Drake Relays

Drake Relays
Name	Drake Relays
Location	Des Moines, Iowa
Founded	1910
Venue	Drake Stadium
Type	Track and field

Drake Relays is an annual track and field festival held in Des Moines, Iowa, centered at Drake Stadium on the campus of Drake University. The meet attracts collegiate programs, professional athletes, high school teams, and community participants, featuring sprints, distance, hurdles, jumps, throws, relays, and special exhibition events. Over more than a century the event has drawn competitors and spectators associated with U.S. Olympic Team Trials, NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Penn Relays, Amateur Athletic Union, and international touring meets, becoming a staple of American track and field and Midwestern sporting culture.

History

The meet began in 1910 at Drake University as a regional invitational inspired by developments at Pennsylvania Railroad-era athletic clubs and growth of intercollegiate athletics among institutions such as University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and University of Minnesota. Early decades featured athletes connected to organizations like Amateur Athletic Union and teams from Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and Kansas, while national prominence rose during the Great Depression and post-World War II era as stars affiliated with U.S. Olympic Committee selections and professional circuits appeared. The introduction of high school and invitational high-profile events mirrored trends set by the Penn Relays and the Millrose Games, and the Relays expanded through partnerships with collegiate conferences such as the Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference, and Missouri Valley Conference. Notable organizational milestones involved broadcasting arrangements with outlets similar to ESPN and NBC Sports, facility upgrades paralleling other sites like Hayward Field and international meets such as the IAAF World Championships in Athletics. Throughout its history the meet navigated societal shifts including civil rights-era athlete activism associated with figures who competed collegiately for programs like Ohio State and UCLA.

Event Format and Competitions

The program blends collegiate championships, elite invitational sections, high school relays, masters races, and community runs, modeled after formats used by Penn Relays and Kalamazoo Relays with relay-centric scheduling reminiscent of State Games of America. Events typically include 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 800 m, 1500 m, 5000 m, 10,000 m, 110 m hurdles, 400 m hurdles, 3000 m steeplechase, long jump, triple jump, high jump, pole vault, shot put, discus throw, hammer throw, javelin, 4x100 m relay, 4x400 m relay, sprint medley relay, and distance medley relay. The meet has hosted exhibition international matchups featuring athletes from Jamaica national athletics team, Kenya national athletics team, Great Britain, and professional circuits tied to organizations like Diamond League-style promotions and national championships conducted by USA Track & Field. Qualifying criteria combine seasonal marks, conference standings from Big Ten Conference and Big 12 Conference, and high school qualifying standards comparable to state meets run by organizations like Iowa High School Athletic Association.

Venues and Facilities

The centerpiece is Drake Stadium, configured with a synthetic track surface, field-event areas, and seating that has undergone renovations reflecting standards at venues like Hayward Field and Beaver Stadium-adjacent upgrades. Support facilities include locker rooms and training areas used by Drake University teams and visiting delegations from programs such as Texas and Oklahoma. Warm-up and secondary competition spaces have been adapted over time to meet IAAF/World Athletics certification requirements, and the stadium has hosted ceremonies, vendor zones, and hospitality tents associated with corporate partners and media outlets similar to ESPN and Fox Sports during large meets. The city of Des Moines provides municipal support for crowd management, transportation links with nearby hubs like Des Moines International Airport, and collaboration with venues used for indoor meets at universities such as Iowa State University.

Records and Notable Performances

Over its history the meet has produced performances by Olympians and world-class athletes representing institutions like Oregon, USC, Arkansas, Rutgers, and Michigan. Record-setting runs and jumps have drawn comparisons to marks from World Athletics Championships and Olympic Games podiums. Notable athletes who competed at the meet include names associated with U.S. Trials rosters and professional circuits—athletes who also featured at championships such as the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships and international competitions like the Commonwealth Games and Pan American Games. Meet records in sprints, hurdles, throws, and distance events are maintained by organizers and frequently cited in profiles of competitors from programs including Florida, LSU, and Indiana.

Organization and Sponsorship

The Relays are organized by a committee affiliated with Drake University athletics and local stakeholders including the Des Moines Chamber of Commerce-style business groups, municipal partners in Des Moines, and volunteer organizations modeled on event boards at meets like the Penn Relays. Sponsorship has come from corporate partners reminiscent of brands that support athletics such as national broadcasters, athletic apparel companies, and regional businesses; past presentation partners resemble relationships seen at meets supported by companies linked to the Nike, Inc. and New Balance sponsorship ecosystems. Coordination includes liaison with governing bodies like USA Track & Field and adherence to anti-doping frameworks aligned with World Anti-Doping Agency standards. Ticketing, hospitality, and athlete recruitment involve collaboration with university athletic departments, alumni networks of institutions such as Drake University Bulldogs and conference offices like the Missouri Valley Conference.

Cultural Impact and Community Involvement

The meet functions as a civic festival for Des Moines, engaging high school programs from the Iowa High School Athletic Association and drawing spectators from regional population centers, parallel to civic traditions seen at events like the Iowa State Fair. Community initiatives have included youth clinics, outreach with local schools, and charitable partnerships modeled after programs run by organizations like Special Olympics USA and university community engagement offices. The Relays contribute to local tourism, hospitality, and media attention in ways comparable to other legacy meets such as the Penn Relays and foster alumni pride for institutions like Drake University, regional rivalries among conferences like the Big Ten Conference, and ongoing development of track and field in the American Midwest.

Category:Track and field competitions in the United States Category:Sports in Des Moines, Iowa