Drake Relays facts for kids
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| Conference | Missouri Valley |
|---|---|
| Sport | Track and field |
| Founder | 1910 |
| Organising body | Drake University |
| Related competitions |
Penn Relays |
The Drake Relays is a super exciting outdoor track and field event that happens every year in Des Moines, Iowa. It takes place at Drake Stadium, which is part of Drake University. People call it America's Athletic Classic because it's one of the best track and field events in the whole United States! In 2020, it even got a special "Silver Level" award from World Athletics, showing how important it is.
Contents
History of the Drake Relays
The very first Drake Relays happened in 1910. Only about 100 people came to watch, and 82 athletes competed. These athletes were all from colleges and high schools near Des Moines. The next year, more people came, and by 1914, a world record was set at the Relays for the first time!
By 1922, the event grew to last two days and attracted 10,000 fans. It was also the first big track and field event ever broadcast on the radio. In 1926, Drake Stadium was built just for the Relays.
Women Join the Competition
Women's events were added to the Relays starting in 1961. Famous athlete Wilma Rudolph competed in the 100 meters that year. From 1966 onwards, the Saturday events at the Relays sold out for 48 years in a row! In 1969, a special tartan track was put in. The events switched to metric measurements in 1976, and the track was rebuilt as a 400-meter oval in 1978. In 1988, it was named the "Jim Duncan Track" to honor the longtime announcer.
Olympic Stars at Drake Relays
Many Olympic gold medalists have competed at Drake Stadium. Some of these amazing athletes include Caitlyn Jenner, Michael Johnson, Carl Lewis, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Frank Shorter, Gwen Torrence, and Jeremy Wariner. Hundreds of other athletes who competed at the Drake Relays later went on to compete in the Olympic Games. For example, 113 of them competed in the 2012 Olympic Games.
Fun Events and Sponsorships
In 2006, a Friday evening session was added to the Relays. In 2010, the Grand Blue Mile, a one-mile road race in downtown Des Moines, became part of the fun. The week of festivities now starts with a parade on Saturday. Then there's a "Beautiful Bulldog Contest" on Sunday, the Grand Blue Mile on Tuesday, and an indoor pole vault on Wednesday. The decathlon and heptathlon events begin on Wednesday and finish on Thursday, along with the distance carnival.
From 2013, a grocery store called Hy-Vee became a main sponsor. This allowed the Relays to offer big cash prizes, making it the richest athletics event in the United States. In 2018, the "Blue Standard" was introduced. This allows Iowa's best high school athletes to automatically qualify for the Relays based on their past performance. Since March 2020, Xtream powered by Mediacom has been the main sponsor, helping the Drake Relays stay a top track and field event.
Besides the track meet, the Relays week is like a second homecoming for Drake University. There are also other community events, like student street painting and a big block party in downtown Des Moines.
Drake Stadium
Drake Stadium opened in 1925. This stadium has 14,557 seats and a famous blue oval track. It has hosted the Relays since 1926. In 2006, the stadium was updated to make the lanes wider and allow fans to watch different events at the same time. After the 2016 Relays, a brand new track was installed. This track is made of the same material used for the Olympic tracks in Beijing and London!
Directors of the Relays
Since the Drake Relays started in 1910, eleven different people have been the director of the event.
- John L. Griffith (1910–1918): Griffith was the person who started the Drake Relays. He was the director for nine years. Drake University's live bulldog mascot, Griff, is named after him!
- M. B. Banks (1919–1921): Banks also coached the Drake football and basketball teams.
- K. L. (Tug) Wilson (1922–1925): Wilson was a former Olympic athlete.
- O. M. (Ossie) Solem (1926–1932): Solem was a longtime coach at Drake.
- 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 actually competed in the Relays himself! He held the Drake Relays record in the high jump until 2014.
- Blake Boldon (2017–present)
Meet Records
The Drake Relays has seen many amazing performances over the years, with athletes setting new records. Here are some of the best records set at the event:
Men's Records
| Event | Record | Athlete | Nation. | Date | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 10.01 | Harvey Glance |  United States |
24 April 1976 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 200 m | 20.02 | Wallace Spearmon | United States |
28 April 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 400 m | 44.08 | Kirani James |  Grenada |
29 April 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 800 m | 1:45.86 | Randy Wilson | United States |
28 April 1978 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1500 m | 3:38.27 | Steve Scott | United States |
28 April 1984 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mile | 3:51.71 | Alan Webb | United States |
28 April 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5000 m | 13:21.39 | Morgan McDonald |  Australia |
23 April 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 10,000 m | 28:07.40 | Kipsubai Koskei |  Kenya |
26 April 1980 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 110 m hurdles | 13.04 | Omar McLeod |  Jamaica |
29 April 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 400 m hurdles | 48.15 | Alison dos Santos |  Brazil |
24 April 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3000 m steeplechase | 8:31.02 | Henry Marsh | United States |
30 April 1977 | |||||||||||||||||||
| High jump | 2.40 m (7 ft 10.36318898 in) | Derek Drouin |  Canada |
25 April 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Pole vault | 5.90 m (19 ft 4.15846457 in) | KC Lightfoot | United States |
22 April 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Long jump | 8.26 m (27 ft 1.07185040 in) | Anthuan Maybank | United States |
24 April 1993 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Triple jump | 17.12 m (56 ft 1.89074804 in) | Christian Taylor | United States |
27 April 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Shot put | 22.59 m (74 ft 1.24507874 in) | Payton Otterdahl | United States |
24 April 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Discus throw | 64.59 m (211 ft 10.78838583 in) | Reggie Jagers | United States |
28 April 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Hammer throw | 81.08 m (266 ft 0.00098426 in) | Rudy Winkler | United States |
24 April 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Decathlon | 8265 pts | Till Steinforth |  Germany |
23–24 April 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||
Women's Records
| Event | Record | Athlete | Nation. | Date | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 11.06 | LaShauntea Moore | United States |
24 April 2010 | |||||||||
| 200 m | 22.40 | Gwen Torrence | United States |
30 April 1994 | |||||||||
| 400 m | 50.13 | Francena McCorory | United States |
25 April 2015 | |||||||||
| 800 m | 2:00.03 | Ajee' Wilson | United States |
24 April 2015 | |||||||||
| 1500 m | 4:03.35 | Jennifer Simpson | United States |
26 April 2013 | |||||||||
| Mile | 4:23.69 | Krissy Gear | United States |
26 April 2025 | |||||||||
| 3000 m | 8:56.03 | Suzy Favor-Hamilton | United States |
27 April 2002 | |||||||||
| Two miles | 9:16.78 | Jennifer Simpson | United States |
27 April 2018 | |||||||||
| 5000 m | 15:23.21 | Karissa Schweizer | United States |
26 April 2018 | |||||||||
| 10,000 m | 32:57.38 | Patti Murray | United States |
28 April 1988 | |||||||||
| 100 m hurdles | 12.40 | Jasmin Stowers | United States |
25 April 2015 | |||||||||
| 400 m hurdles | 53.88 | Dalilah Muhammad | United States |
30 April 2022 | |||||||||
| 3000 m steeplechase | 9:32.23 | Leah Falland | United States |
26 April 2018 | |||||||||
| High jump | 1.98 m (6 ft 5.82775591 in) | Chaunte Lowe | United States |
28 April 2012 | |||||||||
| Pole vault | 4.88 m (16 ft 0.00098426 in) | Sandi Morris | United States |
28 April 2018 | |||||||||
| Long jump | 6.78 m (22 ft 2.80413386 in) | Aisha James | United States |
26 April 2003 | |||||||||
| Triple jump | 13.79 m (45 ft 2.78838583 in) | Shani Marks | United States |
26 April 2003 | |||||||||
| Shot put | 19.37 m (63 ft 6.47342520 in) | Tia Brooks | United States |
29 April 2016 | |||||||||
| Discus throw | 64.38 m (211 ft 2.52066930 in) | Becky Breisch | United States |
24 April 2010 | |||||||||
| Hammer throw | 78.69 m (258 ft 1.90649607 in) | Brooke Andersen | United States |
27 April 2023 | |||||||||
| Heptathlon | 6040 pts | Diana Pickler | United States |
21–22 April 2009 | |||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||
Mixed Records
| Event | Record | Athlete | Nation. | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Upcoming Drake Relays Dates
- 116th Drake Relays - April 22–25, 2026
- 117th Drake Relays - April 21–24, 2027
- 118th Drake Relays - April 26–29 2028
