DES MOINES, Iowa -- As part of the double header of Journey To Gold competition on Saturday, elite athletes demonstrated promising Tokyo form at the 111th Drake Relays at Drake University. The silver label meet on the World Athletics Continental Tour resulted in multiple world leading performances and personal bests. Sunny skies provided competitors with ideal conditions for outdoor track & field on Drake’s blue oval. College coverage is available on demand on USATF.tv+, and all broadcast coverage will be available Sunday. Reigning world champion Sam Kendricks returned to the site of his 2019 American record to set a 2021 world outdoor lead in the men’s pole vault today at 5.86m (19-2.75). Fellow 2016 Olympic teammate Sandi Morris dominated the women’s competition, winning at 4.70m (15-5). Indoor world record holder Ryan Crouser launched the men’s shot put out to a world outdoor leading 21.93m/71-11.5 and had four of his six attempts land past the 21m mark. On the track, 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Clayton Murphy continued his comeback to prime form. Murphy, who also competed in Wednesday’s 1 Mile Road Championships presented by Toyota, ran the metric mile today, winning the men’s 1,500m in 3:39.12. Women’s 1 Mile Road Championships winner Rachel Schneider looked strong heading into the women’s 1,500m. Schneider maintained top 3 position until Josette Norris took a slight lead in the race’s final moments, setting a PR and earning the win in 4:06.17. 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Ashley Spencer finished second in the women’s 400m hurdles with a time of 55.52 to Panama’s Gianna Woodruff, who set a national record and world lead in 55.02. In the sprints, Christina Clemons finished second in the women’s 100m (12.59) behind Cindy Sember of Britain. World record holder Keni Harrison fell over the first hurdle and was unable to finish the race. Americans took the top three spots in the final elite event of the day. Led by 2019 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championship gold medalist and World Championships athlete Daniel Roberts in 13.39, followed by Aaron Mallett (13.41) and Jamal Britt (13.45). Click here for full results. Competition continued Saturday in Oregon at the USATF Grand Prix at Oregon Relays. Fans can follow along with #JourneyToGold and #USATF on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. Photo courtesy of Drake Relays/Chris Donahue