Thursday, April 7, 2011
DES MOINES, Iowa-Three-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner and two-time U.S. Olympic
pole-vaulter Derek Miles will return
to Drake Stadium for the 102nd Drake Relays, April 28-30, 2011. Both
past Drake Relays champions will join another world-class roster of athletes
slated to compete this year in America's Athletic Classic.
"Never have I been more excited
about a Drake Relays event than this year," said Brian Brown, director of the
Drake Relays. "We have an outstanding field of individuals in all of the events
we're going to offer."
Wariner, the reigning No. 1-ranked 400-meter runner
in the world, will make his fifth Drake Relays appearance, and first since
winning the special invitational 400 meters in 2009 with a time of 45.06.
Wariner initially competed in the Drake Relays as a collegian at Baylor,
finishing second in the 400 in 2005, then winning the 200 in '06 and placing
second in the event in '07. Miles, who seeks to win his third Relays pole vault
title in four years, and his fourth overall, will also compete in the popular
"Pole Vault in the Mall" competition on Wednesday, April 27, prior to the
Relays.
"Jeremy finished the season last
year ranked No. 1 in the world," Brown said. "I'm always excited when he comes
to Drake University to compete in any event, but particularly when he's going
to run his specialty, the 400 meters."
Owner of four Olympic medals, Wariner won gold in the 400
meters at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, and captured gold medals with the U.S.
4x400 meter relay teams in Athens and at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He was the
silver medalist in the open 400 meters in Beijing.
Wariner has maintained the world's No. 1 ranking in the
400 meters five of the past seven years (2004-07, '10) and was No. 2 in 2008
and '09. His dominant 2010 season included clocking three of the four fastest
400 meters times in the world. Wariner's personal best of 43.45, set in 2007,
is the third-fastest ever recorded.
"I'm excited to come back this year to Drake," Wariner
said. "Last year I was not able to come because I was injured, but the crowd
has always been great there and supported me with everything I've done. I'm
just looking forward to coming back this year."
Miles has become a fixture of the Drake Relays pole vault
competition since claiming his first title in 2002, and added victories in '08
(18-4.75) and '09 (18-7.25) before finishing second a year ago (18-1.25). A
top-five pole-vaulter in the world each of the past three years and six of the
last eight, Miles has been America's top-ranked vaulter since 2008.
"I'm excited we're going to have
Derek here," Brown said. "We're going to provide a very unique experience,
pairing male and female pole vaulters and use their combined heights so we can
have an overall winner." This is going to be the best Pole Vault in the Mall
we've had. The first two were great, but this is going to be even better."
A two-time U.S. Olympian, Miles made his Olympic debut at the 2004
Athens Games with a seventh-place finish (18-10.37), then narrowly missed
earning a medal with a fourth-place showing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
(18-8.40).
Miles, who has twice cleared 19-2.5 won his first U.S. outdoor
championship at the 2008 Olympic Trials. He tied for second at the 2009 U.S.
Outdoor Championships and claimed fourth at the 2010 World Indoor Championships.
Miles
won his first U.S. title at the 2003 Indoor Championships and was the top
finisher at the World Outdoor Championships later that summer en route to his
first Olympic team in 2004.
"It's been one of my favorite events," Miles said of the Drake Relays. "I
have been coming here ever since I was in college at South Dakota. About my
junior year I actually got a chance to go in the college division and I have
been coming to the relays for almost 15 years. It's close to where I live in
South Dakota but not only that, it's awesome seeing so many people coming out
to see the track event. The Drake Relays has been always a great event."
The 102nd Drake Relays features a week-long festival of
events, including the second annual running of the Wellmark Grand Blue Mile on
Grand Avenue in downtown Des Moines on Tuesday, April 26. The race is open to
all participants. Registration can be completed online by visiting www.GrandBlueMile.com.
The "Pole Vault in the Mall" presented by Hy-Vee at Jordan Creek
Town Center returns this year for the third time, and first since 2009. It is
scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27. This year's event will
feature a new twist that will bring women's competitors into the event for the
first time as part of a team competition. One men's and one women's entrant
will be paired up to form five teams competing for the title based on best
combined finishing place.
"I like jumping indoors," Miles said. "You have lots of people close to
you and the energy level is high, especially in the mall as it's so tight and a
lot of people are around you. At the same time, when you get outdoors, if you
get a nice Iowa tail-wind you can get up pretty high."
Tickets for the 2011 Drake Relays are on sale now, and may be
purchased online through the official Drake Athletics website
(www.GoDrakeBulldogs.com) or by calling (515) 271-DOGS (3647).
Capsules on Special Invitational Participants Announced Today:
Jeremy Wariner-400 meters
Age: 27 |
Hometown: Irving, Texas
- Three-time Olympic gold medalist (400 meters,
2008; 4x400 relay, 2004 & '08).
- Reigning No. 1 400-meter runner in the world
(44.13), posting three of top four times in world in 2010.
- Drake Relays 400-meter champion (45.06) in 2009.
- Maintained world No. 1 ranking 2004-07; was No.
2 in '08 and '09.
- Made Olympic debut in 2004 in Athens, winning
gold in the 400 and with U.S. 4x400 relay team.
- Earned silver medal in 2008 Beijing Olympics
400 meter run and another gold medal in 4x400 relay.
- Personal-best time of 43.45 (Aug. 31, 2007; Osaka,
Japan) is third-fastest 400-meter time in history.
- Won 400 meters at 2005 and '07 World
Championships; finished second in 2009.
- Part of gold-medal-winning U.S. 4x400 relay
team at 2005 and '07 World Championships
- Returns for fifth Drake Relays, dating back to
his collegiate years at Baylor.
- 2004 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor 400-meter champion.
Derek Miles-Pole Vault
Age: 39 |
Hometown: Tea, S.D.
- Maintained top-five world ranking each of past
three years, and six of last eight.
- Two-Time
U.S. Olympian-finished 4th in pole vault at 2008 Beijing Games and 7th 2004 at Athens.
- Finished 4th at 2010 World Indoor Championships.
- Drake
Relays Special Invitational pole vault champion in 2002, '08 and '09.
- Personal-best
mark of 19-2.5 came in 2008 in Berlin, Germany.
- Won
first U.S. outdoor championship at 2008 Olympic Trials, and finished second at
'09 U.S. Outdoor Championships.
