DES MOINES, Iowa -- Will Williams, one of the top long jumpers in the world, made sure the return of Relays Night to the Knapp Center was worth the wait.
In front of a raucous Knapp Center crowd of more than 4,000 that joined in celebrating the Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom, Williams defeated two other jumpers in the Relays Night dunk contest at halftime of the Drake men's basketball team's thrilling 70-68 buzzer-beating win over Indiana State.
The dunk contest was the marquee event of Relays Night, celebrating the unofficial start of Drake Relays season and the opening of all-session ticket sales in Des Moines and across the nation. Williams, a 2018 NCAA Champion in the long jump at Texas A&M, had three dunks that scored 114 points out of a possible 120 points, according to the Relays Night celebrity judges.
The contest between Williams, Isaiah Griffith and Treyton Harris was up for grabs heading into the third and final round. But Williams left little doubt in earning the first Relays Champion's flag of the year by starting from the three-point arc and bouncing a lob to himself for the reverse slam.
The judging panel featured Ryan Grant, President of the Iowa Wolves, former Drake Relays director Brian Brown, Suzie Glazer Burt Drake University head women's basketball coach Allison Pohlman, and KxNO radio star Ross Peterson reiterated what the crowd had already decided with perfect 10s across the board.
"The Relays Night dunk contest has always been a one-of-a-kind event that highlights the world-class athleticism of Drake Relays athletes on the basketball court," said Blake Boldon, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays. "Tonight was another thrilling chapter in the event's history, and congrats to Will Williams on his incredible win. Thanks to all three athletes for stepping off the track to showcase the sport of track and field to our fans and giving a sneak peek at the incredible performances fans can expect at Drake Stadium in April. Based on the crowd reaction tonight, I'm excited to announce that Will, Isaiah and Treyton will all return to compete in the elite men's long jump this spring."
After the thrilling Bulldog victory over Indiana State, the Dunk Contest Champion Will Williams said, "After meeting so many fans and feeling the genuine excitement and support for the Drake Relays, I'm thrilled to announce that I'm returning to Des Moines in April as part of my buildup for the 2023 World Championships."
The dunk contest was just one part of the evening's celebration of the Drake Relays. Throughout the game, the Drake Relays honored its committee members, officials, and the fans who helped it earn its moniker as 'America's Athletic Classic.'
Fans were also treated to a video message from the most successful coach in University of Arkansas and Southeastern Conference women's cross country and track and field history, Lance Harter, announcing that he is bringing his Razorbacks' women's team to the Blue Oval in 2023. In his 33rd and final year at the helm of the Razorbacks program, Harter has led the Arkansas women to 43 SEC team titles and six NCAA team championships. Harter's announcement is the first of many elite university teams expected to join the Drake Relays 2023 field.
The celebration also coincided with the start of all-session tickets to the Drake Relays being available to the general public. To reserve your opportunity to witness athletes like those at the dunk contest perform in their primary sport, visit DrakeTix.com/drakerelays.
