2008 Drake Relays In Review

The Drake Relays has grown to one of the best track meets for college and pro runners. The 99th running was no different. Saturday’s session drew a crowd of 18,000, marking the 43rd straight year of selling out the final day.

At the Drake Relays, Lolo Jones started the outdoor season in the same manner she ended the indoor season: rolling! The reigning 60-meter hurdles champ won her second outing this season at the Drake Relays in 12.74, breaking her own meet record. For her effort, Lolo was named top female athlete of the Drake Relays. It comes as no surprise from observers that she won the prestigious meet in her hometown, running in front of her people despite swirling, gusting winds.

Drake fans were also provided a treat by witnessing two of the world’s top shot put throwers. World Indoor champion Christian Cantwell won his sixth Drake title with a toss of 68 feet, 6 inches. That effort was well ahead of Jamaican Dorain Scott and Reese Hoffa, the reigning world outdoor champion.

The first trip to Drake Relays did not go so hot for hurdle legend Allen Johnson. The 1996 Olympic champion clipped a hurdle midway through the race finishing in a distance fifth place. The winner Anwar Moore crossed the line in 13.14, winning his second Drake title in a row.

Another Olympic hopeful Shareese Woods won the 400 in 51.75. April Steiner was the only athlete to clear a height and won the pole vault in 14 feet, 2 inches despite gusty winds.

By Jay Hicks, a.k.a. Track Evangelist.

The Final Lap: Injury Sidelines World's Fastest Man!

• When is the last time a pro runner withdrew from a race because of a pulled pec muscle? Well, last week Asafa Powell pulled out of Mt. Sac Relays, and the 100 world record holder also sitting out of Penn Relays with the sore chest injury. Read Guardian

• There are more questions than answers about Alan Webb’s training just four months before the Olympic Trials. An unfit Webb has pulled out of Drake Relays because his training isn’t up to par. "My training hasn't progressed to where I feel I can deliver the type of performance that I would like to for the Drake Relays," said Webb. "I hope to be able to make up for it and come back next year." Read Des Moines Register

• Can you spare a dime brotha? In a ridiculous occurrence, Marion Jones’ teammates are hoping to raise more than $200,000 in attorney fees needed to challenge the IOC’s ruling to strip their medal in international courts. American athletes should not have to foot the bill for being caught up in this debacle. Read Chicago Times

By Jay Hicks, a.k.a. Track Evangelist.

Photo Courtesy BBC.

2008 Drake Relays Preview

Nearly 8,000 athletes from almost every state in the union are expected to compete at this years prestigious Drake Relays. Including some of the top ranked professional athletes.

Lolo Jones is coming home to run while having the break out season of her career that she hopes ends with an Olympic team bid.

The LSU alum now hopes to build on the success of her indoor performances at her outdoor season debut at her hometown Drake Relays during Saturday, April 26 session of the 99th annual Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa.

Alan Webb will return to Drake Relays. The American middle distance runner shattered the Drake Relays record in the invitational mile last year and will return to defend his title. “This will be my first mile race on the track since last year,” said Webb during a Thursday teleconference. “Hopefully, it will be the beginning of great season.”

Drake Relays director, Brian Brown, has disclosed that 1996 Olympic gold medalist Allen Johnson, the greatest hurdler in World Championship history, will be competing in the men's invitational 110 hurdles.

April Steiner, who has vaulted a 2008 world best 15 feet 2.25 inches, heads the list of athletes scheduled to compete in the women's pole vault.

The women’s pole vault field also includes 2004 Olympian Jillian Schwartz; Andree' Pickens, who was ranked No. 10 in the U.S. last year; and former NCAA champion Kate Conwell.

By Jay Hicks, a.k.a. Track Evangelist.

The Final Lap: April = Relay Meets

Most professional runners are competing in relay meets in April. This is the relay time of year on the U.S. pro sprint scene. These collegiate track meets primarily feature relay races with a limited number of individual events, so the relays make for some exciting performances from pro runners.

Relay meets have an open section for professional runners. No pro outdoor meets are held in the United States at the early stage of the outdoor season.

Running on relays allows pro athletes to evaluate their training and conditioning in a low stakes environment while having lots of fun. Relays races are one of the few chances to have a team experience in what is largely an individual sport.

The meet schedule for the next month is packed with collegiate relay meets such as the Texas Relays (April 2), Kansas Relays (April 16), Mt. Sac Relays (April 18), Drake Relays (April 24), and Penn Relays (April 24) to name a few.

• Fans at the 57th TSU Relays were witness to Jeremy “J Dub” Wariner’s 44.2 anchor leg this past Saturday on the mile relay at the Houston meet. This is an incredibly fast time considering observers report that J Dub shut it down 30 meters out.

• The heat was definitely showcased on the track in Miami . In the mile relay, Xavier “X Man” Carter lit up the first leg in 44.9 to officially begin his season. Running first leg on the mile relay is very similar to running an open 400-meters, which means X Man is in primo shape.

• The first fully pro meet on the Visa Championship Series is the Adidas Track Classic on May 18th.

By Jay Hicks, a.k.a. Track Evangelist