Drake Relays Presented by Hy-Vee Announces First World-Class Field For 2019

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee continues its tradition of bringing some of the finest athletes in the world to Central Iowa and 2019 will be no different as Blake Boldon, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays, begins to unveil the world-class athletes that will compete at Drake Stadium, April 24-27.

Friday, Boldon announced the field for the men’s 200 meters that is set to bring the Drake Stadium crowd to its feet. The race features five Olympians and the Relays record holder.

“I’m excited to start announcing our elite fields with this incredible 200-meter lineup,” Boldon said. “Like many of our events, this field has a tremendous mix of established talent with dozens of international accolades as well as some of the top young talent in the world.”

One of the headliners in the 200 meters, Wallace Spearmon, has already thrilled fans in Des Moines this year as a challenger in the Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee annual dunk competition, Jan. 31 at the Knapp Center.

Spearmon is a two-time Olympian and three-time USA Champion in the event who owns the Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee record at 20.02, set in 2012. A four-time NCAA Champion at Arkansas, his personal best in the even of 19.65 makes him the seventh-fastest American in the history of the event.

Challenging Spearmon is Ameer Webb, Jak Ali Harvey, Vernon Norwood, Yancarlos Martinez and Tre Houston.

Webb was sixth in the 100 meters at last year’s Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee and fifth in the 200 meters at the 2017 World Championship. He has run faster than 20.30 17 times in his career.

The event will also have a local flavor as former UNI standout Brandon Carnes returns to the Blue Oval and Indian Hills Community College freshman Kenny Bednarek makes his Relays debut. Bednarek is coming off NJCAA national titles in the 200 and 400 meters and his indoor 200-meter best of 20.30 was the second-fastest in the world this season. Carnes was a 16-time Missouri Valley Conference champion at UNI who owns a lifetime best of 20.25 in the event.

Friday’s announcement begins a flurry of Boldon unveiling more world-class fields over the coming days and weeks. Visit DrakeRelays.org or follow @DrakeRelays on Twitter for a planned announcement every Monday, Wednesday and Friday leading up to Relays Week.

Relays Week competitions begin Tuesday, April 23, with the Grand Blue Mile on the streets of downtown Des Moines. The heptathlon and decathlon get underway in Drake Stadium Wednesday, April 24, followed by the annual Cap Square Vault. Multi-events conclude Thursday, March 25, at Drake Stadium followed by the annual Distance Carnival. Action continues all day Friday and Saturday at Drake Stadium.

All-session, multi-session and single-session tickets for all of the action are available via DrakeTix.com, 515-271-3647 or visiting the Drake Athletic Ticket Office.

-DrakeRelays-