Drake Relays
SportTrack and field
Founded(First held in April of 1910)
CountryDes Moines, Iowa, United States
QualificationWorld Athletics Silver Level
Sponsor(s)Xtream powered by Mediacom
Related
competitions		Penn Relays
Official websitedrakerelays.org

The Drake Relays (officially the Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom) is an outdoor track and field event held in Des Moines, Iowa, in Drake Stadium on the campus of Drake University. Billed as America's Athletic Classic, it is regarded as one of the top track and field events in the United States.[1] In 2020, the Drake Relays was named a Silver Level event on the World Athletics Continental Tour, one of only two competitions in the United States to earn Silver Level status.[2]

History

The inaugural Drake Relays were held in 1910. The first meet drew just 100 spectators and 82 athletes, all from Des Moines-area colleges and high schools. The second year attendance grew to 250 athletes and a crowd of some 500 spectators. In 1914, the Relays saw its first world record set. By 1922, the Relays had expanded to two days and drew 10,000 fans, becoming the first major track and field event broadcast on radio. For the 1926 Relays, Drake Stadium was built on the site of the prior host, Haskins Field.[3]

Women's events were added beginning in 1961 with Wilma Rudolph competing in the 100 meters.[4] The 1966 Relays began a streak of 48 consecutive Saturdays with a sellout.[5] In 1969, a $175,000 tartan track was installed. The events at the Relays would go all-metric in 1976 and the track was rebuilt as a 400-meter oval in 1978. It was resurfaced in 1983, and in 1988 was renamed the "Jim Duncan Track" to honor the long time relays public address announcer.

Hundreds of Olympic gold medalists have competed at Drake Stadium including Caitlyn Jenner, Michael Johnson, Carl Lewis, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Frank Shorter, Gwen Torrence, and Jeremy Wariner.[6] Hundreds more Drake Relays competitors have gone onto compete in the Olympic Games, including 113 at the 2012 Olympic Games.[7]

In 2006, a Friday evening session was added.[8] In 2010, the Grand Blue Mile, a one-mile road race in downtown Des Moines, was added.[9] The week of festivities currently opens with a parade on Saturday, continues with a Beautiful Bulldog Contest (Drake's mascot) on Sunday, the Grand Blue Mile on Tuesday, and an indoor pole vault on Wednesday[10] with the decathlon and heptathlon beginning Wednesday and concluding alongside the distance carnival on Thursday.

Midwest grocer Hy-Vee became the presenting sponsor beginning in 2013, enabling the Relays to offer a $50,000 purse in running events and $25,000 purse in field events, making the Drake Relays the richest athletics event in the United States. ESPN2 aired 90 minutes of live-action coverage that year and ESPN3 aired an additional two hours.[11] The 2013 field saw 25 Olympic medalists compete.[12] Currently NBCSN airs 2–3 hours of coverage on Saturday with live online coverage via NBCSports.com throughout the event.

In January 2018 Drake Relays unveiled the Blue Standard, under which Iowa's top high school athletes automatically qualify based on their event performance. The Blue Standard is the top 25 percent of accepted entrant's results from past Drake Relays.[13]

In March 2020, Xtream powered by Mediacom was named the presenting sponsor of the Drake Relays. Xtream's sponsorship allows the Drake Relays to maintain its status as a premier track and field event, to be called the "Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom".[14]

In addition to the track meet, the Relays serves as a second homecoming for the university[15] and sees other community events such as student street painting and a downtown Des Moines block party.

Drake Stadium

Drake Stadium during the Saturday session of the 2014 Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee

Opened in 1925, the 14,557-seat stadium and its famous blue oval have hosted the Relays since 1926. A $15 million renovation in 2006 reduced capacity from 18,000 seats in order to expand the lanes, allow fans to watch throwing and running at the same time, and allow for more hosting of events.[8] Another renovation following the 2016 relays saw a new track installed, constructed of the same material used for tracks in Beijing and London for the Summer Olympics.[16]

Relays Directors

Eleven men have claimed the role of director of the Drake Relays since the very first officially organized track and field event took place more than 100 years ago back in the year 1910.

  • John L. Griffith 1910–1918
    Griffith was the founder of the Drake Relays. He remained director for nine years and moved to the University of Illinois after World War I. He later became commissioner of the Big Ten Conference. Drake's live bulldog mascot, Griff, is named for him.
  • M. B. Banks 1919–1921
    Banks also served as coach to the Drake football and basketball teams.
  • K. L. (Tug) Wilson 1922–1925
    Wilson was a former Illinois and Olympic athlete. After his tenure as director, he went on to become athletic director at Northwestern University. Wilson was also a former Big Ten Conference commissioner.
  • O. M. (Ossie) Solem 1926–1932
    Longtime Drake coach succeeded Wilson, later became head football coach at the University of Iowa and Syracuse University
  • F. P. (Pitch) Johnson 1933–1940
  • M. E. (Bill) Easton 1941–1947
  • Tom Deckard 1948–1955
  • Bob Karnes 1956–1969
  • Bob Ehrhart 1970–2000
  • Mark Kostek 2001–2005
  • Brian Brown 2006–2016
    Brown participated in the relays himself and held the Drake Relays record in the high jump until 2014. For his first eight years as director, Brown had attempted to have his record broken by recruiting some of the best high jumpers in the country.[17]
  • Blake Boldon 2017–present

Meet records

Men

Event Record Athlete Nationality Date Ref
100 m 10.01 (+1.9 m/s) Harvey Glance  United States 24 April 1976 [18]
200 m 20.02 (+1.7 m/s) Wallace Spearmon  United States 28 April 2012 [19]
400 m 44.08 Kirani James  Grenada 29 April 2016 [20]
800 m 1:45.86 Randy Wilson  United States 28 April 1978 [21]
1500 m 3:38.27 Steve Scott  United States 28 April 1984 [22]
Mile 3:51.71 Alan Webb  United States 28 April 2007 [23]
5000 m 13:21.39 Morgan McDonald  Australia 23 April 2021 [24]
10000 m 28:07.40 Kipsubai Koskei  Kenya 26 April 1980 [25]
110 m hurdles 13.04 (+1.8 m/s) Omar McLeod  Jamaica 29 April 2017 [26]
400 m hurdles 48.15 Alison dos Santos  Brazil 24 April 2021 [24]
3000 m steeplechase 8:31.02 Henry Marsh  United States 30 April 1977 [27]
High jump 2.40 m (7 ft 10+1⁄4 in) Derek Drouin  Canada 25 April 2014 [28]
Pole vault 5.86 m (19 ft 2+1⁄2 in) Sam Kendricks  United States 24 April 2021 [24]
Long jump 8.26 m (27 ft 1 in) Anthuan Maybank  United States 24 April 1993
Triple jump 17.12 m (56 ft 2 in) Christian Taylor  United States 27 April 2013
Shot put 22.38 m (73 ft 5 in) Ryan Crouser  United States 29 April 2023 [29]
Discus throw 64.59 m (211 ft 10+3⁄4 in) Reggie Jagers  United States 28 April 2018 [30]
Hammer Throw 72.77 m (238 ft 8+3⁄4 in) Libor Charfreitag  Slovakia 27 April 2002 [31]
Cory Martin  United States 26 April 2008 [31]
Decathlon 8198 pts Kip Janvrin  United States 25 April 1996 [32]
10.96 (100 m), 7.20 m (long jump), 13.72 m (shot put), 1.98 m (high jump), 48.57 (400 m) /
14.70 (110 m hurdles), 43.16 m (discus), 4.95 m (pole vault), 58.02 m (javelin), 4:11.63 (1500 m)
4 × 100 m relay 38.96 University of Alabama
Emmit King
Lamar Smith
Calvin Smith
Walter Monroe
 United States
 United States
 United States
 United States		 30 April 1983 [33]
4 × 200 m relay 1:20.53 University of Texas-El Paso
Obadele Thompson
Milton Mallard
Hayden Stephen
Andrew Tynes
 Barbados
 United States
 United States
 Bahamas		 30 April 1994 [34]
4 × 400 m relay 3:00.78 Southern Illinois University
Parry Duncan
Tony Adams
Elvis Forde
Michael Franks
 United States
 United States
 Barbados
 United States		 28 April 1984 [22]
Sprint medley relay (2,2,4,8) 3:12.19 Alabama State University
Lamar Smith
Calvin Smith
Terry Menefee
William Wuyke
 United States
 United States
 United States
 Venezuela		 30 April 1983
4 × 800 m relay 7:12.57 Iowa State University
Jason Gomez
Joven Nelson
Daniel Nixon
Festus Lagat
 United States
 United States
 United States
 Kenya		 23 April 2021 [24]
Distance medley relay 9:30.45 Southern Methodist University
Rob Topping
Russell Mitchell
Ben Bor
Paul Rugut
 United States
 United States

 Kenya		 30 April 1983
4×110 m Shuttle hurdles relay 52.94 USA Blue
Jason Richardson
Aleec Harris
Aries Merritt
David Oliver
 United States
 United States
 United States
 United States		 25 April 2015 [35]

Women

Event Record Athlete Nationality Date Ref
100 m 11.06 (0.0 m/s) LaShauntea Moore  United States 24 April 2010 [36]
200 m 22.40 (+0.7 m/s) Gwen Torrence  United States 30 April 1994 [37]
400 m 50.13 Francena McCorory  United States 25 April 2015 [35]
800 m 2:00.03 Ajee' Wilson  United States 24 April 2015 [38]
1500 m 4:03.35 Jennifer Simpson  United States 26 April 2013 [39]
Mile 4:40.2 Francie Larrieu-Smith  United States 27 April 1975 [40]
3000 m 8:56.03 Suzy Favor-Hamilton  United States 27 April 2002 [41]
Two miles 9:16.78 Jennifer Simpson  United States 27 April 2018 [42][43]
5000 m 15:23.21 Karissa Schweizer  United States 26 April 2018 [30]
10000 m 32:57.38 Patti Murray  United States 28 April 1988 [44]
100 m hurdles 12.40 (+1.5 m/s) Jasmin Stowers  United States 25 April 2015 [35]
400 m hurdles 53.88 Dalilah Muhammad  United States 30 April 2022 [45]
3000 m steeplechase 9:32.23 Leah Falland  United States 26 April 2018 [24]
High jump 1.98 m (6 ft 5+3⁄4 in) Chaunte Lowe  United States 28 April 2012 [46]
Pole vault 4.88 m (16 ft 0 in) Sandi Morris  United States 28 April 2018 [30]
Long jump 6.78 m (22 ft 2+3⁄4 in) Aisha James  United States 26 April 2003 [47]
Triple jump 13.79 m (45 ft 2+3⁄4 in) Shani Marks  United States 26 April 2003
Shot put 19.37 m (63 ft 6+1⁄2 in) Tia Brooks  United States 29 April 2016 [48]
Discus throw 64.38 m (211 ft 2+1⁄2 in) Becky Breisch  United States 24 April 2010 [49]
Hammer throw 78.69 m (258 ft 2 in) Brooke Andersen  United States 27 April 2023 [50]
Heptathlon 6040 pts Diana Pickler  United States 21–22 April 2009 [51]
13.63 (0.0 m/s) (100 m hurdles), 1.78 m (high jump), 12.08 m (shot put), 24.48 (+1.7 m/s) (200 m) /
6.14 m (+1.0 m/s) (long jump), 41.39 m (javelin), 2:16.73 (800 m)		 [52]
4 × 100 m relay 43.58 University Of Texas
Morgan Snow
Allison Peter
Christy Udoh
Chalonda Goodman
 United States
 United States Virgin Islands
 Nigeria
 United States		 28 April 2012 [53]
4 × 200 m relay 1:31.96 Texas Southern University
Linda Eseimokumoh
Beatrice Utondu
Dyan Webber
Mary Onyali
 Nigeria
 Nigeria
 United States
 Nigeria		 28 April 1989 [54]
4 × 400 m relay 3:28.42 Purdue University
Chole Abbot
Brionna Thomas
Symone Black
Jahneya Mitchell
 United States
 United States
 United States
 United States		 28 April 2018 [30]
Sprint medley relay (2-2-4-8) 3:43.64 Arkansas State University
Regine Williams
Daina Harper
Taylor Ellis-Watson
Chrishuna Williams
 United States
 United States
 United States
 United States		 25 April 2015
4 × 800 m relay 8:27.42 University of Minnesota
Julie Schwengler
Jamie Cheever
Gabrielle Anderson
Heather Dorniden
 United States
 United States
 United States
 United States		 27 April 2007 [55]
Distance medley relay 11:03.25 Notre Dame University
Olivia Markezich
Kelly Hart
Erin Sullivan
Katie Wasserman
 United States
 United States
 United States
 United States		 24 April 2021 [24]
4 × 100 m Shuttle hurdles relay 50.50 USA Blue
Brianna Rollins
Dawn Harper-Nelson
Queen Harrison
Kristi Castlin
 United States
 United States
 United States
 United States		 24 April 2015 [38]

Mixed

Event Record Athlete Nationality Date Ref
4 × 110 m Shuttle hurdles relay 54.42 Team Blue
Kristi Castlin
Spencer Adams
Nia Ali
Eddie Lovett		  United States
 United States
 United States
 United States Virgin Islands		 30 April 2016 [56]

Drake Relays Results

2020s2010s2000s1990s1980s1970s1960s1950s1940s1930s1920s1910s
202920192009199919891979196919591949193919291919
202820182008199819881978196819581948193819281918
202720172007199719871977196719571947193719271917
202620162006199619861976196619561946193619261916
202520152005199519851975196519551945193519251915
202420142004199419841974196419541944193419241914
202320132003199319831973196319531943193319231913
202220122002199219821972196219521942193219221912
202120112001199119811971196119511941193119211911
202020102000199019801970196019501940193019201910

Future dates

  • 113th Drake Relays: April 26-29, 2023
  • 114th Drake Relays: April 24-27, 2024[57]

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ Borzi, Pat (24 April 2009). "Drake's Small-Town Atmosphere Draws a Big Track Meet". The New York Times.
    2. ↑ "World Athletics Continental Tour | World Athletics". World Athletics. World Athletics. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
    3. ↑ "Drake Relays; 75 Years of Excellence". drake.edu.
    4. ↑ "Display Article". trackandfieldnews.com.
    5. ↑ "Eleven Records Fall On Final Day Of 2012 Drake Relays Before Record-Tying Crowd Of 14,504". godrakebulldogs.com.
    6. ↑ "Drake Stadium History". godrakebulldogs.com.
    7. ↑ "113 Drake Relays Alumni Competing In Olympics; Collect Five Medals In Two-Day Period". godrakebulldogs.com.
    8. 1 2 "Drake Relays set to take off on refurbished track". Radio Iowa. 3 April 2006.
    9. ↑ "Relays go downtown with Grand Blue Mile". The Times-Delphic. Archived from the original on 2015-02-04. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
    10. ↑ "Server Error - Drake University".
    11. ↑ "Hy-Vee To Become the Presenting Sponsor of the Drake Relays". Newsroom – Drake University. 28 November 2012.
    12. ↑ "Lolo Jones Set To Join Elite Drake Relays Field; Hall Of Fame Inductees Announced". godrakebulldogs.com.
    13. ↑ "Drake Relays Presented by Hy-Vee Announces High School Blue Standards". Newsroom - Drake University.
    14. ↑ "Xtream Powered by Mediacom to Become the Presenting Sponsor of the Drake Relays". DrakeRelays.org. Drake Relays. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
    15. ↑ "Drake Relays". Past, Present and Future of Iowa. 5 November 2012.
    16. ↑ "Jim Duncan Track Resurfacing One Step Closer To Completion". godrakebulldogs.com. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
    17. ↑ "Brian And Natasha Brown Depart Drake For Positions At Missouri". godrakebulldogs.com. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
    18. ↑ "1976 results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 24 April 1976. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
    19. ↑ Jim Dunaway (29 April 2012). "Spearmon, Lowe and Wilson break meet records at Drake Relays". IAAF. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
    20. ↑ Cathal Dennehy (30 April 2016). "Kirani James flies to world-leading 44.08 at Drake Relays". IAAF. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
    21. ↑ "1978 results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 29 April 1978. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
    22. 1 2 "1984 results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 28 April 1984. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
    23. ↑ AP (28 April 2007). "Webb shatters Scott's Drake Relays mile mark". USA Today. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
    24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2021 Drake Relays Results". godrakebulldogs.com. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
    25. ↑ "1980 results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 26 April 1980. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
    26. ↑ "110m Hurdles Results". sidearmstats.com. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
    27. ↑ "1977 results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 30 April 1977. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
    28. ↑ "2014 notes" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 26 April 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
    29. ↑ Woods, David (April 30, 2023). "Crouser Throws 22.38m From Puddle; Jamal Britt, CJ Allen Run Sensational Hurdles Times In Rain". Dyestat. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
    30. 1 2 3 4 "2018 notes". drakerelays.org. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
    31. 1 2 Auburn Tigers (26 April 2008). "Cory Martin's Record-Tying Performance Highlights Saturday Competition For Track And Field Teams". Auburn Tigers. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
    32. ↑ "1996 results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 27 April 1996. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
    33. ↑ "1983 results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 30 April 1983. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
    34. ↑ "1994 results men" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 30 April 1994. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
    35. 1 2 3 "Notes". drakerelays.org. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
    36. ↑ Dunaway, James (2010-04-25). "Cantwell opens with 21.69m effort in Des Moines – Drake Relays report". IAAF. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
    37. ↑ "1994 results women" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 30 April 1994. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
    38. 1 2 "Notes". drakerelays.org. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
    39. ↑ "1500 Metres Results". nmnathletics.com. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
    40. ↑ http://www.godrakebulldogs.com//pdf8/940885.pdf?SPSID=319753&SPID=8142&DB_OEM_ID=15700%5B%5D
    41. ↑ "2002 results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 27 April 2002. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
    42. ↑ "Jenny Simpson, in another return to Drake Relays, takes aim at American 2-mile record". Des Moines Register. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
    43. ↑ "Jenny Simpson breaks U.S. 2-mile record at Drake Relays". ESPN.com. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
    44. ↑ "1988 results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 30 April 1988. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
    45. ↑ "World U20 sprint records fall as Knighton runs 19.49 and Tebogo clocks 9.96". World Athletics. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
    46. ↑ Luke Meredith (28 April 2012). "Wallace Spearmon, Jr. breaks Johnson's Drake mark report". greenwichtime.com. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
    47. ↑ "2003 Results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 26 April 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
    48. ↑ "Shot Put Results". deltatiming.com. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
    49. ↑ "Second Place This Time For Jones In Drake Relay Hurdles". WOWT. 2010-04-24. Retrieved 2013-04-29.
    50. ↑ "Alekna throws 71.00m in Berkeley, Crouser and Ealey win at Drake Relays". World Athletics. 30 April 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
    51. ↑ "Three Records Set On Opening Day Of Drake Relays". godrakebulldogs.com. 2010-04-21. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
    52. ↑ "Heptathlon Results". godrakebulldogs.com. 2010-04-21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-05-29. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
    53. ↑ "Eleven Records Fall On Final Day Of 2012 Drake Relays Before Record-Tying Crowd Of 14,504". godrakebulldogs.com. 2012-04-28. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
    54. ↑ "1989 results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 29 April 1989. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
    55. ↑ "2007 results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 28 April 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
    56. ↑ "2016 Drake Relays Results" (PDF). godrakebulldogs.com. 30 April 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
    57. ↑ "Future Dates for Drake Relays". Drake University Athletics. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
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