Home Official News Releases Five Olympic medalists added to Drake Relays Athletes of the Century list

Five Olympic medalists added to Drake Relays Athletes of the Century list

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Jesse Owens and Merlene Ottey

Drake Relays Director Brian Brown revealed eight more athletes who have been selected as the top 10 Drake Relays men’s and women’s Athletes of the Century during a news conference Thursday.

Headlining the group are four-time Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens, who was voted the Drake Relays Athlete of the First-Half Century in 1959, and sprinter Merlene Ottey, who has won nine Olympic medals — the most by any woman in track and field history.

Middle distance runner Mike Boit from Kenya, who won a bronze medal in the 800 at the 1972 Olympics; eight-time Drake Relays pole vault champion and record holder Jeff Hartwig; and sprinter Mel Lattany, who became the first collegian to win an event (100) in four consecutive years, also were selected among the top men’s Drake Relays Athletes of the Century.

Olympic gold medalist and five-time Drake Relays record holder Lillie Leatherwood; two-time Olympian and hometown product Natasha Kaiser-Brown; and 2008 Olympian Lolo Jones, who became the first athlete to win four straight invitational 100 hurdles titles, also were chosen among the top women’s Drake Relays Athletes of the Century.

Together, the group combined to win 30 individual Drake Relays titles, setting 17 Drake Relays records in the process.

The Drake Relays overall men’s and women’s Athletes of the Century will be disclosed at a news conference on a later date.

All 20 Drake Relays Athletes of the Century will be honored during a gala event, which is open to the public on Thursday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m. at the Drake Knapp Center, 2525 Forest Ave.

The 100th running of the Drake Relays will be April 22-25 at Drake Stadium.

Previously announced athletes selected as men’s Drake Relays Athletes of the Century are:

  • Four-time Olympic gold medalist Al Oerter, who was the greatest performer ever to compete in the discus
  • Olympic gold medalist Rodney Milburn, who set or tied the world record five times in the 110 hurdles
  • Former Alabama sprinter Calvin Smith, who was one of the finest 100 and 200-meter competitors in history
  • Former American record holder Steve Scott, one of the greatest milers in track and field history
  • Decathlete Kip Janvrin, who is the Drake Relays career individual victory leader with 17 titles

Earlier performers chosen as women’s Drake Relays Athletes of the Century are:

  • Three-time Olympian Suzy Favor Hamilton, who is the only athlete to hold Drake Relays records in three events
  • Four-time Olympic women’s high jumper Amy Acuff
  • Women’s distance standout Cindy Bremser
  • Essie Kelley Washington, who won three individual titles in the 800 and led Prairie View to five relay victories
  • Jill Lancaster, winner of five heptathlon titles

For more information about the eight athletes announced Thursday as Drake Relays Athletes of the Century, visit the Athletics Web site.