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“The Drake Relays presented by Xtream is not just one of the world’s greatest athletic competitions,” Director of the Drake Relays Blake Boldon said. “It is a weeklong, family-friendly community celebration. From elementary school students to world record holders, and from grandparents to die-hard track and field fans, there is a place for everyone to participate and attend as a fan.”
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Drake Athletic Communications:
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the Jordan Creek Town Center on Wednesday, Feb. 7, the 2024 Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom week event schedule was unveiled including the reveal of the return of the featured pole vault at Jordan Creek Town Center on Monday, April 22.
The Drake Relays presented by Xtream will host a pole vault competition (Vault at Jordan Creek) at the Center Court area of Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines for the first time since 2014 and will hold a pole vault event outside of the Drake University campus for the first time since 2019.
“The Drake Relays presented by Xtream is not just one of the world’s greatest athletic competitions,” Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays Blake Boldon said. “It is a weeklong, family-friendly community celebration. From elementary school students to world record holders, and from grandparents to die-hard track and field fans, there is a place for everyone to participate and attend as a fan.”
“Jordan Creek Town Center is proud to once again host the Drake Relays Vault at Jordan Creek,” Jordan Creek Town Center Senior General Manager Randy Tennison said. “The excitement and energy of watching these highly skilled athletes perform amazing vaults inside the mall cheered on by the enthusiastic crowd is exhilarating.”
The Drake Relays Team Shot Put Showcase debuted last year and will be back inside historic Drake Fieldhouse on Wednesday, April 24 to be headlined once again by Drake Relays champion Ryan Crouser. In 2023, just weeks after setting a new Drake Relays record of 22.38m (73-5 ¼), Crouser established a new World Record of 23.56m (77-3 ¾). Both of these marks are in jeopardy when the two-time Olympic Champion returns to Des Moines in April.
As always, Relays week will kick off with the 56th edition of the Drake Road Races on Sunday, April 21. This year, the historic half marathon, 10k and 5k will be followed that same afternoon by the world-famous Beautiful Bulldog competition with bulldogs from across the region and country vying for the title of ‘Most Beautiful Bulldog’. This marks the first time since 2018 in which Drake Road Race finishers and their families can stay for this family friendly event in the Knapp Center.
There will be another chance to see a World Record as the USATF 1-Mile Road Championships closes out the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in downtown Des Moines on Tuesday, April 23. This marks the eighth consecutive year that national champions will be crowned for the 1-Mile Road Championships in Des Moines for both the men and women. In 2023, the inaugural World Records in the one mile road race were established at the event and to commemorate the historic achievement, 13th street between Locust and Grand has been renamed honorary “World Record Way”.
“The Drake Relays is not only America’s Athletic Classic, but also essential to our metro,” Catch Des Moines CEO and President Greg Edwards said. “For 113 years the Relays has hosted thousands of Olympic, professional, collegiate and high school athletes from around the world. Some are visiting Des Moines for the first time and creating lasting lifetime memories.”
Additionally, during halftime of tonight’s Drake Men’s Basketball game against Southern Illinois, a special Elementary Shuttle Relay will be run. Nearly two dozen teams from metro area elementary schools are scheduled to compete in a format similar to the fan-favorite event that has been a staple of the Drake Relays presented by Xtream for a century. Races will be held in boys, girls and coed divisions during halftime tonight. The same race categories will be contested on the infield of Drake Stadium on Thursday, April 24. More than 30 elementary teams have already entered to compete in April.
“The Vault at Jordan Creek will be one of the great local spectacles of 2024 and Ryan Crouser’s return to Des Moines will excite track and field fans around the world,” Boldon said. “Equally fun is the chance to highlight local elementary school students by creating a platform for them to begin making their own lifelong memories in sport.”
America’s Athletic Classic will officially begin with the heptathlon and decathlon on Wednesday, April 23 before track and field’s best from the high school, college and professional ranks compete on the Blue Oval April 24-27, all culminating in an anticipated 57th straight Saturday on April 27.
