What to Watch on Saturday at the Drake Relays
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
The 114th edition of the Drake Relays concludes on Saturday with the final day of competition on the blue oval inside Drake Stadium in Des Moines.
Action was cut short on Friday night due to thunderstorms in the Des Moines area causing the schedule to be shifted for Saturday.
Here is a quick look at what to watch with area athletes on the third and final day of prep action at Drake Stadium.
Jacobsen on Title Watch
West High senior Aidan Jacobsen has been a member of winning relay teams at the Drake Relays but has his sights set on an individual title on Saturday.
Jacobsen added to his Drake Relays flag collection on Friday as he helped the West High distance medley relay team to a second straight title.
On Saturday Jacobsen will try to knab an individual title in the 400 hurdles.
Jacobsen was third in the 400 hurdles last season in a time of 52.83 as three runners went under 53 seconds.
One of those runners to crack 53 seconds at the Drake Relays last season, Mount Ayr senior and 2023 Drake Relays runner-up Ryce Reynolds will be alongside Jacobsen on Saturday.
Jacobsen has the fastest qualifying time this season at 52.52 while Central DeWitt senior Tristan Rheingans has run 53.34.
Solon Girls Look to Continue Relay Success
Success in the relay events has been perhaps the biggest reason Solon is the two-time defending Class 3A state champion.
The Spartans will get a chance for several relay teams to get some experience on the big stage on Saturday.
Solon has entries in the 4×100, 4×400 and 4×800 relays on Saturday and all three teams bring top-20 qualifying times to Drake Stadium.
The foursome of Piper Stahle, Mia Duckett, Mia Stahle and Aly Stahle is 18th in the 4×100 and Kobi Lietz, Anna Quillin, Grace Hoeper and Gracie Federspiel have the 11th fastest time in the 4×400 at 4:02.77.
Ava Rolwes, Quillin, Falyn Svalstad and Federspiel have the ninth fastest 4×800 time at 9:35.98.
West High Relays Seek Strong Finish
It was a stellar start to the Drake Relays for the West High boys relay teams on Friday with a title in the distance medley and a fourth-place finish in the 4×200.
Now the Trojans are seeking a strong relay finish.
West High is a top-six seed in four relays on Saturday highlighted by the 4×800 team of Sam Showers, Brice Wahe, Maxwell Bruss and Moustafa Tiea that has the third fastest qualifying time at 7:57.73.
West High is fourth in the 4×100 and sixth in both the shuttle hurdle and 4×400 relays.
West High Hurdlers Look to Continue Stellar Season
The first event of the day on Saturday is the shuttle hurdle relay where West High will look to start the day with a bang at 8 a.m.
West High enters with the sixth fastest qualifying time as the foursome of Erinn Varga, Jaylin Herring, Eriniah Carter and Sophia Olivo has run 1:06.05 this season.
Waukee has the top shuttle hurdle time at 1:04.22.
Varga and Herring will each close the day by running the 400 hurdles.
Varga enters with the 10th fastest time at 1:06.36 while Herring has the 16th fastest qualifying time at 1:07.11.
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