- Drake Relays
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The Drake Relays is an annual outdoor track and field event held in Des Moines, Iowa, United States, in Drake Stadium on the campus of Drake University. It has grown to become one of the largest and most important meets in United States, attracting top university and professional talent alike.
Barely 100 spectators and nearly the same number of competitors were on hand for the first Drake Relays in 1910 - a stark contrast to the full stadium that now greets more than 8,000 participants competing during the two main days of the meet.
Contents
Not Just A Meet
The Drake Relays are a celebrated tradition[citation needed] not only by students and alumni, but by the surrounding Iowa community. While Drake does have a traditional homecoming in the fall, the school celebrates and treats the Relays as their actual homecoming. Alumni return to campus, and students and the community alike celebrate the pride and tradition the track meet brings.
While the track meet is held for a single weekend near the end of April, celebrations and events begin on campus almost 3 weeks prior.
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 at this state university almost 100 years ago back in the year 1910. Last year, in 2009, the day before the 100th anniversary of the relays, there was a phenomenal firework show put on by the area Girl Scouts to honor the Veterans of wars past fought.
- John L. Griffith 1910-1918
Griffith was the founder of the Drake Relays. He remained director for 9 years and moved to the University of Illinois after World War I. He later became commissioner of the Big Ten Conference.
- 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, but left to become head football coach at the University of Iowa, and later at 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-present
Brown participated in the relays himself and currently holds the Drake Relays record in the high jump. Each year Brown attempts to have his record broken by recruiting some of the best high jumpers in the country, but none have been able to take down his record.
Meet Records
Men
Event Record Athlete Nationality Date Ref 100 m 10.01 Henry Glance United States 1976 200 m 20.05 Michael Johnson United States 26 April 1997 400 m 44.41 Michael Johnson United States April 1996 800 m 1:45.86 Randy Wilson United States 1978 1500 m 3:38.27 Steve Scott United States 1984 Mile 3:51.71 Alan Webb United States 28 April 2007 5000 m 13:27.20 Nick Rose United Kingdom 1977 10000 m 28:07.40 Kipsubal Koskei Kenya 1980 110 m hurdles 13.21 Ryan Wilson United States 25 April 2009 400 m hurdles 48.28 Danny Harris United States 1986 3000 m steeplechase 8:31.02 Henry Marsh United States 1977 High jump 2.31 m Brian Brown United States 26 April 1997 Dusty Jonas 30 April 2011 [1] Erik Kynard 30 April 2011 [2] Pole vault 5.79 m Jeff Hartwig United States 28 April 2007 Long jump 7.96 m Ralph Boston United States 1961 Triple jump 16.08 m Mike Conley United States 1994 Shot put 22.10 m Christian Cantwell United States 29 April 2006 Hammer Throw 72.77 m Libor Charfreitag Slovakia 2002 Discus throw 64.31 m Mac Wilkins United States 1978 Decathlon 8198 pts Kip Janvrin United States April 1996 (100 m), (long jump), (shot put), (high jump), (400 m) / (110 m hurdles), (discus), (pole vault), (javelin), (1500 m) 4x100 m relay 38.96 University of Alabama United States 1983 4x400 m relay 3:00.78 Southern Illinois University United States 1984 Women
Event Record Athlete Nationality Date Ref 100 m 11.06 (0.0 m/s) LaShauntea Moore United States 24 April 2010 [3] 200 m 22.40 Gwen Torrence United States April 1994 400 m 50.64 Lillie Leatherwood-King United States 1987 800 m 2:01.68 Suzy Favor-Hamilton United States April 1998 1500 m 4:05.13 Suzy Favor-Hamilton United States April 2000 Mile 4:40.2 Francie Larrieu-Smith United States 1975 3000 m 8:56.03 Suzy Favor-Hamilton United States April 2002 5000 m 15:31.18 Cathy Branta-Easker United States 1985 10000 m 32:57.38 Patti Murray United States 1988 100 m hurdles 12.65 (-0.9 m/s) Damu Cherry United States 24 April 2010 [4] 400 m hurdles 55.37 Nawal El Moutawakel Morocco 1984 High jump 1.96 m Chaunte Lowe United States 24 April 2010 [5] Pole vault 4.61 m Stacy Dragila United States April 2003 Shot put 18.67 m Nadine Kleinert Germany 24 April 2010 [6] Discus throw 64.38 m Becky Briesch United States 24 April 2010 Hammer throw 63.78 m Florence Ezah United States April 2002 Heptathlon 6040 pts Diana Pickler United States 21-22 April 2009 [7] 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) [8] 4x100 m relay 43.75 Baylor University
Tiffani McReynolds
Tiffany Townsend
Brittany Bruce
Brittany CarrUnited States 30 April 2011 [9] 4x400 m relay 3:28.63 University of Arkansas
Regina George
Shelise Williams
Gwendolyn Flowers
Brittany HyterUnited States 30 April 2011 [10] References
- ^ James Dunaway (2011-05-01). "Nelson's 21.39m heave the highlight in Des Moines". IAAF. http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=59884.html. Retrieved 2011-05-01.
- ^ James Dunaway (2011-05-01). "Nelson's 21.39m heave the highlight in Des Moines". IAAF. http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=59884.html. Retrieved 2011-05-01.
- ^ Dunaway, James (2010-04-25). "Cantwell opens with 21.69m effort in Des Moines - Drake Relays report". IAAF. http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=56554.html. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
- ^ "12 Records, Four World Leading Marks, Set At Drake Relays". www.godrakebulldogs.com. 2010-04-25. http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15700&ATCLID=204936013. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
- ^ Dunaway, James (2010-04-25). "Cantwell opens with 21.69m effort in Des Moines - Drake Relays report". IAAF. http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=56554.html. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
- ^ Dunaway, James (2010-04-25). "Cantwell opens with 21.69m effort in Des Moines - Drake Relays report". IAAF. http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=56554.html. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
- ^ "Three Records Set On Opening Day Of Drake Relays". www.godrakebulldogs.com. 2010-04-21. http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15700&ATCLID=204934644. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
- ^ "Heptathlon Results". www.godrakebulldogs.com. 2010-04-21. https://www.nmnathletics.com//pdf8/688986.pdf. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
- ^ "Total Of 14 Records Broken At 102nd Drake Relays". www.godrakebulldogs.com. 2011-05-01. http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=71588&SPID=8142&ATCLID=205145410&DB_OEM_ID=15700. Retrieved 2011-05-01.
- ^ "Total Of 14 Records Broken At 102nd Drake Relays". www.godrakebulldogs.com. 2011-05-01. http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=71588&SPID=8142&ATCLID=205145410&DB_OEM_ID=15700. Retrieved 2011-05-01.
External links
Track and field competitions in the United States Outdoor USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships • NCAA Championships (Men • Women) • NAIA Championships (Men • Women) • Olympic trials
Visa Championship Series • Drake Relays • Kansas Relays • Modesto Relays • Mt. SAC Relays • Penn Relays • Texas Relays • Prefontaine Classic • Reebok Grand Prix • Adidas Track ClassicIndoor USA Indoor Track and Field Championships • NCAA Indoor Championships (Men • Women) • NAIA Championships (Men • Women) •
Millrose Games • Sunkist Invitational • Boston Indoor Games • Tyson Invitational • New Balance GamesJunior Arcadia Invitational • CIF California State Meet • Golden West Invitational • Minnesota True Team State Track and Field • Pasco InvitationalSee also : USA Track & Field Categories:- Drake University
- Sports in Des Moines, Iowa
- Annual track and field meetings
- College track and field competitions in the United States
- Visitor attractions in Des Moines, Iowa
- John L. Griffith 1910-1918
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