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:

Big Blue Nation looks to shine at Blue Oval

Kentucky track and field director Lonnie Greene will be inducted Thursday into the Drake Relays Coaches Hall of Fame, but he is hoping the celebration extends to Saturday for the Wildcats, who are trying to secure the women’s Relay Cup title, headlined by their pursuit of the collegiate record in the women’s 1,600-meter sprint medley relay.

Karimah Davis, Abby Steiner, Alexis Holmes and Jenna Schwinghamer are the expected lineup for Kentucky, which is looking to eclipse the mark of 3:38.93 achieved March 23 by Texas A&M at the 94th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.

The Wildcats, who boast a program record of 3:43.62 from 2016, must first take down the Drake Relays record of 3:43.64, established by Arkansas in 2015.

Texas A&M edged Texas, which ran 3:38.95 in Austin for the No. 2 performance in history. Oregon is the only other program to achieve a sub-3:40 effort, clocking 3:39.05 at the 2017 Penn Relays.

Kentucky will also need to perform well in the 4x400, 4x800 and distance medley relays in order to capture the Relay Cup, which Greene achieved as head coach at Purdue in 2018 in Des Moines.

The Wildcats are also entered in the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x100 shuttle hurdle relays.

Kentucky could also challenge for the all-time collegiate mark in the shuttle hurdle relay of 52.50, led by Masai Russell and Shadajah Ballard.

Academy of Art equaled the collegiate record with its 2013 performance at Drake Relays. Texas A&M also ran 52.50 in 2010 at Penn Relays. LSU (52.77) and Illinois (52.85) are the only other teams who have produced sub-53 efforts in collegiate history.

If Steiner competes Friday as scheduled for Kentucky in the 4x200 relay, a sub-1:30 performance is possible for the Wildcats, which would make them only the fifth program in collegiate history to achieve the feat, joining Oregon (1:28.78), Texas (1:29.03), Texas A&M (1:29.42) and LSU (1:29.78).

The meet records in the 4x100 and 4x400 are also in jeopardy, as the Wildcats have already run 42.46 and 3:25.79 this season.

Texas ran 43.58 in the 4x100 in 2012 and Purdue clocked 3:28.42 in the 4x400 in 2018, another group coached by Greene, as the Boilermakers secured the women’s Relay Cup that year.

North Dakota State and Iowa State tied for the women’s Relay Cup last season, with the Bison prevailing on a meet tiebreaker.

Cyclones ready for another whirlwind relay weekend

Iowa State has achieved the men’s 4x800 and distance medley relay double in each of the past two Drake Relays, leading the Cyclones to Relay Cup team titles in 2019 and 2021.

It marked the fourth time Iowa State swept both the 4x800 and DMR in the same year, along with 1927 and 1991. The Cyclones also prevailed last season in the 1,600-meter sprint medley relay.

Although Jason Gomez is the only returning athlete for Iowa State from last year’s victorious 4x800 and DMR lineups, the Cyclones have reloaded in an attempt to deny Iowa from securing its first Relay Cup since 2018, along with Oklahoma State, Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky and Air Force fielding formidable lineups as well.

Following the graduation of Roshon Roomes, Festus Lagat, Daniel Nixon and Eric Fogltanz, Iowa State has rebuilt its lineups with the presence of Gage Clay, Charlie Johnson, Peter Smith, Nehemia Too, Cebastian Gentil and Darius Kipyego on the roster. Clay was a member of the Cyclones’ winning sprint medley relay team last year.

Iowa State set the Drake Relays record last season in the 4x800, clocking 7:12.57, a performance that ranks No. 5 in collegiate history. Although the 1984 NCAA record of 7:08.96 held by Arizona State might be out of reach for the Cyclones, they are more than capable Friday of challenging last year’s mark.

Alabama has held the 1,600 sprint medley relay meet record of 3:12.19 since 1983, a mark that is No. 4 among all-time NCAA performances. Iowa State, Iowa and Kentucky all have that mark in their sights Saturday.

SMU still boasts the Drake Relays record in the DMR of 9:30.45 from 1984, the No. 11 performance in collegiate history.

Drake perhaps boasts the strongest challenge to Iowa State in the DMR, especially with Adam Fogg and Isaac Basten scheduled to compete for the Bulldogs.

Russell seeks rare hurdling trifecta

Kentucky junior Masai Russell is entered in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles and is expected to anchor the 4x100-meter shuttle hurdle relay Saturday for the Wildcats.

Russell has the potential to join Beau Walker from Alabama in 2004 as the only female athletes in meet history to win all three events at the same Drake Relays.

Faith Ross of Kentucky won the 100 hurdles and 400 hurdles in 2019, but the Wildcats did not compete in the shuttle hurdle relay.

Gudrun Amardottir of Georgia also swept both women’s hurdle races in 1996, but the Bulldogs also did not enter the shuttle hurdle relay.

Walker ran 13.18 and 57.97 in 2004, along with anchoring Alabama to victory in 54.92.

Russell also has the potential to challenge meet records in all three events.

Naomi Taylor of Houston clocked 12.84 in the 100 hurdles last year.

The 400 hurdles all-time college mark at Drake Relays is shared by Nawal El Moutawakel of Iowa State and South Alabama’s Muizat Ajoke Odumosu, who both ran 55.37.

Russell has run 12.71 and 55.41 in her career, but could benefit from not having to run both races in the same day.

Kentucky will also attempt to eclipse the collegiate record of 52.50, shared by Academy of Art and Texas A&M, in the shuttle hurdle relay.

Paula Salmon of North Carolina A&T, who has run a wind-legal 12.63, is the biggest challenger for Russell in the 100 hurdles. Salmon finished third last year in a wind-aided 13.07.

The Iowa trio of Erin Dowd, Mariel Bruxvoort and Payton Wensel, all sub-58 competitors, are the leading contenders in the 400 hurdles, along with Wisconsin’s Bianca Stubler.

Aggies have aspirations for amazing 4x100

North Carolina A&T arrived at Drake Relays last year looking to eclipse the 3-minute mark in the 4x400-meter relay and challenge both meet and collegiate records.

Although they prevailed in 3:02.14, they wanted an opportunity at another all-time relay mark this year.

The Aggies have shifted their focus this season to the 4x100 relay, following a 38.61 performance April 15 at the Tom Jones Memorial in Florida.

North Carolina A&T ranks No. 11 in collegiate history at 38.48, but a projected lineup of Tavarius Wright, Randolph Ross, Daniel Stokes and Javonte Harding has the potential to lower its own program record and take down the Drake Relays all-time mark of 38.96 that Alabama established in 1983.

Florida achieved the collegiate 4x100 record of 37.97 in 2019.

Houston edged North Carolina A&T in one of the most thrilling finishes in meet history last year, holding off the Aggies by a 39.142 to 39.149 margin.

Kentucky and Iowa are also expected to challenge North Carolina A&T, which has decided to focus on several individual events, with multiple athletes scheduled to compete in the men’s 100, 200, 400, 110 hurdles and 400 hurdles.

Ross is entered in the 100, 200 and 400. Only Courtney Lindsey of Iowa Western Community College has won the men’s 100 and 200 in the same year in 2019, with no male athlete doubling in the 200 and 400.

Parker pursuing profound 5,000

The Thursday night distance carnival at Jim Duncan Track is one of the highlights of the Drake Relays, and the showcase event this year could be the women’s seeded 5,000 meters.

Kassie Parker of Loras College is looking to become the first female athlete from an NCAA Division 3 program in meet history to run under 16 minutes, especially after clocking 15:58.58 indoors to become the first women’s competitor in the division to achieve a sub-16 effort.

The Division 3 outdoor record established in 2003 by Missy (Buttry) Rock of Wartburg is 15:37.48, with Ella Baran of Johns Hopkins running 15:49.09 on April 15 at the Virginia Challenge to elevate to No. 2 in division history.

Parker, who set the Division 3 record April 1 in the 10,000 meters by clocking 33:03.61 at the Stanford Invitational, continues to thrive on the challenge of competing against Division 1 athletes.

She benefited from racing against strong fields in both her indoor 5,000 at Iowa State, along with her 9:13.10 indoor 3,000 at Notre Dame, as well as racing against Lauren Gregory from Arkansas and Amelia Mazza-Downie from New Mexico in the 10,000, as they both ran under 33 minutes.

Michigan’s Ericka VanderLende and Katelynne Hart, Oklahoma State’s Gabby Hentemann and Northwestern’s Rachel McCardell are among the leading Division 1 entries in the race, with Grand Valley State’s Hannah Becker and Kayce Rypma, as well as Winona State’s Lindsay Cunningham among the top Division 2 entries, with Parker joined by fellow Division 3 All-American Anastasia Tucker of Hope.

Only 10 female athletes in history – six Division 1 runners and four post-collegiate athletes – have run under 16 minutes in the 5,000 at Drake Relays, highlighted by the meet-record 15:23.21 achieved by Missouri’s Karissa Schweizer in 2018.

Zahafi motivated to go a greater distance in 1,500

Following a world-leading 1:43.69 performance in the 800 meters April 16 at the Tom Jones Memorial in Florida, elevating him to No. 3 in collegiate outdoor history, Texas Tech standout Moad Zahafi is looking to expand his resume Saturday in his first career 1,500-meter race.

Zahafi, representing Monaco, ran the opening 1,200-meter leg for Texas Tech on the distance medley relay in February at the Big 12 Indoor Championships, but his longest career individual race is only 1,000 meters.

Zahafi will be challenged by a strong field featuring Drake standouts Isaac Basten and Adam Fogg, Tom Dodd and Nick Foster of Michigan, along with Sam Gilman of Air Force.

Furman’s Ryan Adams achieved the fastest collegiate performance in meet history last year by clocking 3:38.74, followed by Fogg in 3:38.79 and Gilman taking third in 3:40.39. Basten finished eighth in 3:43.15.

The Drake Stadium record of 3:38.27 established by Steve Scott in 1984 is also capable of being challenged.

Alabama’s Eliud Kipsang achieved the collegiate record April 15 by clocking a world-leading 3:33.74 at the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific University.

Phillips wants to add to Bison hammer throw legacy

Amy Phillips has the potential to extend North Dakota State’s streak to four consecutive victories in the women’s hammer throw, entering Saturday’s competition as the top competitor at 225-5 (68.72m).

Phillips will look to follow the success of Maddy Nilles, who won last year at 222-6 (67.83m) and in 2018 at 205-8 (62.69m), along with Amy Herrington prevailing at 197-1 (60.08m) in 2019.

Phillips will face a strong field that includes Southern Illinois teammates Shauniece O’Neal at 219-11 (67.04m) and Elisia Lancaster at 218-9 (66.67m), as well as the Kentucky pair of Jade Gates at 219-1 (66.67m) and Molly Leppelmeier at 213 feet (64.92m), in addition to Kansas State’s Emma Robbins at 217-6 (66.30m).

Phillips could be one of several winners for North Dakota State, as Kari Wolfe looks to repeat in the women’s javelin throw after producing a mark of 174-4 (53.14m) last year. Wolfe will be tested by Nebraska’s Maddie Harris and Mirta Kulisic.

Amanda Anderson, runner-up last year in the women’s discus throw, will look to secure a championship flag in a matchup against Minnesota’s Shelby Frank, Iowa State’s Emily March and Notre Dame’s Rachel Tanczos.

Frank leads all entries at 190-3 (58.00m), good for No. 5 nationally this season, with Anderson ranked No. 6 at 190-1 (57.95m).

Pole position

In addition to showcasing a matchup of the past two men’s pole vault winners at the Drake Relays, Friday’s competition will also highlight two of the top competitors in Division 1 against the elite teammates in Division 2.

Eerik Haamer of South Dakota prevailed last year at 17-11.25 (5.47m) and Vincent Hobbie of Central Missouri cleared 17-2.75 (5.25m) to triumph in 2019.

Hobby and teammate Reagan Ulrich have cleared 17-7.75 (5.38m) and 17-7.25 (5.37m), respectively, this season to rank first and second in Division 2, and have been looking forward to squaring off against Haamer and Kentucky’s Keaton Daniel, who are tied for No. 8 among all collegiate vaulters this spring at 18-0.50 (5.50m).

Marshall Faurot of South Dakota is also entered, along with Kentucky’s Matthew Peare, creating a showdown of top tandems.  

The meet record of 18-6.50 (5.65m) established by Baylor’s Bill Payne has stood since 1991.

Minnesota State hopes to maximize opportunities

Three of the elite female competitors in NCAA Division 2 are the Minnesota State trio of Makayla Jackson, Denisha Cartwright and Kary Petricka.

They are all scheduled to match up against several Division 1 standouts in the sprints, hurdles and long jump at Drake Stadium, looking to gain valuable experience for the Division 2 Outdoor Championships on May 26-28 at Grand Valley State.

Jackson is the Division 2 outdoor leader in the long jump with a wind-legal leap April 16 of 21-3.50 (6.49m) at Long Beach State. She also has a wind-aided effort of 21-7.50 (6.59m) from April 15 at the 62nd Mt. SAC Relays.

Petricka added a wind-legal performance of 20-3.50 (6.18m) at Long Beach State to move into the top five in Division 2 this season.

They are expected to be challenged Friday by Ameia Wilson of Michigan with her wind-legal mark of 21-1.25 (6.43m). Lishanna Ilves of Nebraska could also be a significant factor following a wind-aided 21-4.75 (6.52m) on April 23 at the Michael Johnson Invitational in Waco, Texas.

Cartwright is the Division 2 all-conditions leader in the 100-meter hurdles at 13.22 seconds, and will have an opportunity to compete against Masai Russell of Kentucky and Paula Salmon of North Carolina A&T.

Jackson has a wind-legal performance of 11.49 in the 100-meter dash and will match up against Grace Nwokocha, Symone Darius and Kamaya Debose-Epps of North Carolina A&T, as well as Lasarah Hargove of Iowa and Amira Young of Minnesota, who swept the 100 and 200 at Drake Relays in 2019.

Flore Gracia of Minnesota, who is tied for No. 5 in the division this season in the triple jump at 40-8.25 (12.40m), and is expected to square off against Ryann Porter of Indiana State, who achieved an all-conditions best mark April 23 at home with a wind-aided effort of 43-2.50 (13.17m) at the Gibson Invitational.

Ruling the ring

Five of the top 15 collegiate competitors in the men’s shot put are scheduled to participate Friday in one of the deepest fields in the country this season.

Darius King of Northern Iowa and Nikolas Curtiss of Iowa will showcase a rematch of their April 22 battle at Musco Twilight in Iowa City.

King prevailed with a mark of 66-5.75 (20.26m) to elevate to No. 6 in Division 1 this year, followed by Curtiss at No. 7 with his 65-9 (20.04m) performance.

Kentucky’s Josh Sobota is ranked No. 11 at 65-2.25 (19.87m), Nebraska’s Maxwell Otterdahl is No. 12 at 64-10 (19.76m) and Logan Calvin of Illinois State is 14th at 64-1.25 (19.54m).

Kristoffer Thomsen of North Dakota State, last year’s winner at 64-1.25 (19.54m), has also returned this season.

Sobota is the top entry in the men’s discus throw Saturday at 191-9 (58.44m).

Alexander Talley of Nebraska is ranked No. 4 in the country this season in the hammer throw at 234-1 (71.36m) and he is expected to compete Saturday against Minnesota’s Kostas Zaltos, who is No. 7 at 232-10 (70.96m).

Talley won the hammer last season competing for North Dakota State with a mark of 222-1 (67.70m).

No male collegiate athlete has won multiple throwing events in the same year since Canadian standout Tim Nedow prevailed in the discus throw and shot put for DePaul in 2012.