DES MOINES, Iowa – Wichita State's four distance runners took care of business Thursday at Drake Relays, recording three top-10 finishes, two WSU all-time top-10 marks and three personal bests.
 
"Everything we wanted to try to accomplish today, we did," distance coach Kirk Hunter said. "It was incredible that we got a chance to come up here. For every single athlete, they accomplished what we wanted."
 
Bryce Merriman opened the meet with a season-best 3:49.23 in the 1500 meters, finishing 10^th and moving up to sixth in the American Athletic Conference.
 
"Bryce's 1500 really pushed him up the ranks and got his head on where he knows he can really be a good contributor," Hunter said.
 
Shortly after, Iestyn Williams ran his second-straight 800-meter personal best, clocking a 1:51.34 to finish fourth in his heat and 14^th overall. His time maintains his conference ranking of No. 4.
 
"I think Iestyn may have wanted a little more, but having a half second improvement coming back from where he was with his injury and everybody else improving the way we did… it was a very, very worthwhile trip."
 
In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Miranda Dick made a statement by winning the first heat in 10:41.00, beating 11 athletes who ran in the second, faster heat to finish 10^th overall. Dick's 23-second personal best moves her up to ninth all-time in Shocker history and ranks third in the conference this season.
 
"Miranda is newer to the event, but she's showing that she can be a competitor in this event, not only winning her heat pretty easily, but running the ninth-best time in school history," Hunter said. "This is an event that's going to take her a long way, and I expect her just to get better every single week."
 
Clayton Duchatschek concluded the meet for the Shockers with another top-10 finish in the steeplechase, running a seven-second personal best of 8:45.98 to place seventh and move up to fifth all-time in Wichita State history. Duchatschek's time ranks 31^st in the nation this season and second in the AAC, behind Tulsa's Christian Baker, who finished second in the race with a time of 8:38.66.
 
"Clayton's PR was just as big as Miranda's, even though it wasn't in time," Hunter said. "Because he's run [the event] so much in his life, and he's at such a high level, to get that kind of a personal record is amazing."
 
These races set the four athletes up to head into the AAC Outdoor Championships (May 12-14) with increased confidence.
 
"We need meets like this in order for us to be successful at the conference meet, so I'm really happy that we're here," Hunter said. "There's nothing like confidence. If you can gain some confidence, you come off a great race, that motivation is going to lead you into conference."
 
The remainder of the track and field team will compete Saturday in Lawrence, Kan. at the Rock Chalk Classic.

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MEN'S RESULTS

14	Iestyn Williams	800m	1:51.34
10	Bryce Merriman	1500m	3:49.23
7	Clayton Duchatschek	3k Steeplechase	8:45.98

WOMEN'S RESULTS

10

Miranda Dick

3k Steeplechase

10:41.00