Drake Relays
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.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Meet Records
[edit] Men
[edit] Women
[edit] 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.
[edit] External links
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