DES MOINES, Iowa (April 23) — Brooke Andersen produced a season-best throw of 78.56 meters to win the women’s hammer throw at the 116th Drake Relays 2026 on Tuesday evening, while Rudy Winkler and Curtis Thompson also claimed elite victories in World Athletics Continental Tour Silver events.
Andersen, the 2022 world champion, improved steadily through a strong series in the women’s hammer, opening with 74.25 and then throwing 77.69 and 78.02 before landing her winning mark in the fourth round. The 30-year-old also reached 76.27 in the sixth round, with four of her five legal throws beating her previous season best of 74.67 from last month in Arizona.
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Rudy Winkler, an Olympic and world finalist, won the men’s hammer throw with 78.75 in the fourth round. The American also recorded 77.40, 75.82, 76.97 and 78.47 in a consistent series that secured first place.
Curtis Thompson, the 2025 world bronze medalist, took the men’s javelin with 84.63 in the fifth round. His winning throw held off a competitive field in one of the featured events of the meeting.
Men’s Hammer Throw WACT
- Rudy Winkler (NIKE/NYAC) — 78.75m
- Texas Tanner (Air Force [Sr]) — 77.16m
- Christos Frantzeskakis (Stoiximan) — 76.27m
- Ryan Johnson (Iowa [Jr]) — 75.89m
- Daniel Haugh (NYAC) — 75.53m
- Trey Knight (Elite Athletes Network) — 75.40m
- Kostas Zaltos (Velaasa) — 75.23m
- Tyler Williams (Garage Strenght) — 74.68m
- Tanner Berg (Reliabank) — 72.51m
- Rowan Hamilton (Canada) — 71.52m
- Kade McCall (Kansas State [Sr]) — 70.39m
Women’s Hammer Throw WACT
- Brooke Andersen (NIKE/NYAC) — 78.56m
- Anthonett Nabwe (Minnesota [Jr]) — 77.64m
- Rachel Richeson (Elite Athletes Network) — 76.99m
- Jiale Zhang (China) — 75.82m
- Annette Echikunwoke (USA) — 75.51m
- Jie Zhao (China) — 73.19m
- Erin Reese (Velaasa) — 72.90m
- Anna Purchase (Great Britain & N.I.) — 71.58m
- Nayoka Clunis (Jamaica [RS]) — 68.72m
- Stamatia Scarvelis (adidas) — 68.57m
- Kali Terza (Kennesaw State [Sr]) — 67.76m
Jillian Weir (Canada) — fouled all three throws
Men’s Javelin Throw WACT
- Curtis Thompson (USA) — 84.63m
- Marc Anthony Minichello (USA) — 84.11m
- Sindri Gudmundsson (Velaasa) — 77.55m
- Arthur Petersen (Sparta) — 76.95m
- Elvis Graham (Jamaica) — 72.77m
- Ethan Shalaway (USA) — 65.79m
Women’s Javelin Throw WACT
- Madison Wiltrout (USA) — 63.74m
- Rhema Otabor (Bahamas) — 60.83m
- Tori Moorby (New Zealand) — 59.12m
- Maddie Harris (USA) — 57.79m
- McKyla Van Der Westhuizen (Rice University [Sr]) — 57.15m
- Jana Lowka (Nebraska [Sr]) — 56.74m
- Ariana Ince (USA) — 56.23m
- Valentina Barrios Bornacelli (Missouri [Sr]) — 55.89m
- Skylar Ciccolini (Missouri [Sr]) — 55.80m
- Elizabeth Korczak (Iowa [Sr]) — 51.52m
- Sarah Blake (USA) — 50.55m
