PARIS, FRANCE – The 2024 Olympic Games are underway in Paris and with over 100 former Drake Relays competitors set to represent over 30 different nations. 43 of this year's Olympic track and field performers have been crowned a Drake Relays Champion, including 18 on Team USA and 25 international athletes.
Highlighted below are 10 total Drake Relays alumni competing for Team USA men's and women's teams to keep an eye on in Paris, as well as the full list of Blue Oval athletes at the Olympics.
10 DRAKE RELAYS ALUMNI TO WATCH
Men
Kenny Bednarek, 100m dash/200m dash
The 2019 Drake Relays champion in both 100- and 200-meter dashes, Bednarek finished second in both races at U.S. Olympic Trials with times of 9.87 and 19.59, respectively. The former Indian Hills Community College standout will be part of the ever-eventful sprint races in Paris.
Ryan Crouser, shot put
A mainstay at the Drake Relays, Ryan Crouser has amassed five Relays championships and is the two-time defending Olympic gold medalist. The current world record holder, Crouser qualified for the Olympics with a U.S. Olympic Trials title after a heave of 74'-11 1/4". Crouser captured the 2023 Relays crown but missed the most recent running due to injury, which opened the door for Payton Otterdahl to earn two Relays title flags and eventually reach his second Olympics.
Sam Kendricks, pole vault
Four-time Drake Relays champion and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Sam Kendricks won the Olympic Trials pole vault competition with a meet record vault of 19'-5". His victory in Eugene, Ore. catapulted him into his second Olympic games. Kendricks is not the only American pole vaulter with eyes on the prize as Chris Nilsen, the 2019 Relays champ and silver medalist at 2021 Olympics, will also be vying for another spot on the podium.
Daniel Roberts, 110 hurdles
2021 Drake Relays champion Daniel Roberts made his second straight Olympic team after finishing third at Trials with time of 12.96, a personal best. Roberts is joined by fellow American Freddie Crittenden, the 2017 and 2018 Relays title winner who qualified for first his Olympics after silvering at the U.S. Olympic Trials with personal best of 12.93.
Rudy Winkler, hammer throw
Back at the throwing fields, 2023 Drake Relays hammer throw title winner Rudy Winkler made his third career Olympic team after a season best throw of 258'-10".
Women
Brittany Brown, 200m dash
Brittany Brown exemplifies a Drake Relays athlete and will be representing the United States in the 200m dash. The 2017 Drake Relays champion competed collegiately at the University of Iowa and was the runner-up at the 2024 Olympic Trials with a 21.90 sprint. Brown's stellar time secured her first-ever Olympic berth.
Anna Cockrell, 400 hurdles
One of the 2024 Drake Relays poster athletes, Anna Cockrell earned runner-up status at the Olympic Trials with a time of 52.64 to make her second career Olympics. The 2023 Drake Relays gold medalist was second to only Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, one of the premier hurdlers of all time, and is seeking a spot on the podium.
Nikki Hiltz, 1500m
2024 was a historic year for former Drake Relays champion Nikki Hiltz as they are set to make their first-ever Olympic appearance. The inaugural world record holder in the USATF Road Mile also captured the Drake Relays crown in 2023 and set a U.S. Olympic Trials meet record with a personal best 1500-meter time of 3:55.33.
Karissa Schweizer, 5000m/10000m
A Drake Relays favorite, Karissa Schweizer will compete in a pair of races in Paris. The Urbandale native and former Dowling Catholic standout never won on the Blue Oval as a prep but eventually took the 2018 Drake Relays 5000m crown while running at the University of Missouri. At the 2024 Olympic Trials, she placed third in both the 5000 (14:45.12) and 10000 (31:41.56) to qualify for the 2024 Games.
Katie Moon, pole vault
Like the men, the American women will send a bevy of pole vault challengers to Paris with Katie Moon leading the way. Moon was second at the Olympic Trials with a vault of 15'-6 1/4" and will defend her Olympic gold medal in her second appearance. Moon is joined by 2024 Drake Relays Pole Vault at Jordan Creek champion Bridget Williams, an Olympic rookie and the 2024 Olympic Trials champion. Brynn King came in fifth at the Vault at Jordan Creek in April but bounced back to take bronze at Trials with a personal best jump to qualify for her first Olympics.
A comprehensive list of all Drake Relays alum competing in the 2024 Olympics is below.
Athlete Country Event Last Year at Drake Relays
Alex Rose American Samoa Discus 2018
Morgan McDonald Australia 5000M 2021
Denisha Cartwright Bahamas 100H 2024
Devynne Charlton Bahamas 100H 2023
Rhema Otabor Bahamas Javelin 2024
Donald Thomas Bahamas High Jump 2016
Kemi Adekoya Bahrain 400H 2017
Tristan Evelyn Barbados 100M 2021
Jah-Nai Perinchief Bermuda Triple Jump 2016
Lee Eppie Botswana 4x400 2021
Allison Dos Santos Brazil 400H 2021
Duan Asemota Canada 100M, 4x100 2018
Kate Current Canada 1500M 2024
Andre DeGrasse Canada 100M, 200M, 4x100 2018
Ben Flanagan Canada 5000M 2021
Kieran Lamb Canada 1500M 2021
Anicka Newell Canada Pole Vault 2018
Alysha Newman Canada Pole Vault 2017
Simone Plourde Canada 1500M 2023
Ben Preisner Canada Marathon 2017
Savannah Sutherland Canada 400H 2022
Craig Thorne Canada 110H 2024
Lizzie Bird Great Britain Steeplechase 2021
Lina Nielsen Great Britain 400H 2021
Charles Philibert-ThiboutotGreat Britain 1500M 2021
Nick Percy Great Britain Discus 2016
Aimee Pratt Great Britain Steeplechase 2021
Cindy Sember Great Britain 100H 2024
Nicole Yeargin Great Britain 4x400 2018
Stamatia Scarvellis Greece Hammer Throw 2024
Katerina Stefanidi Greece Pole Vault 2016
Kirani James Grenada 400M 2017
Greta Kerekes Hungary 100H 2012
Erna Gunnarsdottir Iceland Shot Put 2023
Rajindra Campbell Jamaica Shot Put 2024
Jaheel Hyde Jamaica 400H 2024
Andrenette Knight Jamaica 400H 2023
Shanika Ricketts Jamaica Triple Jump 2014
Janieve Russell Jamaica 400H 2022
Hansle Parchment Jamaica 110H 2023
Chanice Porter Jamaica Long Jump 2022
Shiann Salmon Jamaica 400H 2024
Travis Smikle Jamaica Discus 2018
Danniel Thomas-Dodd Jamaica Shot Put 2023
Adelle Tracy Jamaica 1500M 2022
Danielle Williams Jamaica 100H 2024
Susan Ejore Kenya 1500M 2023
Edwin Kurgat Kenya 5000M 2023
Emmanuel Matadi Liberia 100M, 4x100 2015
Vera Hoffman Luxembourg 1500M 2024
Gabija Galvydyte Lithuania 800M 2022
Ieva Gumbs Lithuania Discus 2017
Alma Cortes Mexico 5000M 2024
Diego Del Real Mexico Hammer Throw 2024
Laura Galvan Mexico 5000M 2022
Uziel Munoz Mexico Shot Put 2024
Cecilia Tamayo-Garza Mexico 100M, 200M 2021
Denzel Comenentia Netherlands Hammer Throw 2024
Churandy Martina Netherlands 4x100 2006
Tobi Amusan Nigeria 100H 2023
Ese Brume Nigeria Long Jump 2022
Chuk Enekwochi Nigeria Shot Put 2024
Sade Olatoye Nigeria Hammer Throw 2016
Beatrice Llano Norway Hammer Throw 2023
Lauren Hoffman Philippines 400H 2024
Klaudia Kazimeierska Poland 1500M 2024
Alicia Konieczek Poland Steeplechase 2023
Anita Konieczek Poland Steeplechase 2024
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn Puerto Rico 100H 2021
Grace Claxton Puerto Rico 400H 2018
Gianna Woodruff Puerto Rico 400H 2024
Mine DeKlerk South Africa Shot Put 2024
Shaun Maswanganyi South Africa 100M, 200M, 4x100 2021
Lorena Martin Spain 800M 2018
Tom Walsh New Zealand Shot Put 2018
Akilah Lewis Trinidad & Tobago 4x100 2023
Remy Quow Trinidad & Tobago 4x400 2017
Portius Warren Trinidad & Tobado Shot Put 2024
CJ Allen United States 400H 2023
Kenny Bednarek United States 100M 2019
Taliyah Brooks United States Heptathlon 2019
Freddie Crittenden United States 110H 2018
Vashti Cunningham United States High Jump 2022
Annette Echinkunwoke United States Hammer Throw 2023
Charity Hufnagel United States High Jump 2024
Alysha Johnson United States 100H 2023
Sam Kendricks United States Pole Vault 2021
Brynn King United States Pole Vault 2024
Maggie Malone-Hardin United States Javelin 2023
Katie Moon United States Pole Vault 2018
Chris Nilsen United States Pole Vault 2019
Abdihamid Nur United States 5000M 2021
Keturah Orji United States Triple Jump 2022
Erin Reese United States Hammer Throw 2024
Daniel Roberts United States 110H 2019
Masai Russell United States 100H 2022
Donald Scott United States Triple Jump 2017
Curtis Thompson United States Javelin 2024
Capers Williamson United States Javelin 2024
Tyus Wilson United States High Jump 2024
Allie Wilson United States 800M 2024
Madison Wiltrout United States Javelin 2024
Kara Winger United States Javelin 2015
Zach Ziemek United States Decathlon 2015
