When officials call the Drake Relays track and field extravaganza
College and universities from all four corners of the
There will be colleges and universities representing a whopping 34 states including
A school from every southern state from the east coast to the west coast, with the exception of
The
Officials expect 7,908 athletes, representing 686 teams, to participate in the Relays.
Athletes will be competing from 8 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. today at Drake Stadium. Drake Relays Under the Lights will take place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Drake Stadium.
Various ticket packages are available. For more information on tickets, call 515-271-DOGS or visit the Athletics Web site.
The Drake Relays Downtown Festival will conclude tonight with live music by Towncrier and Electric Junction at the Court Avenue Block Party. The party will start at 7 p.m. at Fourth Street and Court Avenue.
The Relays will continue from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Drake Stadium. A record 1,800 to 1,900 runners are expected to compete in the Drake half-marathon and 8K road races, which will start at 8 a.m. Saturday outside of Drake Stadium.
Nebraska, Minnesota sending largest teams
Sixty-seven universities are sending 924 competitors in the men’s division, while 745 athletes from 68 schools will compete in the men’s college division.
In the women’s university division, 1,008 athletes from 73 universities will be competing, while the women’s college division has 567 athletes from 64 schools. The
In the high school boys division, 1,186 athletes have entered the Drake Relays from 182 schools. In the high school girls division, 176 teams are sending 1,077 athletes. There also will be 554 grade school and middle school runners representing 56 schools from the greater
In addition, there will be 147 unattached athletes competing.