PREVIEWING THE DRAKE RELAYS, DISTANCE (800, 1500/1600, 3000/3200)
Pretty much the same cast will lead the girls and boys distance races (800, 1500/3000, 1600/3200), with one gal and guy likely to dominate each set, and going for Drake Relays and perhaps Iowa All-Time records as much as wins.
In the girls 800, 1500, and 3000, Shelby Houlihan will challenge Katie Flood (2010 graduate of Dowling Catholic) as the fastest Iowa High School distance runner of all-time. Flood’s Drake and All-Time State record of 4:28.30 in the 1500 and 9:43.39 3000 Drake mark are well within reach. Katie’s 9:27.25 All-Time 3000 record would require perfect weather conditions and strategy. Houlihan’s Drake 800 rccord of 2:09.22 (2010) and Blaire Dinsdale’ (North Tama, 2006) All-Time mark of 2:07.39 should go.
Alana Enabnit (Clear Lake) appears to be the best of large field running for the silvers, which includes - Iowa City High’s teammates Rebecca Rethwisch & Meg Richardson, Dowling Catholic’s Tanelle Berard & Karissa Schweizer, Bettendorf’s Mahnee Watts and Megan Nickles, Nicole Criner (WDM Valley), Lauren Rusch (Dubuque Wahlert), Alex Wilson (Mount Vernon/Lisbon), Madison Waymire (Dallas Center-Grimes), Gabby Stearns (Gilbert), Lauren Benzing (Solon) and Andrea Toppin (Ventura).
The boys 800, 1600, and 3200 will be more competitive at the top, with Ottumwa’s Kevin Lewis most capable of surpassing Drake Relay’s records set in the 1970’s (1600 - 4:11.57, Steve Greiner, Pekin, 1979; 3200 - 9:06.3, Mark Johnson, Mason City, 1973). The boys 800 is a new Drake Relays event in 2011. Iowa’s All-Time bests (800 - 1:49.3, David Korir, CR Washignton, 1975; 1600 - 4:05.6, Ed DeLashmutt, Fort Madison, 1976; 3200 - 8:52.0, Jim Eicken, Davenport Central, 1975) appear to be safe; but at least sub-1:55’s, sub-4:10’s and sub-9:00’s are possible. Defending Drake champion (in both 1600 & 3200) Johnny Fuller (Glenwood) and rapidly improving Alec Baldwin (Spirit Lake) have the speed to run with Lewis, and could surprise. Add Glenwood’s Kyle Wheeler in the 800. With a large capable field close, strategy will play a huge part in who places and the times. Challengers include - Burlington’s Ben Witt & Marshall Moyer, Eli Horton (SE Polk), Drew Prescott (Urbandale), Matt Butler (Bettendorf), Matt & Kyle Stocker (CR Prairie), Connor Wells (DM Roosevelt), Tyler Meseke (Pleasant Valley), and Connor Smock (Lisbon). Abbabiya Simbassa (Sioux City North) is a sleeper.
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