: @ 44.94  1985        Michael Franks, Southern Illinois         
    MVC Meet: ! 45.78  2005        Dirk Homewood, UNI                        
    Name                    Year School                  Seed    Prelims  H#
============================================================================
Preliminaries
  1 Biggs, Sammy              SR Southern Il.           54.48      47.45Q  1
  2 Hartnett, Dylan           SO Wichita St.            47.62      48.44Q  2
  3 Thiesfeld, Nate           SR Wichita St.            48.76      47.97Q  1
  4 Collins, Bryan            JR Northern Ia.           48.29      48.65Q  2
  5 Smith, Justin             SR Wichita St.            47.86      48.18Q  1
  6 Kimberlin, Troy           SR Drake                  48.77      49.23Q  2
  7 Cole, Justin              SR Wichita St.            48.68      48.48q  1
  8 Smoody, Mat               SO Illinois St.           48.22      49.29q  1
  9 Cornilsen, Jordan         FR Northern Ia.           48.42      49.91   2
 10 Shelton, Quincy           SO Southern Il.           49.70      51.25   2
 11 Ertel, David              FR Indiana St.            51.17      51.37


Men 400 Meter Hurdles
============================================================================
8 Advance:  Top 3 Each Heat plus Next 2 Best Times
MVC All Time: @ 48.18  1997        Joey Woody, UNI                           
    MVC Meet: ! 49.99  1981        David Lee, Southern Illinois              
    Name                    Year School                  Seed    Prelims  H#
============================================================================
Preliminaries
  1 Offerman, Greg            SR Northern Ia.           52.15      51.90Q  2
  2 DeGrave, Jon              SO Drake                  51.50      53.52Q  1
  3 Goos, Cory                SR Northern Ia.           54.11      53.61Q  2
  4 Bankston, Jeremy          FR Southern Il.           53.57      53.81Q  1
  5 Hammel, Dennis            SR Northern Ia.           53.04      54.10Q  2
  6 Truman, Matt              JR Wichita St.            53.86      54.68Q  1
  7 Beenken, Cory             FR Wichita St.            54.69      54.95q  2
  8 Fulton, Tykeen            JR Indiana St.            55.41      55.25q  2
  9 McClellan, Jovan          JR Wichita St.            55.44      55.59   2
 10 Hanning, Cooper           SO Wichita St.            55.62      55.65   1
 11 Forde, Alex               JR Illinois St.           55.24      55.92   1
 -- Knox, Willie              JR Southern Il.           54.82        DNF   1