Previewing the Drake Relays - The Relays (4X100, 4X200, 4X400, Sprint Medley, 4X800, Shuttle Hurdles)
With only one individual sprint event (100) at Drake, teams will load the sprint relays that dominate the agenda. That could result in overpowering performances by one team on the girls side, and heated competition among several in each boys event. The Medleys and 4X800’s will much depend on who’s anchoring, and who’s held out of the 800, 1500/1600, and 3000/3200 to emphasize the team events.
Could the Iowa City West girls win five relays? With their depth of talent in the sprints and 800, that’s possible. Only the shuttle hurdle event seems out-of-reach for them. But relays require baton exchanges, and if West falters there’s plenty of teams available to take advantage. In the short relays, challengers include Davenport Assumption, DM Roosevelt, Davenport North, CR Washington, CR Jefferson, Dowling Catholic, Iowa City High, and smaller schools Hudson and Solon. In the longer relays, add SE Polk, Cedar Falls, WDM Valley, Dubuque Wahlert, Waukee, CR Kennedy, DM North, Urbandale, Pleasant Valley, Bettendorf, Sioux City East (if Houlihan’s included), and Griswold. Ames should defend it’s title in the Shuttle Hurdles, but will receive stiff competition from Urbandale, CR Washington, Burlington, SE Polk, Waukee, West Fork , and Waverly-Shell Rock. The Drake and Iowa All-Time girls relay records (below) seem secure, except Ames should lower the Shuttle Hurdle marks.
The boys short relays will boil down to exchanges, with DM Roosevelt, DM Hoover, and Iowa City West the favorites for the top three spots. Contenders include WDM Valley, Bettendorf, Central Clinton, Cedar Falls, Dowling Catholic, CR Washington, Sioux City West, and Pleasant Valley. In the middle relays, include Davenport Central, CR Prairie, Indianola, Davenport West, Linn-Mar, and Beckman-Dyersville. In the 4X800 and Sprint Medley, add SE Polk, Urbandale, Waukee, Burlington, Spirit Lake, Knoxville, Glenwood, and Mount Vernon. DM Roosevelt and SE Polk should battle for the prize in the Shuttle Hurdles, challenged by Waukee, Jefferson-Scranton, Waverly-Shell Rock, Dowling Catholic, Urbandale, Glenwood, Dike-New Hartford, CR Kennedy, WDM Valley, and Hudson. The 4 X 100 and 4 X 200 Drake and All-Time records are not out-of-reach. The others probably are.
DRAKE RELAYS RECORDS, RELAYS:
4 X 100, boys - 42.19, Des Moines East, 2003
4 X 200, boys – 1:27.45, Waterloo West, 1990
4 X 400, boys – 3:17.77, West Des Moines Valley, 2006
4 X 800, boys – 7:45.63, Marshalltown, 1985
1600 Sprint Medley, boys – 3:27.18, Iowa City High, 2004
Shuttle Hurdle Relay, boys – 56.09, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 2010
4 X 100, girls – 48.10, Iowa City West, 2010
4 X 200, girls – (first time conducted)
4 X 400, girls – 3:50.21, Waukee, 2009
4 X 800, girls – 9:11.01, Dowling Catholic, 2010
800 Sprint Medley, girls – 1:44.98, Des Moines Roosevelt, 1985
Shuttle Hurdle Relay, boys – 1:04.54, Urbandale, 2010
IOWA ALL-TIME RECORDS, RELAYS:
4 X 100, boys - 41.33, Des Moines East, 2007
4 X 200, boys – 1:27.02, Des Moines East, 2007
4 X 400, boys – 3:13.90, West Des Moines Valley, 2006
4 X 800, boys – 7:44.06 Ames, 1987
1600 Sprint Medley, boys – 3:22.69, Iowa City High, 2001
Shuttle Hurdle Relay, boys – 56.09, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 2010
4 X 100, girls – 47.89, Iowa City West, 2010
4 X 200, girls – 1:41.0, Woodbine, 1975
4 X 400, girls – 3:50.21, Waukee, 2009
4 X 800, girls – 9:09.09, Iowa City West, 2001
800 Sprint Medley, girls – 1:44.98, Des Moines Roosevelt, 1985
Shuttle Hurdle Relay, boys – 1:03.60, Ames, 2010