Status Update: As of April 12, 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:
Elite Invitational
Planning continues.
The Drake Relays also recently achieved Silver Level status from World Athletics and announced the elite events that will be staged.
The event will play a special role in Olympic qualifying.
The men's Silver Level schedule will include the following events:
110-meter hurdles
400-meter hurdles
1,500 meters
5,000 meters
Pole vault
Shot put
The women's Silver Level competitions are slated to feature the following:
100-meter hurdles
400-meter hurdles
1,500 meters
3,000-meter steeplechase
Pole vault
Long jump
University
Planning continues. This will be a national caliber competition with NCAA Division I teams only.
The University Distance Carnival will be held on Thursday evening, two hours after the conclusion of the day session.
College and University division entries have closed.
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.
College and University division entries have closed.
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, and tentatively from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Strict COVID-19 protocols will be enforced.
For the complete high school schedule,
click here.
Entries are now open
Middle School
Planning continues. The 4x100 meter relay for middle schools has been confirmed and will be held this year at the end of the high school session on Thursday, April 22. Middle school teams which registered and paid in 2020 and did not request refunds will be entered automatically. Additional teams will not be accepted. Information will be emailed to eligible teams this week. The middle school distance medley will not be contested this year.
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 Closed: Registration is closed for the 53rd Drake Road Races, to be held in-person Sunday, April 18. Races will start outside Drake Stadium and finish on the iconic Blue Oval with appropriate COVID-19 protocols in place. Participants also have the option to participate virtually anywhere in the country from April 17-25. For more details:
https://www.drakeroadraces.org
Grand Blue Mile
Registration Remains Open: 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. For more details:
https://www.grandbluemile.com/
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.
The 42nd annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest
The 42nd annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest will be held Sunday, April 18, at 3pm. 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. (Note: Registration is closed.) The 20 contestants were chosen by votes from Drake University For more details:
www.drake.edu/beautifulbulldog or
www.facebook.com/beautifulbulldog.
To watch the live stream of the event:
www.facebook.com/drakeuniversity.
