Des Moines, Iowa — Planning for the 2021 Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom is in progress.
Senior staff are working closely with public health experts, government officials, and sports governing bodies to create a world-class event while following COVID-19 guidelines and prioritizing health and safety.
All of the high school competitions will be held at Drake Stadium on Thursday, April 22, and tentatively from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Strict COVID-19 protocols will be enforced.
At this time, the following details have been confirmed:
– All high school running events will be run as finals, except for the 4×100 meter relay which will have preliminaries.
– All high school field events will have preliminaries and finals.
– The 4×100 meter relay qualifiers will likely be reduced from 96 to 48 teams for high school boys, and from 96 teams to 48 teams for high school girls.
– The number of qualifiers for all other high school events will remain the same as in 2019, the most recent year of high school competition at the Drake Relays.
Additionally, given Iowa’s position as a leader in the adaptive sports movement and with increased participation in wheelchair events at the high school level statewide, the Drake Relays will add a coed high school 400-meter wheelchair event.
Decisions and guidelines regarding spectators and ticketing are still being made. Details will be announced as soon as possible.
