DES MOINES, Iowa – On the first day of the 2023 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Convention, the Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom announced a renewed commitment to the significant improvements made earlier this year to the competition format of America's Athletic Classic. The meet will remain consistent with the traditional structure with competitors from university, college, high school, and elite ranks all participating in an integrated schedule over four days in Drake Stadium. In 2023, an increased emphasis was placed on maximizing performance opportunities for collegiate athletes and that effort will be redoubled in 2024.
Of note, plans were implemented to wind reverse the finals of the 100 Meter Dash, 100 Meter Hurdles and the 110 Meter Hurdles in the University/College Division, if conditions require. In the distance events, the 2024 event will feature evening races with dedicated pace setters targeting national qualifying marks, at the requests of visiting members of the USTFCCCA.
In 2023, the field events were successfully reshaped by the creation of an invitational Champions Division in which nine athletes in each event were featured during key times of the meet program. An additional 24 athletes were included in an open competition culminating in a nine-athlete final. Additionally, schedule adjustments were made allowing the men's and women's discus competitions to be reversed for wind, if necessary.
"In 2023, our staff and officials demonstrated our full commitment to the athlete experience and creating opportunities for the nation's best collegiate athletes to thrive," said Blake Boldon, Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays. "These improvements to our collegiate competition were student-athlete centered and coach driven. We continue to gather feedback and look for additional opportunities to serve athletes and coaches."
In sprint events, the enhancements for 2023 expanded on previous competition developments including the addition of the 400 Meter individual race, the creation of the invitational 4x400m relay to reduce competitive efforts for America's top sprinters, and the addition of Fully Automated Timing splits for all relays, including the 4x100m Relay and 4x400m Relay. In distance races, the 2018 decision to move the 4×1600 Meter Relay to Friday has afforded athletes the opportunity to pursue national qualifying marks on Thursday before competing for a relay title. Also in 2018, the 3000 Meter Steeplechase was moved to Thursday night, making the Distance Carnival a national and international destination, with additional sections for both the women and men added in 2023.
Additionally in 2023, the Drake Relays University/College Division received Category E distinction from World Athletics. This was the third consecutive year that the competition received this important designation, granted to only 14 competitions in the United States each year. This distinction means that the top six individuals in each individual event at the Drake Relays presented by Xtream has earned a placing score, added to the result score to increase the performance score for the purposes of improving the athlete's world ranking. The winner of each event has received 25 additional points, meaningful for world rankings and qualification to international competitions later in the season.
And starting today for the second consecutive year, the Drake Relays will be the presenting sponsor of 28 technical symposiums offered at the 2023 USTFCCCA Convention. Technical symposiums allow coaches to learn from their colleagues – and expand their skillsets – in four distinct discipline areas: endurance, jumps, sprints/hurdles/relays, and throws.
"The Drake Relays has innovated in the sport of track and field for more than eleven decades," said USTFCCCA CEO Sam Seemes. "We are proud to have the Drake Relays sponsor these educational sessions as they continue to evolve with the sport."
The 114th edition of the Drake Relays will return to the Blue Oval April 24-27, 2024, beginning on Wednesday, April 24 with the men's decathlon and women's heptathlon. The combined events conclude on Thursday, April 25, followed by the Distance Carnival, which set a new attendance record of 8,756 in 2019. Friday, April 28, will once again be divided into two segments with day and evening sessions, both featuring many of the nation's top collegians alongside Iowa's finest high school athletes. In 2023, the Saturday session closed out the 113th Drake Relays with its 56th consecutive sellout with 14,504 in attendance.
"As attention turns to the 2024 track and field season, we made this announcement at the USTFCCCA Convention because we want real-time feedback from leaders in the sport," said Boldon. "Coaches are true leaders in our sport and their input has been foundational and directive in all of these changes."
Drake Relays ticket renewal information will be sent to ticket holders later this month and all session tickets will be available to the general public on Wednesday, February 7, 2024. Prices for All Session tickets and all ticket packages will remain unchanged again in 2024.
More information will be available on DrakeTix.com.
