Drake Relays Explained

Sport:Track and field
Country:Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Qualification:World Athletics Silver Level
Founded:(First held in April of 1910)
Sponsor:Xtream powered by Mediacom
Related Comps:Penn Relays

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

See main article: Drake Stadium (Drake University). 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]

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.

Meet records

Men

EventRecordAthleteNationalityDateRef
100 m10.01 (+1.9 m/s)Harvey Glance24 April 1976[18]
200 m20.02 (+1.7 m/s)Wallace Spearmon28 April 2012[19]
400 m44.08Kirani James29 April 2016[20]
800 m1:45.86Randy Wilson28 April 1978[21]
1500 m3:38.27Steve Scott28 April 1984[22]
Mile3:51.71Alan Webb28 April 2007[23]
5000 m13:21.39Morgan McDonald23 April 2021[24]
10000 m28:07.40Kipsubai Koskei26 April 1980[25]
110 m hurdles13.04 (+1.8 m/s)Omar McLeod29 April 2017[26]
400 m hurdles48.15Alison dos Santos24 April 2021
3000 m steeplechase8:31.02Henry Marsh30 April 1977[27]
High jumpDerek Drouin25 April 2014[28]
Pole vaultKC Lightfoot22 April 2024[29]
Long jumpAnthuan Maybank24 April 1993
Triple jumpChristian Taylor27 April 2013
Shot putPayton Otterdahl24 April 2024[30]
Discus throwReggie Jagers28 April 2018[31]
Hammer ThrowLibor Charfreitag27 April 2002
Cory Martin26 April 2008[32]
Decathlon8198 ptsKip Janvrin25 April 1996[33]
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 relay38.96University of Alabama
Emmit King
Lamar Smith
Calvin Smith
Walter Monroe



30 April 1983[34]
4 × 200 m relay1:20.53University of Texas-El Paso
Obadele Thompson
Milton Mallard
Hayden Stephen
Andrew Tynes



30 April 1994[35]
4 × 400 m relay3:00.78Southern Illinois University
Parry Duncan
Tony Adams
Elvis Forde
Michael Franks



28 April 1984
Sprint medley relay (2,2,4,8)3:12.19Alabama State University
Lamar Smith
Calvin Smith
Terry Menefee
William Wuyke



30 April 1983
4 × 800 m relay7:12.57Iowa State University
Jason Gomez
Joven Nelson
Daniel Nixon
Festus Lagat



23 April 2021
Distance medley relay9:30.45Southern Methodist University
Rob Topping
Russell Mitchell
Ben Bor
Paul Rugut



30 April 1983
4×110 m Shuttle hurdles relay52.94USA Blue
Jason Richardson
Aleec Harris
Aries Merritt
David Oliver



25 April 2015[36]

Women

EventRecordAthleteNationalityDateRef
100 m11.06 (0.0 m/s)LaShauntea Moore24 April 2010[37]
22.40 (+0.7 m/s)Gwen Torrence30 April 1994[38]
400 m50.13Francena McCorory25 April 2015
800 m2:00.03Ajee' Wilson24 April 2015[39]
1500 m4:03.35Jennifer Simpson26 April 2013[40]
Mile4:40.2Francie Larrieu-Smith27 April 1975[41]
3000 m8:56.03Suzy Favor-Hamilton27 April 2002[42]
Two miles9:16.78Jennifer Simpson27 April 2018[43] [44]
5000 m15:23.21Karissa Schweizer26 April 2018
10000 m32:57.38Patti Murray28 April 1988[45]
100 m hurdles12.40 (+1.5 m/s)Jasmin Stowers25 April 2015
400 m hurdles53.88Dalilah Muhammad30 April 2022[46]
3000 m steeplechase9:32.23Leah Falland26 April 2018
High jumpChaunte Lowe28 April 2012[47]
Pole vaultSandi Morris28 April 2018
Long jumpAisha James26 April 2003[48]
Triple jumpShani Marks26 April 2003
Shot putTia Brooks29 April 2016[49]
Discus throwBecky Breisch24 April 2010[50]
Hammer throwBrooke Andersen27 April 2023[51]
Heptathlon6040 ptsDiana Pickler21–22 April 2009[52]
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)		[53]
4 × 100 m relay43.58University Of Texas
Morgan Snow
Allison Peter
Christy Udoh
Chalonda Goodman



28 April 2012[54]
4 × 200 m relay1:31.96Texas Southern University
Linda Eseimokumoh
Beatrice Utondu
Dyan Webber
Mary Onyali



28 April 1989[55]
4 × 400 m relay3:28.42Purdue University
Chole Abbot
Brionna Thomas
Symone Black
Jahneya Mitchell



28 April 2018
Sprint medley relay (2-2-4-8)3:43.64Arkansas State University
Regine Williams
Daina Harper
Taylor Ellis-Watson
Chrishuna Williams



25 April 2015
4 × 800 m relay8:27.42University of Minnesota
Julie Schwengler
Jamie Cheever
Gabrielle Anderson
Heather Dorniden



27 April 2007[56]
Distance medley relay11:03.25Notre Dame University
Olivia Markezich
Kelly Hart
Erin Sullivan
Katie Wasserman



24 April 2021
4 × 100 m Shuttle hurdles relay50.50USA Blue
Brianna Rollins
Dawn Harper-Nelson
Queen Harrison
Kristi Castlin



24 April 2015

Mixed

Results

2020s 2010s 2000s 1990s 1980s 1970s 1960s 1950s 1940s 1930s 1920s 1910s
2029 2019 2009 1999 1989 1979 1969 1959 1949 1939 1929 1919
2028 2018 2008 1998 1988 1978 1968 1958 1948 1938 1928 1918
2027 2017 2007 1997 1987 1977 1967 1957 1947 1937 1927 1917
2026 2016 2006 1996 1986 1976 1966 1956 1946 1936 1926 1916
2025 2015 2005 1995 1985 1975 1965 1955 1945 1935 1925 1915
2024 2014 2004 1994 1984 1974 1964 1954 1944 1934 1924 1914
2023 2013 2003 1993 1983 1973 1963 1953 1943 1933 1923 1913
2022 2012 2002 1992 1982 1972 1962 1952 1942 1932 1922 1912
2021 2011 2001 1991 1981 1971 1961 1951 1941 1931 1921 1911
2020 2010 2000 1990 1980 1970 1960 1950 1940 1930 1920 1910

Future dates

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Drake's Small-Town Atmosphere Draws a Big Track Meet . The New York Times . Pat . Borzi . 24 April 2009.
  2. Web site: World Athletics Continental Tour | World Athletics . World Athletics . World Athletics . March 12, 2020.
  3. Web site: Drake Relays; 75 Years of Excellence. drake.edu.
  4. Web site: Display Article. trackandfieldnews.com. 2013-04-28. 2015-02-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20150204122408/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/display-article?arId=57446. dead.
  5. Web site: Eleven Records Fall On Final Day Of 2012 Drake Relays Before Record-Tying Crowd Of 14,504. godrakebulldogs.com.
  6. Web site: Drake Stadium History. godrakebulldogs.com.
  7. Web site: 113 Drake Relays Alumni Competing In Olympics; Collect Five Medals In Two-Day Period. godrakebulldogs.com.
  8. Web site: Drake Relays set to take off on refurbished track. Radio Iowa. 3 April 2006.
  9. Web site: Relays go downtown with Grand Blue Mile. The Times-Delphic. 2013-04-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20150204121007/http://timesdelphic.com/2010/04/19/relays-go-downtown-with-grand-blue-mile. 2015-02-04. dead.
  10. Web site: Server Error - Drake University.
  11. Web site: Hy-Vee To Become the Presenting Sponsor of the Drake Relays. Newsroom – Drake University. 28 November 2012.
  12. Web site: Lolo Jones Set To Join Elite Drake Relays Field; Hall Of Fame Inductees Announced. godrakebulldogs.com.
  13. Web site: Drake Relays Presented by Hy-Vee Announces High School Blue Standards. Newsroom - Drake University.
  14. Web site: Xtream Powered by Mediacom to Become the Presenting Sponsor of the Drake Relays . DrakeRelays.org . Drake Relays . March 12, 2020.
  15. Web site: Drake Relays. Past, Present and Future of Iowa. 5 November 2012.
  16. Web site: Jim Duncan Track Resurfacing One Step Closer To Completion. godrakebulldogs.com. 1 May 2017.
  17. Web site: Brian And Natasha Brown Depart Drake For Positions At Missouri. godrakebulldogs.com. 1 May 2017.
  18. Web site: 1976 results. drakerelays.org. 24 April 1976. 27 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150204123118/http://www.godrakebulldogs.com//pdf8/794603.pdf?SPSID=319753&SPID=8142&DB_OEM_ID=15700. 4 February 2015. dead.
  19. News: Spearmon, Lowe and Wilson break meet records at Drake Relays. IAAF. Jim Dunaway. 29 April 2012. 30 April 2012.
  20. News: Kirani James flies to world-leading 44.08 at Drake Relays. IAAF. Cathal Dennehy. 30 April 2016. 1 May 2016.
  21. Web site: 1978 results. drakerelays.org. 29 April 1978. 27 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150204121310/http://www.godrakebulldogs.com//pdf8/794514.pdf?SPSID=319753&SPID=8142&DB_OEM_ID=15700. 4 February 2015. dead.
  22. Web site: 1984 results. drakerelays.org. 28 April 1984. 27 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150204123103/http://www.godrakebulldogs.com//pdf8/794625.pdf?SPSID=319753&SPID=8142&DB_OEM_ID=15700. 4 February 2015. dead.
  23. News: Webb shatters Scott's Drake Relays mile mark. USA Today. AP. 28 April 2007. 27 April 2013.
  24. Web site: 2021 Drake Relays Results. godrakebulldogs.com. 24 April 2021. 20 May 2021.
  25. Web site: 1980 results. drakerelays.org. 26 April 1980. 27 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150204122211/http://www.godrakebulldogs.com//pdf8/795641.pdf?SPSID=319753&SPID=8142&DB_OEM_ID=15700. 4 February 2015. dead.
  26. Web site: 110m Hurdles Results. sidearmstats.com. 29 April 2017. 30 April 2017.
  27. Web site: 1977 results. drakerelays.org. 30 April 1977. 27 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150204121728/http://www.godrakebulldogs.com//pdf8/794606.pdf?SPSID=319753&SPID=8142&DB_OEM_ID=15700. 4 February 2015. dead.
  28. Web site: 2014 notes. drakerelays.org. 26 April 2014. 26 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140427050001/http://www.godrakebulldogs.com//pdf9/2698371.pdf?SPSID=71588&SPID=8142&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=15700. 27 April 2014. dead.
  29. Web site: Pole Vault Results. World Athletics. 25 April 2024.
  30. Web site: Otterdahl, Ramsey Team Up to Win Drake Relays Shot Put Showcase. godrakebulldogs.com. 24 April 2024. 25 April 2024.
  31. Web site: 2018 notes. drakerelays.org. 28 April 2018. 30 April 2018.
  32. News: Cory Martin's Record-Tying Performance Highlights Saturday Competition For Track And Field Teams. Auburn Tigers. Auburn Tigers. 26 April 2008. 27 April 2013. 10 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160410083440/http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/c-track/recaps/042608aab.html. dead.
  33. Web site: 1996 results. drakerelays.org. 27 April 1996. 27 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150204120638/http://www.godrakebulldogs.com//pdf8/795330.pdf?SPSID=319753&SPID=8142&DB_OEM_ID=15700. 4 February 2015. dead.
  34. Web site: 1983 results. drakerelays.org. 30 April 1983. 27 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150204130402/http://www.godrakebulldogs.com//pdf8/794526.pdf?SPSID=319753&SPID=8142&DB_OEM_ID=15700. 4 February 2015. dead.
  35. Web site: 1994 results men. drakerelays.org. 30 April 1994. 27 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150204123208/http://www.godrakebulldogs.com//pdf8/795328.pdf?SPSID=319753&SPID=8142&DB_OEM_ID=15700. 4 February 2015. dead.
  36. Web site: Notes. drakerelays.org. 25 April 2015. 25 April 2015.
  37. News: Dunaway. James. Cantwell opens with 21.69m effort in Des Moines – Drake Relays report. IAAF. 2010-04-25. 2010-04-25.
  38. Web site: 1994 results women. drakerelays.org. 30 April 1994. 29 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150204121818/http://www.godrakebulldogs.com//pdf8/795484.pdf?SPSID=319753&SPID=8142&DB_OEM_ID=15700. 4 February 2015. dead.
  39. Web site: Notes. drakerelays.org. 24 April 2015. 25 April 2015.
  40. Web site: 1500 Metres Results. nmnathletics.com. 26 April 2013. 27 April 2013. 27 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140327202938/http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/15700/livestats/Relays/13/130424F465.htm. dead.
  41. http://www.godrakebulldogs.com//pdf8/940885.pdf?SPSID=319753&SPID=8142&DB_OEM_ID=15700{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  42. Web site: 2002 results. drakerelays.org. 27 April 2002. 29 April 2013.
  43. Web site: Jenny Simpson, in another return to Drake Relays, takes aim at American 2-mile record . . 27 April 2018 . 3 May 2018.
  44. Web site: Jenny Simpson breaks U.S. 2-mile record at Drake Relays . . 27 April 2018 . 3 May 2018.
  45. Web site: 1988 results. drakerelays.org. 30 April 1988. 29 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150204130316/http://www.godrakebulldogs.com//pdf8/794697.pdf?SPSID=319753&SPID=8142&DB_OEM_ID=15700. 4 February 2015. dead.
  46. News: World U20 sprint records fall as Knighton runs 19.49 and Tebogo clocks 9.96. World Athletics. 30 April 2022. 9 May 2022.
  47. News: Wallace Spearmon, Jr. breaks Johnson's Drake mark report. greenwichtime.com. Luke Meredith. 28 April 2012. 28 April 2012.
  48. Web site: 2003 Results. drakerelays.org. 26 April 2003. 29 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150204122905/http://www.godrakebulldogs.com//pdf8/795498.pdf?SPSID=319753&SPID=8142&DB_OEM_ID=15700. 4 February 2015. dead.
  49. Web site: Shot Put Results. deltatiming.com. 29 April 2016. 30 April 2017.
  50. News: Second Place This Time For Jones In Drake Relay Hurdles. WOWT. 2010-04-24. 2013-04-29. 2018-09-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20180923205512/https://www.wowt.com/sports/headlines/92022399.html. dead.
  51. Web site: Alekna throws 71.00m in Berkeley, Crouser and Ealey win at Drake Relays. World Athletics. 30 April 2023. 4 May 2023.
  52. News: Three Records Set On Opening Day Of Drake Relays . godrakebulldogs.com . 2010-04-21 . 2010-05-01.
  53. Web site: Heptathlon Results . godrakebulldogs.com . 2010-04-21 . 2010-05-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150529024833/http://nmnathletics.com/ . 2015-05-29 .
  54. News: Eleven Records Fall On Final Day Of 2012 Drake Relays Before Record-Tying Crowd Of 14,504. godrakebulldogs.com. 2012-04-28. 2012-04-28.
  55. Web site: 1989 results. drakerelays.org. 29 April 1989. 29 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150204121719/http://www.godrakebulldogs.com//pdf8/794699.pdf?SPSID=319753&SPID=8142&DB_OEM_ID=15700. 4 February 2015. dead.
  56. Web site: 2007 results. drakerelays.org. 28 April 2007. 29 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20120608064256/http://www.godrakebulldogs.com//pdf5/116441.pdf?SPSID=319753&SPID=8142&DB_OEM_ID=15700. 8 June 2012. dead.
  57. Web site: 2016 Drake Relays Results. godrakebulldogs.com. 30 April 2016. 21 May 2021.
  58. Web site: Future Dates for Drake Relays. 2021-07-19. Drake University Athletics. en.

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