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Drake Relays Status Update - March 1

The third of periodic updates regarding the 2021 Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom

Status Update: As of March 1, 2021
Next Scheduled Update: March 15, 2021

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. The latest event information is posted below:
Divisions

Elite Invitational
Planning continues.

University
Planning continues. This will be a national caliber competition with NCAA Division I teams only. If your team is interested in competing, send an email to drakerelays@drake.edu.  
Note: The University/College combined events (i.e. decathlon and heptathlon) have been canceled for this year.

College
Planning continues. NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III, NAIA, and Iowa community college teams will be considered for competition in this division. If your team is interested in attending, send an email to meetmgmt@drake.edu. 
Note: The University/College combined events (i.e. decathlon and heptathlon) have been canceled for this year. 

High School 
All of the high school competitions will be held at Drake Stadium on Thursday, April 22, 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 4x100 meter relay which will have preliminaries.
- All high school field events will have preliminaries and finals.
- The 4x100 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.
- Decisions and guidelines regarding spectators and ticketing are still being made. Details will be announced as soon as possible.
- Entries for high schools will open on Monday, March 8. 

Middle School
Planning continues. Final determinations to be posted as soon as possible. 

Elementary School
Canceled: The elementary school shuttle relay races will not be held this year due to health and safety concerns. Schools that had inquired about participating have been notified. 


Affiliated Events
Drake Road Races
Registration Underway: Registration for the 53rd Drake Road Races is currently open as a virtual race only at this time. Our team remains hopeful and optimistic that we will be able to safely host an in-person event and will continue to plan with the City of Des Moines. All registered participants will be updated on the status of the 2021 event as more information becomes available.

Grand Blue Mile
Registration Underway: As the second largest one-mile community run and walk in the nation, we will not be able to ensure the proper social distancing of all participants through the one-mile race course in downtown Des Moines in 2021. To continue prioritizing the health and well-being of our participants, spectators, and community, this year's event is continuing in an all-virtual format. Registration for the 12th Annual Grand Blue Mile is underway for only $10 and includes a GBM 2021 race shirt.

Pole Vault at Capital Square
Canceled: This popular community event that has drawn thousands to downtown Des Moines will not be held in 2021 due to the health and safety concerns associated with mass gathering in a limited capacity indoor venue.

Beautiful Bulldog Contest
The 42nd annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest will be held Sunday, April 18, time TBD. Typically, the contest involves 40 English Bulldogs. For this year's contest, only 20 Bulldogs will walk the pageant runway to compete for the title of Most Beautiful Bulldog. So far, over 80 Bulldogs have registered from 12 states. Registration closes March 8. The 20 contestants will be chosen by votes from Drake University students. Watch for updates at www.drake.edu/beautifulbulldog or www.facebook.com/beautifulbulldog.


 
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