ST. LOUIS, Mo. – There could be a record bonanza as Blake Boldon celebrates his 10th anniversary as the Franklin 'Pitch' Johnson Director of the Drake Relays at the 116th running of America's Athletic Classic at Drake Stadium.
 
As many as 35 records, including a collegiate best, could be set in this track and field extravaganza, which will attract Olympic medalists, American record holders, NCAA champions, and the best of Iowa high school track and field. 
 
Nineteen records could be shattered in the men's and women's division, including nine in the university-college events. Sixteen new standards could be established in the high school division: nine boys, seven girls.
 
Twenty-one Drake Relays records were set during the 2025 Drake Relays, including 10 in Saturday's final session, along with one world record (Paralympic women's 5000), 11 world-leading marks, one collegiate record and three Iowa all-time best high school records (boys 1,600, boys shuttle hurdle relay, girls 100 hurdles).
 
There are 170 events scheduled for the 2026 Drake Relays -- 27 on Thursday, 78 Friday and 59 on Saturday.
 
The oldest record in jeopardy is the high school boys shot put scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday. Doug Lane of Cedar Rapids Jefferson set the standard of 67-2 1/4 in 1968. Washington junior Greyson Hartman owns the second-best throw in Iowa prep history of 67-3 1/2.
 
Two records have already been set outside the stadium as American record holder KC Lightfoot set a record in the men's pole vault at the Jordan Creek Town Center, soaring 19 feet 4 3/4 inches Monday night. Yared Nuguse, 2024 Olympic bronze medalist in the 1,500, set a course record en route to winning the USATF 1 Mile Road Championship in 3:54.06 in downtown Des Moines Tuesday night. 
 
The Drake Relays will also feature former University of Iowa standout Jamal Britt, who already has run the fastest time in the world in the men's 110 hurdles twice at 13.07, chasing the Drake Relays invitational record of 13.04 by Omar McLeod in 2017.
 
Air Force senior Texas Tanner is the collegiate leader in the men's discus (217-6) and will be attempting on Friday night to break the Drake Relays university-college record of 206-9 by John Nichols of LSU in 1989.
 
Nine records could fall on Thursday, including nearly a 50-year-old mark in the men's 3,000m steeplechase where Iowa State sophomore Joash Ruto is tentatively scheduled to run at 6:52 p.m. Ruto, who has a personal best of 8:20.47 fourth place finish at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships, will chase the Drake Relays mark of 8:31.02 set by Henry Marsh of BYU in 1977.
 
Quentin Nauman of Western Dubuque, the 2025 Drake Relays outstanding high school boys' performer, will attempt to lower his meet record in the 3,200 of 8:52.45 set last year.
 
The Thursday Night Throws competition for men and women has three performers seeking their third Drake Relays titles as well as lowering their meet records. American record holder Rudy Winkler set a meet record in the men's hammer throw of 266-0 last year. The 2022 World champion, Brooke Andersen, is back to defend her title in the women's hammer throw, where she owns the meet record of 258-2. Two-time Olympian and five-time U.S. national champion Curtis Thompson is ranked second in the world in the men's javelin and will challenge the record of 265-9 by Keyshawn Strachan of the Bahamas, who returns to defend his title.
 
Fourteen records could be threatened during Friday's program, including a long-time Drake Relays high school mark. Norwalk senior Kaiden Kunze has soared 24-5 in the boys long jump this spring, eyeing the meet record of 23-11 3/4 set by Chris Walker of Davenport Central in 1984.
 
Oklahoma State has its sights set higher by seeking the collegiate record in the women's 4x800 relay of 8:16.12 by Arkansas last year at the Texas Relays. The Cowgirls are seeking their fifth Drake Relays title in the women's 4x800 relay Friday night, while also challenging the Drake Relays meet record of 8:25.25 set by Kentucky in 2022. Women's university-college records could also be set in the 800 and pole vault.
 
Twelve Drake Relays records potentially could fall on Saturday.
 
Three athletes have already vaulted past the Drake Relays record of 19-2 3/4 in the WACT men's invitational pole vault during the 2026 indoor season.  Zach Bradford soared a personal best 19-4 3/4 to win the 2026 U.S. Indoor Championships. KC Lightfoot, who owns the American outdoor record (19-11), has cleared 19-4 3/4 twice during the indoor season. Sam Kendricks, who will be inducted into the Drake Relays Athletes Hall of Fame on Thursday, vaulted 19-4 1/4 in Uppsala, Sweden on March 12. Kendricks is a two-time World champion and earned the silver medal in the 2024 Olympics. Six-time U.S. national champion Chris Nilsen, a 2021 Olympic silver medalist, has a season best 19-2 1/4 and owns a personal outdoor best of 19-8 1/4.
 
Oklahoma State will battle Iowa State for a meet record in the women's university distance medley relay at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Notre Dame set the Drake Relays mark of 10:54.60 in 2024. The Cowgirls have run the fastest distance medley relay this season with a 10:43.10 indoor clocking to win the Arkansas Qualifier on Feb. 20. Iowa State owns the No. 3 time of 10:44.11 in finishing third in the Arkansas Qualifier.
 
Look for Iowa State to challenge the men's university distance medley relay record of 9:30.45 set by SMU in 1983. The Cyclones ran 9:26.13 during the 2026 indoor season. 
 
The high school boys and girls elite mile returns to the Blue Oval for the first time since 2023 with both records within striking distance. Nauman ran an Iowa all-time best of 3:58.65 at the 2025 Hoka Festival of Miles and eyes the meet record of 4:02.36 set by Simeon Birnbaum from Rapid City, S.D. Birnbaum, now a sophomore at Oregon, set a collegiate record in the men's 1,500 of 3:31.69 at the Oregon Invitational last Saturday.
 
Cedar Falls sophomore Charlee Gall and Mount Vernon junior Evelyn Moeller could challenge the girls record of 4:49.58.
 
 
 
POTENTIAL RECORDS FOR 2026 DRAKE RELAYS 
THURSDAY: 9 (3 men, 3 women, 2 high school girls, 1 high school boys)
5 p.m. Men's WACT Invitational Hammer Throw - 266-0, Rudy Winkler, New York Athletic Club, 2025
Three of the top five throws on the current 2026 world rankings are in the field led by American record holder Rudy Winkler, who won the 2023 and 2025 Drake Relays title and is No. 3 on the world list at 264-5. Trey Knight, a 2025 World Championships finalist, is ranked No. 4 at 260-3, while Air Force senior Texas Tanner is No. 5 at 258-9.
 
5 p.m. High School Girls Shot Put — 50-4 3/4, Paulette Mitchell, Council Bluffs Lincoln, 1992
Burlington junior Kylee Hill became the state leader Tuesday night with a throw of 51-1 in Ottumwa, which ranks No. 2 on the all-time state list.
 
5 p.m.  High School Girls Long Jump —  19-3 3/4, Lakeisha Walker, Cedar Rapids Washington, 2004
Linn-Mar senior Abby Mecklenburg has surpassed that record with a state best 20-3 ¾.
 
5:15 p.m. Women's WACT Invitational Javelin - 193-11, Rhema Otabor, Bahamas, 2024
Madison Wiltrout, runner-up in the 2025 Drake Relays, is ranked No. 2 in the world this spring at 201-1 set in Tucson, Arizona, March 28. Otabor returns, seeking her third straight title. 
 
5:56 p.m. High School Boys 3,200 - 8:52.45, Quentin Nauman, Epworth Western Dubuque, 2025
Nauman returns to defend his title, but his season best this spring is 9:07.03. Iowa City Liberty junior Keegan Decker, who also is in this race, has a state-leading 8:59.49 clocking.
 
6:30 p.m. Women's WACT Invitational Hammer Throw - 258-2 Brooke Andersen, Nike 2023
Six of the top ranked eight throwers in the world are competing at the Drake Relays led by Rachel Richeson, who is No. 2 at 256-10, along with defending champion Brooke Andersen.  Others competing are China's Zhao Jie, the 2024 Olympic bronze medalist, ranked No. 3; Zhang Jail, China, No. 4; Annie Nabwe, Liberia, No. 5; Andersen, No. 7; and Erin Reese, No. 8.
 
6:45 p.m. Men's WACT Invitational Javelin - 265-9, Keyshawn Strachan, Bahamas, 2025
Two-time Olympian and five-time U.S. national champion Curtis Thompson is ranked second in the world in 2026 with a throw of 279-11 April 11 at Ramona, Oklahoma. Defending champ Strachan is the national record holder for the Bahamas at 276-5 set while competing for Nebraska, with that throw No. 3 on the all-time collegiate list 
 
6:52 p.m. Men's University-College 3000 Steeplechase - 8:31.02, Henry Marsh, Brigham Young, 1977
Iowa State sophomore Joash Ruto ran a personal best 8:20.47 en route to a fourth-place finish at the 2025 NCCAA Outdoor Championships. This will mark the first time Ruto has run the steeplechase in 2026.
 
8:33 p.m. Women's Invitational 10,000 — 32:57.38, Patti Murray, Nike, 1988
Former Loras College standout Kassie Parker has a personal best of 32:36.22. She finished third in the 10,000 at the 2019 and 2021 Drake Relays as well as third in the 5,000 at the 2022 Drake Relays. She won the 10,000 at the 2023 NCAA Division III Championships.
 
 
FRIDAY: 14 (4 Women, 1 Men,  6 High School Boys, 3 High School Girls)
8:30 a.m. High School Boys Long Jump - 23-11 3/4, Chris Walker, Davenport Central, 1984
Norwalk senior Kaiden Kunze has soared 24-5, while senior Rylan Peters from Waverly-Shell Rock has a 23-8 mark.
 
9 a.m. High School Boys Shot Put - 67-2 1/4, Doug Lane, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 1968
Washington junior Greyson Hartman owns the second-best throw in Iowa prep history at 67-3 ½.
 
9:50 a.m. High School Girls 800 Medley Relay - 1:44.07, Linn-Mar, 2018
Waukee Northwest could threaten this record, owning a state best time of 1:44.90.
 
10:39 a.m. High School Boys 110 Hurdles - 13.84, Jaiden Damiano, Iowa Falls-Alden, 2024
Junior Tay Seals from Clear Creek Amana is the state leader at 13.92.
 
12:47 p.m. High School Girls 4x200 Relay - 1:40.46, Waukee Northwest, 2025
Waukee Northwest has another state leading mark in this relay of 1:39.17.
 
1 p.m. High School Boys 4x200 Relay 1:26.55, Ankeny Centennial, 2025
West Des Moines Valley has posted a state-leading time of 1:26.29.
 
1:38 p.m. Women's University-College 800 — 2:02.99, Svetlana Badrankova, Texas-El Paso, 2001
Minnesota junior Zoie Dundon ran 2:02.31 last Saturday at the Bryan Clay Invitational. She has a personal best of 2:01.42 en route to a sixth-place finish at the 2026 NCAA Indoor Championships. She also is expected to run in the women's university-college 1500, where she has the top time.
 
1:57 p.m. High School Boys 800 - 1:51.76, Quentin Nauman, Epworth Western Dubuque, 2025, & Ryan Schweizer, Dowling Catholic, 2016
Nauman is back to defend his title, although his season best this spring is 1:54.46.
 
5:05 p.m. Women's University-College Pole Vault - 14-4, Tori Thomas, Illinois, 2024
South Dakota sophomore Anna Willis is ranked No. 4 on the collegiate list this spring at 14-11, while senior teammate Marleen Mulla owns a personal best of 15-2 1/4 indoors at the Nebraska Tune Up Feb. 20.
 
5:28 p.m. High School Girls 400 - 55.45, Anjelena Carder, Waukee, 2024
Ankeny sophomore Morgan Fisher is the only prep to run under 56 seconds this spring with a 55.97 clocking.
 
5:46 p.m. High School Boys 400 - 47.67, Jackson Johannes, Cedar Rapids Prairie, 2024
Kunze from Norwalk owns state's top time this spring of 47.97.
 
6:30 p.m. Men's University-College Discus - 206-9, John Nichols, LSU, 1989
Air Force senior Texas Tanner is the collegiate leader after throwing a personal best 217-6 at the Pacific Coast Invitational in Long Beach, Calif., last Friday.
 
7:38 p.m.  Women's University 4x800 Relay - 8:25.25, Kentucky, 2022
Oklahoma State, seeking its fifth Drake Relays title in this relay, has its sights set higher by seeking the collegiate record of 8:16.12 by Arkansas last year at the Texas Relays.

8:24 p.m. Women's WACT Invitational 3.000 Steeplechase - 9:28.98, Sophia Novak, 2025
Rachel Anderson, former Missouri Valley Conference champion at Southern Illinois, owns the No. 4 time in the world this spring, running a personal best 9:34.23 at the Bryan Clay Invitational last Saturday
 
 
SATURDAY: 12 (5 men, 3 women, 2 high school boys, 2 high school girls)
12:30 p.m. Women's University Distance Medley Relay - 10:54.60, Notre Dame, 2024
Oklahoma State has run the fastest distance medley relay this season with a 10:43.10 indoor clocking to win the Arkansas Qualifier Feb. 20. Iowa State owns the No. 3 time of 10:44.11, also indoors, finishing third in the Arkansas Qualifier.
 
12:44 p.m. Men's University-College Distance Medley Relay - 9:30.45, Southern Methodist, 1983
Iowa State ran 9:26.13 during the 2026 indoor season.
 
1:29 p.m. High School Girls Elite Mile - 4:49.58, Adrienne Buether-Cable, Des Moines Roosevelt, 2023
Cedar Falls sophomore Charlee Gall owns a personal best of 4:18.19 at the CYUP Misfits Invitational Jan. 17. Mount Vernon junior Evelyn Moeller, the state leader in the 1,500 (4:34.69), also is in this race.
 
2:12 p.m. Men's WACT Invitational 110 hurdles - 13.04, Omar McLeod, Nike, 2017
Former University of Iowa star Jamal Britt has run the fastest time in the world this spring of 13.07 TWICE - April 4 in Miramar, Fla., and last Saturday in Greensboro, N.C.
 
2:20 p.m. Men's WACT Invitational 1,500 - 3:36.34, John Reniewicki, UA Mission Run Baltimore, 2024
Waleed Suliman ran 3:35.88 — No. 6 on 2026 U.S. list - at San Juan Capistrano, Calif., March 28. Suliman won five SEC titles running for Ole Miss and was third in both the mile and 1,500 at the 2021 NCAA Indoor & Outdoor Championships. 
 
2:30 p.m. Men's WACT Invitational Pole Vault - 19-2 3/4 Sam Kendricks, Nike, 2021
Three athletes have already vaulted past the Drake Relays record during the 2026 indoor season.  Zach Bradford soared a personal best 19-4 3/4 to win the 2026 U.S. Indoor Championships. KC Lightfoot, who owns the American outdoor record (19-11), has cleared 19-4 3/4 twice during the indoor season, setting a record to win the Drake Relays Pole Vault at Jordan Creek Town Center on Monday. Kendricks, who is being inducted into the Drake Relays athletes Hall of Fame, vaulted 19-4 1/4 in Uppsala, Sweden on March 12. Kendricks is a two-time World Champion and earned the silver medal in the 2024 Olympics. Six-time U.S. national champion Chris Nilsen, a 2021 Olympic silver medalist, has a season best 19-2 ¼ and owns a personal outdoor best of 19-8 ¼.
 
2:35 p.m. High School Girls 4x100 Relay - 47.42, Waukee Northwest, 2025
Waukee Northwest looks to lower its record, owning a state leading time of 47.33.
 
2:44 p.m. High School Boys 4x100 Relay - 41.38 ADM, Adel, 2024
Dowling Catholic has a state best time of 41.49, with West Des Moines Valley running 41.52.
 
3 p.m. Women's University-College High Jump - 6-2 1/4, Gina Curtis, Iowa State, 2002
This mark could be in jeopardy with Nebraska sophomore Karen Leeling clearing that mark to rank No. 3 on the collegiate list this spring.
 
3:03 p.m. Men's WACT Invitational 400 Hurdles - 48.15, Alison dos Santos, Brazil, 2021
Jamaica's Assinie Wilson has posted the third-fastest time in the world of 48.29 in Kingston, Jamaica on March 21.
 
3:15 p.m. High School Boys Elite Mile - 4:02.36, Simeon Birnbaum, Rapid City (S.D) Stevens, 2023
Quentin Nauman from Western Dubuque ran an Iowa all-time best of 3:58.65 at the 2025 Hoka Festival of Miles. Birnbaum, now a sophomore at Oregon, set a collegiate record in the men's 1,500 of 3:31.69 at the Oregon Invitational last Saturday.
 
4 p.m. Women's University 4x400 Relay - 3:28.42, Purdue, 2018 
Iowa has run a Big Ten Conference leading time of 3:29.33.