COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Collegiate athletes will make history on the Blue Oval this year as the first-ever men's and women's para-college wheelchair national champions are crowned at the Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom.  
 
The men's and women's para-college 100-meter wheelchair races are part of a partnership between the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the NCAA Office of Inclusion. Launched in Fall 2022, it is a collaborative effort to engage schools with adaptive sport while simultaneously increasing Paralympic sport understanding, awareness and connection across the collegiate landscape with the 2023 Drake Relays serving as the first title event in the program's history.
 
"We're just scratching the surface of integrating adaptive sports into already-longstanding collegiate athletics events, and we're excited to move the needle with track and field," said USOPC Senior Director of Collegiate Partnerships, Sarah Wilhelmi. "We couldn't be more proud to see this idea come to life at Drake later this month, and it wouldn't have happened without the great work of our Para-College Inclusion Project members, Drake and the NCAA." 
 
"The Drake Relays has always looked for opportunities to expand participation and inclusion in our sport for more than a century," said Blake Boldon, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays. "We have continually strived to add paralympic events to our competition and have developed a great relationship with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Having the opportunity to host the first para-college national championships is a testament to the commitment we have made to paralympians and the level of paralympic competition the Drake Relays annually creates."
 
"The NCAA is honored to partner with the USOPC and Drake University for the inaugural 100 meter men's and women's collegiate championships as part of the Para-College Inclusion Project," said Jean Merrill, NCAA Director of Inclusion. "These incredible student-athletes are at the top of their sports and are remarkable ambassadors to their universities.  We are thrilled to crown collegiate champions and to continue building awareness and opportunity at the collegiate level for adaptive sports."
 
Both the men's and women's para-college fields feature athletes from the University of Arizona, the University of Illinois and the University of Michigan. Those three institutions are at the forefront of the USOPC/NCAA para-college efforts with robust coaching and support for their athletes. 
 
One of those athletes in the men's field, Evan Correll, is a familiar face on the Blue Oval. The University of Illinois sophomore is a native of Waukee, Iowa, and was a nine-time state champion who has a personal best of 14.70 in the 100-meter event. Last year he returned to Drake Stadium to compete in the 400 meter event. 
 
His fellow Illini teammates joining him in his homecoming include Phillip Croft, Jason Robinson, Ethan Burkhart and Isaiah Rigo. Rigo was a 2021 Paralympian who competed in the 100m, 400 and 1,500m in Tokyo. He is also a three-time World Championships qualifier. 
 
Arizona's contingent is also led by an Iowan as recent Northwood-Kensett grad Wyatt Willand returns to central Iowa. Willand was a five-time state champion and seven-time runner-up. He's accompanied by teammates Valera Allen, Aiden Gravelle, Peyton Gunnarson and Devin Stallburg.
 
In addition to the competitors from Arizona and Illinois, the women's race includes the University of Michigan's Maria Velat. Challenging her from Arizona is Chelsea Stein, Camryn Ledford, Jacie King, Abby Dunn and Myranda Mishler. Competitors from Illinois include Hannah Dedrick, Jenna Fesemeyer and Eva Houston.
 
The women's 100m field is comprised of seven competitors from three schools; they'll compete on April 29 at 2:54pm CT in the championship race. The seven racers are:

• Hannah Dederick (University of Illinois), 2020 U.S. Paralympian
• Jenna Fesemyer (University of Illinois), 2020 U.S. Paralympian

• Eva Houston (University of Illinois), 2020 U.S. Paralympian
• Jacie King (University of Arizona)
• Camryn Ledford (University of Arizona)
• Chelsea Stein (University of Arizona)
• Maria Velat (University of Michigan)

 
The men's 100m championship race will be held April 29 at 2:59pm CT. The field is comprised of eight competitors from two schools:

• Valera Allen (University of Arizona)
• Evan Correll (University of Illinois)
• Phillip Croft (University of Illinois)

• Aidan Gravelle (University of Arizona)
• Peyton Gunnarson (University of Arizona)
• Jason Robinson (University of Illinois)
• Dustin Stallberg (University of Arizona)
• Wyatt Willand (University of Arizona)

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About the USOPC
Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee serves as both the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States. The USOPC is focused on protecting, supporting and empowering America's athletes, and is responsible for fielding U.S. teams for the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games, and serving as the steward of the Olympic and Paralympic movements in the U.S. For more information, visit TeamUSA.org.
 
About the NCAA
The NCAA is a diverse association of more than 1,100 member colleges and universities that prioritize academics, well-being and fairness to create greater opportunities for nearly half a million student-athletes each year. The NCAA provides a pathway to higher education and beyond for student-athletes pursuing academic goals and competing in NCAA sports. More than 54,000 student-athletes experience the pinnacle of intercollegiate athletics by competing in NCAA championships each year. Visit ncaa.org and ncaa.com for more details about the Association and the corporate partnerships that support the NCAA and its student-athletes.
 
About Drake Relays
The Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom has served as "America's Athletic Classic" since its first running in 1910. The annual competition, hosted by Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, is recognized internationally as a destination for the world's premier track & field athletes across multiple professional and amateur divisions. In 2020, the Drake Relays was named a Silver Level event on the World Athletics Continental Tour, one of only two meets in the United States to earn Silver Level status. In addition to its signature stadium competition, the Drake Relays includes two marquee road running events open to the general public — the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Drake Road Races. For more information, visit drakerelays.org.