Photo courtesy of SIUE Athletics
Derek Drew was given a life-changing diagnosis in March of this year.
Just weeks after competing in the
Ohio Valley Conference Track and Field Championships and placing third in the 400 meters, Drew was told by his doctors that he had chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
“He had to make a tough decision at that point,” said Scott Block, SIUE interim head coach.
Drew was soon cleared by his doctors to continue outdoor competition while still receiving chemotherapy treatments three days a month. He made the courageous decision to continue with training just as he had in the past.
Drew’s first outdoor competition was the Drury Hotels Joey Haines Invite, where he competed in the 400-meter hurdles and placed sixth.
He continued week by week, competing in his signature event – the 400-meter hurdles – and kept training to be better and faster. Drew had five meets under his belt before the OVC Championships took place May 13 and 14.
Drew qualified for finals with a preliminary time of 53.12 seconds, his fastest of the season thus far. He was not favored to win the race, knowing he’d had to have a career best time to have a chance.
Courtesy of Katherine Seghers
Drew ended up running the race of his life in a come-from-behind victory, setting a new personal best time of 52.38 seconds and overcoming the odds against him to be crowned the new OVC Champion in the 400 hurdles.
“His real-life struggle was embodied in the race he ran in the finals,” Block said. “He was behind the entire race; but still, Derek never gave up. He kept pushing until the very end and in dramatic fashion came out on top by only .04 seconds, and that’s the kind of person Derek is.”
Drew is now poised to continue competing and has a chance to compete at the NCAA West Preliminaries in Lawrence, Kansas. He is currently ranked 52
nd in the NCAA West region. His postseason fate will be determined in a selection show Thursday at noon.
Drew returned to the hospital just two days after his win to start another round of chemotherapy.
“I hope that Derek’s story will be an example to others,” Block said. “Derek made a conscious decision to beat this thing, and his journey this far is an inspiration.”
Watch Derek Drew’s OVC Championship 400-meter hurdles race: