Kara Patterson returns to Des Moines with furthest throw at Drake Relays...

DES MOINES, Iowa--Returning to the same venue in which she set the American record of 218-8 (66.67m) at last year's national championships, Vancouver native Kara Patterson (left/photo by Paul Merca) opened her 2011 season by launching the javelin the furthest in the university/college section of the Drake Relays Friday.

The Purdue graduate, who along with Alicia DeShasier, were listed in the results as guest competitors, threw 189-5 (57.74m) to easily beat DeShasier, who threw 175-7 (53.52m).

The official results list Long Beach State senior Randi Hicks as the official winner of the university/college section of the javelin with a toss of 165-11 (50.58m).

Former Washington Husky Norris Frederick competes Saturday in the invitational high jump at the Drake Relays.

The link to full results from all events at the Drake Relays is available here.

In Philadelphia, WSU grad Bernard Lagat opens his 2011 outdoor campaign as part of Team USA in the Nike Men's Distance Medley Relay in the USA vs the World portion of the Penn Relays.

Lagat will run the leadoff 1200 meter leg for Team USA-Red with Michael Tinsley (400), Duane Solomon (800) and Russell Brown anchoring on the 1600 leg, against squads from Kenya, Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, Morocco, and the USA Blue team featuring Nick Symmonds and Leo Manzano.


The full listings of teams are available here. The USA vs the World portion of the Penn Relays will be televised on ESPN2 starting at 5 pm, pacific time Saturday.