The Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee is set to induct three track and field standouts into the prestigious Drake Relays Athletes Hall of Fame during the 108^th running of the Drake Relays this week.
 
Rounding out this year's Hall of Fame class is pioneering women's distance runner Barbara Lawson who joins Ford Mastin and Bob Verbeeck as this years inductees.
 
Lawson won the invitational mile at the 1971 and 1973 Drake Relays. Lawson's historic 1971 win was the first individual women's event staged at the Relays since Wilma Rudolph ran 10 years earlier in 1961 and was featured in Sports Illustrated. 
 
Lawson still holds the second-fastest time in Colorado State history in both the 1,500 meters and the mile and was the Rams' first collegiate national champion. Lawson's accolades include wins at the 1969, 1970 and 1971 Kansas Relays as well as winning the 1,500 meters at the 1971 Phoenix Invitational and the 1972 Southwestern Women's Indoor Track Championships.

She also won the 880 meters at the 1970 Mt. SAC Relays and the mile at the 1972 Bennion Games. Lawson finished fifth in the mile at the 1970 AAU indoor championships, fourth in the mile at the 1973 AAU outdoor championships and fourth in the 1,500 meters at the 1972 AAU outdoor nationals. While at Colorado State, Lawson finished 10^th in the 1,500 meters at the 1972 U.S. Olympic Trials and was also a member of three U.S. national teams in international competition. 

Lawson and her fellow inductees will be formally enshrined in the Drake Relays Hall of Fame during a luncheon April 27.