What to watch for at Penn, Drake

The best D2 distance action this weekend will be at Drake Relays. But why do they start the 10,000 at 2 p.m.? But I digress.

Drake features college 4x8, DMR and 4x1600 relays. Here's what to keep an eye on:

• Men's 4x8: Mankato State, likely anchored by indoor 800 champ Denise Mokaya, will have its hands full with NAIA indoor relay champ Oklahoma Baptist and runner-up Dakota State.
• Men's 4x1600: Pittsburg State will take on the big boys.
• DMR: Pittsburg State and Mankato State will represent in the college race against NAIA's Dakota State and Oklahoma Christian.
• Women's 5,000: Dani Dell'Orco (Truman State), who won a 10,000 on the Drake track recently, will race the 5,000, which includes Morgan Place (Minn.-Duluth).
• Women's steeplechase: Molly Clark (Augustana, S.D.) leads a few D2ers.
• 4x8, DMR: Augustana (SD) and Minn.-Duluth lead D2 in these events.

Don't look for any D2 distance relay teams at Penn Relays.

The best D2 race could be the women's 5,000, where Megan Nedlo (Queens, N.C.) runs against indoor 5,000 champ Neely Spence (Shippensburg). In the 10,000, Reuben Sanca (fresh off a near-sub 14 at Mt. SAC) of Mass.-Lowell, Futsum Mebrahtu (Queens, N.C.), Cleophas Tanui (Abilene Christian) and Glarius Rop (American International) will race. And Amos Sang is again signed up for the 5,000, although he ran a D2-best effort last week at Mt. SAC. Michael Crouch (Queens) isn't on a start list for Penn.

Due to travel (to Nashville), my post-relays analysis will be delayed a day or two. Get results here and here.