DES MOINES, Iowa – With Monday marking the official start date of 2024 Iowa high school track and field season, Drake Relays has announced the Blue Standards for the 114th Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom. The Blue Standards are the qualifying marks that guarantee acceptance for Iowa high schoolers in the Drake Relays when entered in the meet. In addition to athletes that accomplish these marks, coaches are encouraged to enter other student-athletes outside of those marks for consideration on the accepted entry list.
"On the first day of high school track and field practice across the state of Iowa, we know there are thousands of athletes targeting the Blue Oval this season," said
Blake Boldon, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays. "That journey starts today and we anticipate a historic track and field season for Iowa's greatest high school athletes."
The Blue Standards do not change the entry process for student-athletes and coaches.
Coaches are still required to enter the athlete(s) in the event on Bound before the meet entry deadline Friday, April 19 at 6:00 a.m. Meeting the Blue Standard in an event guarantees acceptance only when the coach enters the athlete/relay in the event. Should four or more athletes from one team meet the standard in the same event, it is up to the coach to determine which three athletes will be entered. It is not a requirement that individuals or relays must meet this standard to qualify for the Drake Relays.
Entries for high schools will open on Monday, March 4 and will close Friday, April 19 at 6:00 a.m., providing coaches the early morning hours to update results from Thursday, April 18. The final high school start lists will be published on DrakeRelays.org before noon on Saturday, April 20.
The Blue Standards were created in 2018 to create tangible goals for Iowa's top athletes, and to assist coaches and families in planning their season. The Drake Relays High School Selection Committee establishes these standards each year with the aim of approximately 25 percent of qualified competitors having attained the mark in their respective event.
In 2023, 237 different Iowa high schools were represented at the Drake Relays presented by Xtream, representing 97 of the 99 Iowa counties. Of the Iowa high school athletes who competed in last year's edition of America's Athletic Classic, 207 girls and 246 boys attained a Blue Standard. That was up from the previous record number set in 2022 when 210 girls and 164 boys surpassed the established Blue Standards.
In this year's edition, Iowa high school boys and girls will each compete in 17 events. When compared to the standards from last year's Drake Relays, the 2024 Blue Standards became more challenging in 14 of the 17 boys events and in 12 of the 17 girls events.
"As with athletes at every level around the world, Iowa high school athletes continue to elevate performances and as a result Iowa remains one of the top states in the country for prep track and field," Boldon said. "The incredible performances in 2023 and continued progress of the sport in Iowa are a credit to the Blue Oval Attitude that these athletes have helped define, and to the coaches who guide them along the way."
Those who achieve the Blue Standard are encouraged to post on social media mentioning @DrakeRelays using the hashtag #BlueOvalAttitude.
Drake Relays
2024 High School Blue Standards |
| Boys |
|
Girls |
| 100m |
10.85 |
|
100m |
12.45 |
| 400m |
49.50 |
|
400m |
57.80 |
| 800m |
1:56.00 |
|
800m |
2:16.50 |
| 1600m |
4:20.00 |
|
1500m |
4:45.00 |
| 3200m |
9:23.00 |
|
3000m |
10:20.00 |
| 110mH |
14.80 |
|
100mH |
15.30 |
| 400mH |
54.50 |
|
400mH |
1:05.50 |
| 4x100m |
43.50 |
|
4x100m |
51.00 |
| 4x200m |
1:29.50 |
|
4x200m |
1:45.50 |
| 4x400m |
3:25.00 |
|
4x400m |
4:04.00 |
| 4x800m |
8:05.00 |
|
4x800m |
9:36.00 |
| ShuttleH |
1:01.00 |
|
ShuttleH |
1:07.00 |
| 1600 Med |
3:35.00 |
|
800 Med |
1:49.50 |
| High Jump |
6-7 |
|
High Jump |
5-6 |
| Long Jump |
22-6 |
|
Long Jump |
17-10 |
| Discus |
170-0 |
|
Discus |
132-0 |
| Shot Put |
55-6 |
|
Shot Put |
41-0 |
| EVENT |
FIELD SIZE |
| 100m |
32 |
| 100mH / 110mH |
32 |
| 400m |
16 |
| 400mH |
16 |
| 800m |
16 |
| 1500m / 1600m |
21 |
| 3000m / 3200m |
21 |
| 4x100m |
96 |
| 4x200m |
24 |
| 4x400 |
24 |
| Medley Relays |
24 |
| 4x800 |
16 |
| Shuttle Hurdle |
16 |
| All Field Events |
24 |
