Drake Relays

Last updated
Drake Relays
DrakeRelays-Xtream LogoVariations-01.png
Sport Track and field
Founded(First held in April of 1910)
Country Des Moines, Iowa, United States
QualificationWorld Athletics Silver Level
Sponsor(s) Xtream powered by Mediacom
Related
competitions		 Penn Relays
Official website drakerelays.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]

Contents

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 2014 Relays Panorama.jpg
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]

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

Women

Mixed

Mixed meeting records of the Drake Relays
EventRecordAthleteNationalityDateRef.
4 × 110 m Shuttle hurdles relay 54.42Team Blue:
Kristi Castlin
Spencer Adams
Nia Ali
Eddie Lovett 		Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg United States Virgin Islands		30 April 2016 [57]

Results

2020s2010s2000s1990s1980s1970s1960s1950s1940s1930s1920s1910s
2029 2019 2009199919891979196919591949193919291919
2028 2018 2008 199819881978196819581948193819281918
2027 2017 2007199719871977196719571947193719271917
2026 2016 2006199619861976196619561946193619261916
2025 2015 2005199519851975196519551945193519251915
2024 2014 2004199419841974196419541944193419241914
2023 2013 2003 1993 19831973196319531943193319231913
202220122002 1992 19821972196219521942193219221912
202120112001 1991 19811971196119511941193119211911
202020102000 1990 19801970196019501940193019201910

Future dates

Notes

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    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. Archived from the original on 2015-02-04. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
    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 "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.[ permanent dead link ]
    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. ↑ "Pole Vault Results". World Athletics. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
    30. ↑ "Otterdahl, Ramsey Team Up to Win Drake Relays Shot Put Showcase". godrakebulldogs.com. 24 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
    31. 1 2 3 4 "2018 notes". drakerelays.org. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
    32. 1 2 Auburn Tigers (26 April 2008). "Cory Martin's Record-Tying Performance Highlights Saturday Competition For Track And Field Teams". Auburn Tigers. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
    33. ↑ "1996 results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 27 April 1996. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
    34. ↑ "1983 results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 30 April 1983. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
    35. ↑ "1994 results men" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 30 April 1994. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
    36. 1 2 3 "Notes". drakerelays.org. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
    37. ↑ Dunaway, James (2010-04-25). "Cantwell opens with 21.69m effort in Des Moines – Drake Relays report". IAAF . Retrieved 2010-04-25.
    38. ↑ "1994 results women" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 30 April 1994. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
    39. 1 2 "Notes". drakerelays.org. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
    40. ↑ "1500 Metres Results". nmnathletics.com. 26 April 2013. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
    41. ↑ http://www.godrakebulldogs.com//pdf8/940885.pdf?SPSID=319753&SPID=8142&DB_OEM_ID=15700%5B%5D
    42. ↑ "2002 results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 27 April 2002. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
    43. ↑ "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.
    44. ↑ "Jenny Simpson breaks U.S. 2-mile record at Drake Relays". ESPN.com . 27 April 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
    45. ↑ "1988 results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 30 April 1988. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
    46. ↑ "World U20 sprint records fall as Knighton runs 19.49 and Tebogo clocks 9.96". World Athletics. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
    47. ↑ Luke Meredith (28 April 2012). "Wallace Spearmon, Jr. breaks Johnson's Drake mark report". greenwichtime.com. Retrieved 28 April 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
    48. ↑ "2003 Results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 26 April 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
    49. ↑ "Shot Put Results". deltatiming.com. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
    50. ↑ "Second Place This Time For Jones In Drake Relay Hurdles". WOWT. 2010-04-24. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2013-04-29.
    51. ↑ "Alekna throws 71.00m in Berkeley, Crouser and Ealey win at Drake Relays". World Athletics. 30 April 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
    52. ↑ "Three Records Set On Opening Day Of Drake Relays". godrakebulldogs.com. 2010-04-21. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
    53. ↑ "Heptathlon Results". godrakebulldogs.com. 2010-04-21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-05-29. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
    54. ↑ "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.
    55. ↑ "1989 results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 29 April 1989. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
    56. ↑ "2007 results" (PDF). drakerelays.org. 28 April 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
    57. ↑ "2016 Drake Relays Results" (PDF). godrakebulldogs.com. 30 April 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
    58. ↑ "Future Dates for Drake Relays". Drake University Athletics. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
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