What to Watch on Thursday at the Drake Relays
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
The 114th edition of the Drake Relays gets underway this week and there will be plenty of Your Prep Sports area athletes in action on and around the famed blue oval inside Drake Stadium in Des Moines.
High school events start on Thursday and are stretched over the next three days at the event that features the top track and field athletes in the state.
Here is a quick look at what to watch with area athletes on the opening day of prep action at Drake Stadium on Thursday.
Kampman Looks to Keep Climbing Discus List
Over the past two weeks Solon senior Ben Kampman has rapidly shot up the Iowa all-time discus chart.
At the Eastern Iowa Track and Field Festival on April 13 Kampman posted a school-record toss of 188-4 ½.
On Monday Kampman unleashed a toss of 198-1 at Center Point-Urbana.
A day later Kampman became the fifth prep in state history to reach the 200-foot mark with a toss of 200-5 at the North Cedar Invite.
A Duke recruit, Kampman will look to continue his ascent on Thursday at the Drake Relays discus competition that gets underway at 2:30 p.m.
Kampman enters the Drake Relays with the top throw in the state this season with Akron-Westfield senior Ian Blowe second with a mark of 187-2.
The Drake Relays record is 199-1 set by Chase Madison of Newton in 2004 and the all-time Iowa discus mark is 207-8 set by Scott Crowell of Mason City in 1978.
Pierce Makes Drake Relays Debut
As a two-time state qualifier in the shot put Alyssa Pierce is no stranger to competing at Drake Stadium.
On Thursday the West Branch senior will return to Drake Stadium to make her Drake Relays debut.
Like Kampman, Pierce has been steadily improving throughout the season.
Pierce set a school record while winning the Eastern Iowa Track and Field Festival with a toss of 39-5 ¾ earlier this month before breaking that record with a toss of 40-0 at the Cedar Rapids Xavier Invite on Tuesday.
On Thursday Pierce will show what she can do against the best in the state when the shot put competition begins at 3 p.m.
Pierce owns the 14th best mark in the shot put this season with Hampton-Dumont-CAL junior Charlee Morton leading the field with a toss of 43-6.
Kabela Seeking More Drake Stadium History
In his last appearance at Drake Stadium Solon senior Brick Kabela broke the school record in the 3,200 set by his father Mike at the 1984 Drake Relays.
Kabela ran a then school-record 19:44.7 to finish eighth in the 3,200 at the 3A state meet last May.
On Thursday Kabela returns to the blue oval inside Drake Stadium for another 3,200 and what he hopes is another school-record effort.
Kabela has already trimmed nearly 20 seconds off his own school record, clocking a 9:26.62 at an indoor meet earlier this season.
The senior will make his Drake Relays debut on Thursday at 5:52 p.m. in the 3,200 and enters with the 19th fastest time in a field led by Norwalk junior Tony Anania who has run a state-leading 9:09.62 this spring.
Mac Makes Drake Relays Return
Like Kabela at Solon Mac has been a long-time leader of the distance crew for the Liberty High girls track and field program.
Mac will make her final Drake Relays appearance on Thursday evening as she competes in the 3,000 scheduled for 6:07 p.m.
The senior standout finished 15th at the Drake Relays 3,000 last season in a time of 10:27.35.
Mac is coming off a career-best performance last Thursday at the Forwald/Coleman Relays when she won the 3,000 in 10:23.
Mac has the 15th fastest time in the 3,000 field that is led by West Des Moines Valley senior standout Addison Dorenkamp who has run a state-best 9:37.41 this season.
Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.
