DES MOINES, Iowa – Polk County was unanimously approved as a $125,000 platinum sponsor of the upcoming 2026 Drake Relays, the county Board of Supervisors announced last week.

"We are proud to partner with Polk County as a platinum sponsor of the Drake Relays," Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays Blake Boldon said. "Their commitment to supporting this world-class event reflects a shared dedication to community, excellence, and creating memorable experiences for athletes and fans alike. This partnership strengthens the foundation of the Relays and helps ensure we continue delivering an outstanding event that showcases the very best of our state and sport."

In the 116th year of the Drake Relays, and 100th inside iconic Drake Stadium, Polk County's commitment bolsters its active support of community events including America's Athletic Classic among other world-class entertainment opportunities.

"The Drake Relays represent the best athletes in our state and country, and we are proud to showcase our community in the heart of Polk County," said Polk County Board Chair Matt McCoy. "The legacy of the Drake Relays continues to inspire future generations of youth who dream of one day running and competing on the Blue Oval."

This year's Drake Relays will also feature appearances from Polk County native and 2026 Winter Olympian Zach Stoppelmoor. A Valley High School graduate, Stoppelmoor was Iowa's only competitive representative in Milan and made history as the first Iowan to compete for Team USA in Olympic speedskating. Stoppelmoor is a 3-time World Cup champion and current world record holder in the team sprint. While not a competitive runner, Zach's speedskating background includes a significant amount of training time on the track, including the Blue Oval.

"We are proud to highlight Polk County native Zach Stoppelmoor as part of this year's Drake Relays presentation," Boldon added. "The Blue Oval has been graced by plenty of Olympians over the years, but showcasing an athlete who understands and represents our community to such an intimate degree and has competed on the world stage is a powerful reminder of what dedication and perseverance can achieve. We're excited to celebrate Zach's accomplishments and share his story as an inspiration to athletes and fans throughout our region."

Stoppelmoor will be present in Drake Stadium with a Meet-and-Greet in the Family Zone from 6-7 p.m. on Friday, Apr. 24. He will also be on the champions' podium to present a handful of event winners with their commemorative Relays championship flags including the first-place finishers of a brand-new race, the Polk County Middle School Mixed 4x400m relay.

"Des Moines is home, and there's no better place to come back to than the Drake Relays," Stoppelmoor said. "I grew up in this community, and the support from Iowa this year meant everything to me. The Relays have launched and celebrated some of the greatest athletes in the world, and with LA28 on the horizon, that tradition feels as alive as ever. Whether the track is rubber or ice, we're all chasing the same thing. Being a part of a weekend that inspires the next generation of Iowa athletes is something I'm genuinely looking forward to." 

Track & Field Trip Day at the Drake Relays will also return this year. Students from kindergarten through 12th grade will receive free admission to the Friday Day session at Drake Stadium.

The 2026 Drake Relays will officially begin on Wednesday, Apr. 22 and run through Saturday, Apr. 25. Other Relays Week events include the Drake Road Races (Apr. 18), Vault at Jordan Creek (Apr. 20), the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Apr. 21), and World Shot Put Series (Apr. 22).

All session tickets for Drake Relays are on sale here.