Des Moines Drake Relays Shatter Iowa High School Records

DES MOINES, Iowa — Waukee Northwest's girls' relay teams dominated the 116th Drake Relays, establishing five Iowa all-time bests in the 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m, 4x800m and shuttle hurdle relay. Eleven different runners from the Wolves powered the unprecedented sweep inside Drake Stadium, contributing to dozens of records shattered across prep, college and international fields. Organizers named Waukee Northwest among the event's Most Outstanding Performers, alongside three standout individuals.

In the boys' division, Prairie of Cedar Rapids clinched the 4x400m relay in 3:13.53, smashing the Iowa all-time best and ranking US No. 16 nationally. Anchored by Drew Bennis' 46.71 split, the team of K. Erickson, J. Stumpff, J. Krambeer and Bennis edged Cedar Falls (3:13.82, US No. 20) in a thrilling finish. Bettendorf placed third at 3:15.76, with Clear Creek-Amana, Johnston, Pleasant Valley and Decorah rounding out the top seven.

Dowling Catholic's girls' 4x400m also fell to the record onslaught, as noted in initial reports, amid Waukee Northwest's relay revolution.[context] The event drew hundreds of Iowa's elite prep athletes to the historic Blue Oval, where three world-leading marks were set and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes swept college team titles with six relay wins.