2008 Drake Relays :: 2008 Drake Relays

April 26, 2008

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DES MOINES, IOWA - When officials call the Drake Relays track and field extravaganza America's Athletic Classic, they literally mean it.

College and universities from all four corners of the United States will compete in the 99th running of the Drake Relays. There will be colleges and universities representing a whopping 34 states including California (UC Riverside, Long Beach State), Florida (Florida, South Florida, Tampa), Oregon (Portland State), Vermont (Vermont) and Utah (Utah, Utah State).

A school from every southern state from the east coast to the west coast, with the exception of New Mexico, will attend the Drake Relay.

The University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada also are competing.

Officials expect 7,908 athletes, representing 686 teams, will participate Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at Drake Stadium.

Sixty-seven universities are sending 924 competitors in the men's division, while 745 athletes from 68 schools will compete in the men's college division. Nebraska will be sending the largest number of competitors, with 44 making the trip from Lincoln, Neb.

In the women's university division, 1,008 athletes from 73 universities will be competing, while the women's college division has 567 athletes from 64 schools. The Minnesota women will be bringing the largest delegation of athletes with 41.

In the high school boys division, 1,186 athletes have entered the Drake Relays from 182 schools. In the high school girls division, 176 teams are sending 1,077 athletes. There also will be 554 grade school and middle school runners representing 56 schools from the greater Des Moines area.

In addition, there will be 147 unattached athletes competing. Approximately 1,700 runners will compete in the 8k road race and half-marathon on Saturday morning.