DES MOINES, Iowa - Kirani James and Jenny Simpson highlighted a star-studded day of track and field during the Friday session of the 2016 Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee with a pair of world-leading marks and a Drake Relays and Drake Stadium record between the pair in Rio Olympic Games Preview events.
The men's 400 meters saw Kirani James outlast LaShawn Merritt in a dead heat down the homestretch. James, at 44.08, set a world best for 2016 and broke his Drake Relays record of 44.22, set in 2014. Merritt's time of 44.22 is the second best time in the world this season and matched James' previous record.