By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The 112th Drake Relays presented by Xtream and Powered by Mediacom and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield are scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 27-30 at Jim Duncan Track and Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

WATCH 112TH DRAKE RELAYS PRESENTED BY XTREAM POWERED BY MEDIACOM APRIL 28-30

Here are 10 elite invitational storylines involving professional athletes to keep an eye on at one of the most prestigious meets in the country:

Crouser looks to begin new streak

Ryan Crouser was among the most dominant athletes in the world the past two years, winning 26 consecutive competitions in the men’s shot put, often by significant margins, before a nerve issue in his throwing elbow resulted in him securing a silver medal March 19 at the World Indoor Championships in Serbia.

Darlan Romani of Brazil prevailed against Crouser, who had not lost a shot put competition since finishing runner-up behind fellow American Joe Kovacs at the 2019 World Outdoor Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Crouser captured another Olympic gold medal during the streak, making him one of several reigning champions to be participating Saturday at Drake Stadium.

Crouser has also won five consecutive competitions in Des Moines, including last year at Drake Relays, with his last loss in Iowa coming at the 2018 USATF Outdoor Championships when he placed second behind Darrell Hill.

Crouser has surpassed the 22-meter mark in 14 straight competitions since his mark of 71-11.50 (21.93m) last year at Drake Relays, and boasts 60 meets in his career with at least one 22-meter performance.

No athlete has achieved a 22-meter effort during the outdoor season, with three athletes in the competition – Italian Nick Ponzio and Americans Josh Awotunde and Hill  – having surpassed 70 feet entering the meet.

Fellow American Payton Otterdahl, 10th at the Olympic final in Tokyo, is also entered, along with Jamaica’s O’Dayne Richards, Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and Eldred Henry of the British Virgin Islands.

Josh Cinnamo, a gold medalist at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships, is also scheduled to compete.

Camacho-Quinn pursuing record-setting return

Despite not competing in a single hurdle race in 2020, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn has been on the most impressive run of her career the past 13 months and the Olympic gold medalist representing Puerto Rico in the 100-meter hurdles is scheduled to compete Saturday, seeking her first career victory at Drake Stadium.

Camacho-Quinn, a two-time NCAA Division 1 champion at Kentucky, placed second at the 2019 Drake Relays behind world-record holder Keni Harrison.

Following a 12.39 performance April 16 at the Tom Jones Memorial in Florida, Camacho-Quinn has the potential to challenge not only the 2015 meet record of 12.40 established by Jasmin Stowers, but potentially the Drake Stadium all-time mark of 12.26 produced in 2013 by Brianna McNeal.

Camacho-Quinn ran 12.26 in the Olympic semifinals in Tokyo and has achieved six sub-12.40 performances in the past year.

Nia Ali, a two-time World Indoor champion in the 60-meter hurdles and 2019 World Outdoor gold medalist in the 100 hurdles, placed second behind Camacho-Quinn at Tom Jones in 12.59. She is also returning to Drake Relays for the first time since 2019.

Olympic finalists Tobi Amusan of Nigeria, Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas and American Gabbi Cunningham, a bronze medalist in the 60-meter hurdles at the World Indoor Championships, are also scheduled to compete, along with fellow U.S. athletes Kristi Castlin – the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist – and Tia Jones, the 2018 World Under-20 gold medalist.

Cindy Sember of Great Britain, a former Michigan standout, won the 100 hurdles at last year’s event.

American vaulters attempting to reach rarefied air

Sam Kendricks holds both meet and stadium records entering Saturday’s men’s pole vault competition, but he might not be the favorite against a deep field of American challengers, including Olympic and World Indoor silver medalist Chris Nilsen, along with KC Lightfoot, the fourth-place finisher in Tokyo.

Kendricks cleared 19-2.75 (5.86m) last year at Drake Relays to edge Nilsen at 19-0.25 (5.80m).

Kendricks also achieved an American record 19-10.50 (6.06m) to win the USATF Outdoor Championships in 2019 at Drake Stadium, after Nilsen won the Drake Relays that same year.

Kendricks swept both Drake Relays and U.S. outdoor titles in 2018 in Des Moines.

Nilsen cleared the U.S. all-time indoor mark March 5 of 19-10.25 (6.05m) in France and Lightfoot set the collegiate indoor record last year at Baylor with a 19-8.25 (6.00m) clearance, although neither athlete has eclipsed the 6-meter barrier yet outdoors.

Jacob Wooten shares the world outdoor lead entering the event with a 19-0.25 clearance.

Andrew Irwin, Charlie Myers, Hussain Al-Hizam, Cole Walsh, Nate Richartz and Audie Wyatt are also scheduled to compete.

Deep field on display in 400 hurdles showdown

Dalilah Muhammad has only competed in open 400-meter races and relay events so far this spring, but the Olympic gold medalist and World champion is scheduled to race over barriers Saturday for the first time since August in her 400 hurdles opener at Drake Stadium.

Muhammad, the second-fastest competitor in history at 51.58 seconds that earned her a silver medal in Tokyo behind world-record holder Sydney McLaughlin at 51.46, won’t get a rematch in Des Moines, but there are still plenty of impressive challengers expected to race.

Fellow Olympic finalists Janieve Russell of Jamaica, Gianna Woodruff of Panama and American Anna Cockrell are also scheduled to compete at Drake Stadium, along with Shamier Little, the third-fastest U.S. athlete in history and the No. 5 all-time global competitor at 52.39.

Ashley Spencer, the No. 10 American performer in history at 53.11, is also expected to be part of the lineup.

The meet record of 54.41, achieved by Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic, has stood since 2013.

Muhammad set the Drake Stadium all-time mark of 52.20 when she broke the world record for the first time at the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships. She is still searching for her first Drake Relays title in the 400 hurdles, placing second in both 2016 and 2018. 

For Sowinski, it’s 199 and counting in 800

Perhaps the only place more fitting than the University of Iowa for Erik Sowinski to achieve his 200th career sub-1:50 performance in the 800 meters would be at Drake Stadium, and that’s exactly where he will attempt to achieve the milestone Saturday at Drake Relays following his most recent effort April 23 at the Musco Twilight event in Iowa City.

Sowinski prevailed in 1:47.49, giving him seven sub-1:50 efforts this year and 199 in his career entering his next 800 race at Jim Duncan Track.

Since his first career sub-1:50 race in 2010, Sowinski has produced 13 performances under the barrier in the 800 in Des Moines, compared to six in Iowa City.

His personal-best effort at Drake Stadium remains 1:45.21 from the 2013 USATF Outdoor Championships. Sowinski placed third at the 2016 Drake Relays in 1:47.70.

Isaiah Jewett, last year’s NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Champion and an Olympic semifinalist in Tokyo, is also scheduled to compete, along with fellow Americans Shane Streich, Luca Chatham and Drew Piazza.

Streich and Chatham are both entered Tuesday in the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships as well.

Former Iowa State standouts Alex Lomong, Frank Hayes and Daniel Nixon are also scheduled to compete.

The meet record of 1:45.86 established by Randy Wilson of Oklahoma has stood since 1978. Duane Solomon set the Drake Stadium all-time mark of 1:43.27 at the 2013 USATF Outdoor Championships.

Cunningham sets sights again on 2-meter territory

Since a fourth-place finish in her Drake Relays debut in 2016, Vashti Cunningham has won her past three appearances at Drake Stadium, including an invitational victory in 2018, as well as a pair of national titles.

She enters Saturday’s competition sharing the world outdoor lead at 6-5 (1.96m) following her victory April 16 at the 62nd Mt. SAC Relays, but Cunningham is motivated to produce another 2-meter clearance, especially after only reaching 6-6 (1.98m) during her indoor schedule.

Cunningham achieved a lifetime-best 6-7.50 (2.02m) last year and has four 2-meter clearances in her career.

A fifth performance would help Cunningham surpass the 2012 meet record of 6-6 established in 2012 by Chaunte Lowe, who also set the American record in Drake Stadium in 2010 with her 6-8.75 (2.05m) effort.

There will be several familiar faces competing against Cunningham, including friend and training partner Jelena Rowe, along with fellow Americans Amina Smith, Rachel McCoy, Inika McPherson and Zarriea Willis. Jamaican standout Kimberly Williamson is entered as well.

Smith won the 2019 competition at Drake Relays by clearing 6-0.75 (1.85m). McCoy finished second to Cunningham at Mt. SAC Relays and placed 12th at both the World Indoor Championships, along with the Olympics in Tokyo.

Parchment preparing for another successful summer

Hansle Parchment of Jamaica, the reigning Olympic gold medalist in the 110-meter hurdles, is making his fifth career appearance at Drake Relays, but his first since 2016, headlining a strong field Saturday.

Parchment opened his outdoor season April 23 by running a wind-legal 13.20 seconds and is seeking his second career victory at Drake Stadium, winning in 2014 in 13.14.

He followed by finishing fifth in 2015 and third in 2016 in Des Moines, and has only raced in the United States three times since, including twice last year with events in Florida and Georgia.

Parchment has the potential to challenge the 2017 meet record of 13.04 held by fellow Jamaican Omar McLeod.

American David Oliver still boasts the fastest time run at Drake Stadium with his 12.93 performance at the USATF Outdoor Championships.

Damion Thomas of Jamaica and U.S. athlete Daniel Roberts, who both ran 13.11 last season, are also expected to race. Roberts won at Drake Relays last year with a wind-aided 13.39 performance and prevailed in 2019 with a wind-aided 13.28 effort.

Former Iowa standouts Aaron Mallett and Jamal Britt are scheduled to compete, along with American Michael Dickson, David King of Great Britain and Chris Douglas of Australia.

Williams tries for long jump trifecta

Before Kendell Williams takes on the challenge of competing in seven events over two days May 6-7 in Arkansas at the USATF Combined Events Championships, the two-time Olympian in the heptathlon is seeking a third straight victory at Drake Stadium in the women’s long jump.

Williams prevailed last year with a wind-legal leap of 21-5.50 (6.54m), returning to Des Moines after securing the win at Drake Relays in 2019 with a wind-legal mark of 21-8.75 (6.62m).

Williams earned a bronze medal for the U.S. in the pentathlon March 18 at the World Indoor Championships in Serbia, improving from ninth in 2018 in Birmingham, England.

The challenge Saturday will be a big one for Williams, especially with Olympic long jump bronze medalist Ese Brume of Nigeria scheduled to compete. Brume, who has jumped 23-6.25 (7.17m), captured the silver medal at the World Indoor Championships.

Fellow Olympians Chanice Porter of Jamaica, Christabel Nettey of Canada and Americans Quanesha Burks and Keturah Orji are also entered, in addition to former Iowa standout Jahisha Thomas of Great Britain, along with additional U.S. athletes Sha’Keela Saunders and Tiffany Flynn.

Brittney Reese boasts both the Drake Stadium record of 22-11.75 (7.00m) and the wind-legal meet record of 22-1.50 (6.74m) from 2016. Lorraine Ugen of Great Britain prevailed against Reese at the Drake Relays six years ago, but her winning mark of 22-4.50 (6.82m) was wind-aided.

Meaningful middle-distance matchup

The meet and Drake Stadium records in the men’s 1,500 meters of 3:38.27 achieved by Steve Scott have managed to survive since 1984, but the return of the event last year following the mile being contested in 2018 and 2019, gave an indication that it might not last another year, especially with the depth of the field scheduled to compete Saturday.

Clayton Murphy, scheduled to run Tuesday in the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships, returns after winning at Drake Relays last year in 3:39.12.

Jake Edwards, who won the 2019 mile at Drake Stadium, is also part of the field, which features two-time U.S. champion and Olympian Ben Blankenship, along with Olympic steeplechase competitor Hilary Bor.

Brahim Kaazouzi of Morocco, Amos Bartelsmeyer of Germany and Sam Tanner of New Zealand are also entered, with Americans Daniel Michalski, Casey Comber, Willy Fink and Josh Yeager adding even more strength to an already impressive field.

The fastest 1,500 performance ever produced on Jim Duncan Track has the potential to be eclipsed Friday in the men’s university race, which Ryan Adams of Furman nearly accomplished last year by winning in 3:38.74.

Brown building toward next big 200

Although former Iowa standout Brittany Brown achieved her greatest career performance in the 200 meters when she ran a wind-legal 22.22 seconds to secure the silver medal at the 2019 World Outdoor Championships in Doha, Qatar, her journey that year included a memorable two-day stretch at Drake Stadium at the USATF Outdoor Championships.

Brown returned to Des Moines to compete the following year in the 200 at the Blue Oval Showcase, but she has never participated in the event at Drake Relays. She hasn’t participated in any sprint races at “America’s Athletic Classic” since running the 100-meter dash in 2014-15.

Brown returns to Des Moines to race Friday following a wind-aided 10.66 performance April 23 in the 100 at the Michael Johnson Invitational hosted by Baylor in Waco, Texas. Only seven female athletes in global history have run sub-10.70 in the 100 under any conditions.

Brown also finished second April 16 in the 200 in a wind-legal 22.29 at the USATF Golden Games at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif.

Lasarah Hargrove of Iowa, along with North Carolina A&T teammates Kamaya Debose-Epps and Grace Nwokocha are also entered, along with reigning NCAA Division 2 champion Hiba Mahgoub, a Northwest Missouri State graduate.

Hargrove has run 22.79 this season, with Debose-Epps clocking 22.81 and Nwokocha achieving a 22.89 effort. Mahgoub boasts a personal-best performance of 23.25.

American Gwen Torrence holds the meet record of 22.40 from 1994, with former LSU standout Kimberlyn Duncan clocking the fastest wind-legal performance in Drake Stadium history at 22.19 at the 2012 NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships.