2017 Drake RelaysApr 26, 2017 by Taylor Dutch
10 Events To Watch At Drake Relays
10 Events To Watch At Drake Relays
Led by multiple Olympic rematches, the 2017 Drake Relays boasts a stacked series of professional showdowns. Watch a portion of the broadcast live on FloTrack, which will be available to viewers in Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Italy, Spain
Led by multiple Olympic rematches, the 2017 Drake Relays boast a stacked series of professional showdowns this week in Des Moines, Iowa. Watch a portion of the broadcast live on FloTrack, which will be available to viewers in Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand.
Watch LIVE on FloTrack Saturday, April 29, from 3-5 PM Eastern Time.
Who: Keni Harrison, Nia Ali, Kristi Castlin, Tiffany Porter, Cindy Ofili, Queen Harrison, Dawn Harper-Nelson
When: Saturday, 2:37 PM
Why: Outside of the USATF Outdoor Championships, the Drake Relays women's 100m hurdles might be the deepest field assembled on American soil this year. The race will include world-record holder Keni Harrison, Olympic silver medalist Nia Ali, Olympic bronze medalist Kristi Castlin, and the return of 2008 Olympic champion Dawn Harper-Nelson. Fellow American standout Queen Harrison will also toe the line after a 2016 season that included a fourth-place finish at the Olympic Trials. Sisters Tiffany Porter and Cindy Ofili will compete after a breakthrough 2016 that saw both competitors racing in the Olympic final for Great Britain. In total, four of the competitors assembled in Des Moines also competed in the 2016 Olympic final, and four of the athletes have earned either an Olympic or world championship medal during the course of their careers.
Men's 110m Hurdles
Who: Omar McLeod, Aries Merritt, David Oliver, Andrew Pozzi
When: Saturday, 2:51 PM
Why: Defending Olympic champion Omar McLeod leads a strong group of competitors in the men's 110m hurdles. A year ago, the Jamaican hurdler also won the 60m hurdles at the World Indoor Championships before earning gold at the Games in Rio. McLeod will be joined by 2012 Olympic champion Aries Merritt, who returned to competition after a three-year ordeal that included a kidney transplant and multiple surgeries. Despite the recovery from surgery, Merritt still barely missed making the Olympic team with a fourth-place finish in the Trials final. David Oliver, the 2013 world champion, will also toe the line in his first race this season. British Olympian Andrew Pozzi enters the competition after claiming gold at the European Indoor Championships.
Women's 1500m
Who: Jenny Simpson, Kate Grace, Brenda Martinez, Shelby Houlihan, Charlene Lipsey, Nicole Sifuentes, Sammy Watson, Kaela Edwards, Alexa Efraimson, Amanda Eccleston, Marta Freitas, Nikki Hamblin
When: Friday, 8:04 PM (shown by highlight only)
Why: Olympic bronze medalist Jenny Simpson, world bronze medalist Brenda Martinez, and Olympians Kate Grace, Shelby Houlihan, and Nicole Sifuentes lead a stellar field of professionals, top collegiate competitors, and one high school phenom.
Earlier this season, Simpson and Martinez ran together as part of the New Balance team that broke the world record in the distance medley relay. Grace is returning from a breakthrough 2016 that included a personal best of 1:58.28 and an eighth-place finish in the Olympic 800m final. An Iowa-born standout, Houlihan will be returning to Des Moines after winning both the mile and 2-mile at the USATF Indoor Championships. A Canadian Olympian, Sifuentes will be using Drake as her first outdoor track race of the season.
Both NCAA champions, Oklahoma State's Kaela Edwards and Mississippi State's Marta Freitas will get the opportunity to compete with Olympic and world medalists. And high school senior Sammy Watson will contend after notching an American junior record of 2:01.78 in the indoor 800m in February.
Men's 1500m
Who: Clayton Murphy, Hillary Bor, Leo Manzano, Andy Bayer, Johnny Gregorek, Daniel Herrera, Eric Speakman
When: Saturday, 2:11 PM
Why: Olympic bronze medalist Clayton Murphy, 2016 Olympian Hillary Bor, and 2012 Olympic silver medalist Leo Manzano will take to the track in the men's 1500m. On Tuesday, Murphy broke the course record of the Grand Blue Mile with a winning time of 3:59.96. The performance follows a victory as part of the Team USA 4x800m relay at the IAAF World Relays. Bor also competed in the Grand Blue Mile, where he finished 10th overall.
WATCH: Clayton Murphy: No Limits trailer:
Women's 400m Hurdles
Who: Ashley Spencer, Cassandra Tate, Georganne Moline
When: Saturday, 2:02 PM
Why: Olympic bronze medalist Ashley Spencer will compete in her first competitive 400m hurdles field of the season after running as part of the championship winning 4x400m at the IAAF World Relays. This past year marked Spencer's first season where she focused solely on the 400m hurdles. The decision paid off with an Olympic bronze medal. She will be joined by world bronze medalist Cassandra Tate and 2012 Olympian Georganne Moline.
Who: Derek Drouin, Mike Mason, Ricky Robertson, Trevor Barry
When: Saturday, 1:45 PM
Why: Olympic champion Derek Drouin will lead a professional field after an indoor season that included a season's best of 2.33m. In 2016, Drouin won Olympic gold for Canada with a clearance of 2.38m.
Men's Pole Vault
Who: Sam Kendricks, Logan Cunningham, Augusto Dutra
When: Saturday, 2 PM
Why: Olympic bronze medalist Sam Kendricks will compete in his first meet since winning the USATF Indoor Championships. A year ago, Kendricks earned silver at the World Indoor Championships and bronze at the Olympic Games.
Women's Long Jump
Who: Brittney Reese, Lorraine Ugen, Christabel Nettey
When: Saturday, 2:45 PM
Why: Three-time world champion, 2012 Olympic champion, and 2016 Olympic silver medalist Brittney Reese will be making her season debut in the long jump.
Men's 400m
Who: LaShawn Merritt, Kirani James, Tony McQuay, David Verburg
When: Friday, 7:37 PM (shown by highlight only)
Why: An Olympic rematch will take place between Grenada's Kirani James and the United States' LaShawn Merritt. While South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk broke the world record with a winning time of 43.03 in the 2016 Olympic final, James finished with silver in 43.76, and Merritt finished with bronze in 43.85. Saturday will mark the first showdown of the year for the sprint rivals.
Men's 400m Hurdles
Who: Bershawn Jackson, Javier Culson, Jehue Gordon, Michael Stigler
When: Friday, 7:45 PM (shown by highlight only)
Why: Three world and Olympic medalists headline the stacked field in the men's 400m hurdles. World champion and Olympic bronze medalist Bershawn Jackson will be competing in his final Drake Relays before retiring at the end of the 2017 season. World silver medalist and Olympic bronze medalist Javier Culson will be making his season debut. Jehue Gordon, the 2013 world champion, will compete in his first race since his season debut as part of the Empire Athletics 4x400m at Florida Relays.
FloTrack will provide LIVE coverage of the 2017 Drake Relays in the following territories: Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand on the final day of competition, April 29th.
ON TV: Now available on Roku and Apple TV 4 -- download the FloSports app today!
STREAMING: Available only on FloTrack. SIGN UP HERE
• Follow us on Twitter @FloTrack
• Follow us on Instagram @FloTrack_TrackIsBack
• Follow us on Facebook
Video footage from the competition will be archived and stored in a video on-demand (VOD) library for FloPRO subscribers in Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand to watch.
Watch LIVE on FloTrack Saturday, April 29, from 3-5 PM Eastern Time.
Women's 100m Hurdles
Who: Keni Harrison, Nia Ali, Kristi Castlin, Tiffany Porter, Cindy Ofili, Queen Harrison, Dawn Harper-Nelson
When: Saturday, 2:37 PM
Why: Outside of the USATF Outdoor Championships, the Drake Relays women's 100m hurdles might be the deepest field assembled on American soil this year. The race will include world-record holder Keni Harrison, Olympic silver medalist Nia Ali, Olympic bronze medalist Kristi Castlin, and the return of 2008 Olympic champion Dawn Harper-Nelson. Fellow American standout Queen Harrison will also toe the line after a 2016 season that included a fourth-place finish at the Olympic Trials. Sisters Tiffany Porter and Cindy Ofili will compete after a breakthrough 2016 that saw both competitors racing in the Olympic final for Great Britain. In total, four of the competitors assembled in Des Moines also competed in the 2016 Olympic final, and four of the athletes have earned either an Olympic or world championship medal during the course of their careers.
Men's 110m Hurdles
Who: Omar McLeod, Aries Merritt, David Oliver, Andrew Pozzi
When: Saturday, 2:51 PM
Why: Defending Olympic champion Omar McLeod leads a strong group of competitors in the men's 110m hurdles. A year ago, the Jamaican hurdler also won the 60m hurdles at the World Indoor Championships before earning gold at the Games in Rio. McLeod will be joined by 2012 Olympic champion Aries Merritt, who returned to competition after a three-year ordeal that included a kidney transplant and multiple surgeries. Despite the recovery from surgery, Merritt still barely missed making the Olympic team with a fourth-place finish in the Trials final. David Oliver, the 2013 world champion, will also toe the line in his first race this season. British Olympian Andrew Pozzi enters the competition after claiming gold at the European Indoor Championships.
Women's 1500m
Who: Jenny Simpson, Kate Grace, Brenda Martinez, Shelby Houlihan, Charlene Lipsey, Nicole Sifuentes, Sammy Watson, Kaela Edwards, Alexa Efraimson, Amanda Eccleston, Marta Freitas, Nikki Hamblin
When: Friday, 8:04 PM (shown by highlight only)
Why: Olympic bronze medalist Jenny Simpson, world bronze medalist Brenda Martinez, and Olympians Kate Grace, Shelby Houlihan, and Nicole Sifuentes lead a stellar field of professionals, top collegiate competitors, and one high school phenom.
Earlier this season, Simpson and Martinez ran together as part of the New Balance team that broke the world record in the distance medley relay. Grace is returning from a breakthrough 2016 that included a personal best of 1:58.28 and an eighth-place finish in the Olympic 800m final. An Iowa-born standout, Houlihan will be returning to Des Moines after winning both the mile and 2-mile at the USATF Indoor Championships. A Canadian Olympian, Sifuentes will be using Drake as her first outdoor track race of the season. Both NCAA champions, Oklahoma State's Kaela Edwards and Mississippi State's Marta Freitas will get the opportunity to compete with Olympic and world medalists. And high school senior Sammy Watson will contend after notching an American junior record of 2:01.78 in the indoor 800m in February.
Men's 1500m
Who: Clayton Murphy, Hillary Bor, Leo Manzano, Andy Bayer, Johnny Gregorek, Daniel Herrera, Eric Speakman
When: Saturday, 2:11 PM
Why: Olympic bronze medalist Clayton Murphy, 2016 Olympian Hillary Bor, and 2012 Olympic silver medalist Leo Manzano will take to the track in the men's 1500m. On Tuesday, Murphy broke the course record of the Grand Blue Mile with a winning time of 3:59.96. The performance follows a victory as part of the Team USA 4x800m relay at the IAAF World Relays. Bor also competed in the Grand Blue Mile, where he finished 10th overall.
WATCH: Clayton Murphy: No Limits trailer:
Women's 400m Hurdles
Who: Ashley Spencer, Cassandra Tate, Georganne Moline
When: Saturday, 2:02 PM
Why: Olympic bronze medalist Ashley Spencer will compete in her first competitive 400m hurdles field of the season after running as part of the championship winning 4x400m at the IAAF World Relays. This past year marked Spencer's first season where she focused solely on the 400m hurdles. The decision paid off with an Olympic bronze medal. She will be joined by world bronze medalist Cassandra Tate and 2012 Olympian Georganne Moline.
Men's High Jump
Who: Derek Drouin, Mike Mason, Ricky Robertson, Trevor Barry
When: Saturday, 1:45 PM
Why: Olympic champion Derek Drouin will lead a professional field after an indoor season that included a season's best of 2.33m. In 2016, Drouin won Olympic gold for Canada with a clearance of 2.38m.
Men's Pole Vault
Who: Sam Kendricks, Logan Cunningham, Augusto Dutra
When: Saturday, 2 PM
Why: Olympic bronze medalist Sam Kendricks will compete in his first meet since winning the USATF Indoor Championships. A year ago, Kendricks earned silver at the World Indoor Championships and bronze at the Olympic Games.
Women's Long Jump
Who: Brittney Reese, Lorraine Ugen, Christabel Nettey
When: Saturday, 2:45 PM
Why: Three-time world champion, 2012 Olympic champion, and 2016 Olympic silver medalist Brittney Reese will be making her season debut in the long jump.
Men's 400m
Who: LaShawn Merritt, Kirani James, Tony McQuay, David Verburg
When: Friday, 7:37 PM (shown by highlight only)
Why: An Olympic rematch will take place between Grenada's Kirani James and the United States' LaShawn Merritt. While South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk broke the world record with a winning time of 43.03 in the 2016 Olympic final, James finished with silver in 43.76, and Merritt finished with bronze in 43.85. Saturday will mark the first showdown of the year for the sprint rivals.
Men's 400m Hurdles
Who: Bershawn Jackson, Javier Culson, Jehue Gordon, Michael Stigler
When: Friday, 7:45 PM (shown by highlight only)
Why: Three world and Olympic medalists headline the stacked field in the men's 400m hurdles. World champion and Olympic bronze medalist Bershawn Jackson will be competing in his final Drake Relays before retiring at the end of the 2017 season. World silver medalist and Olympic bronze medalist Javier Culson will be making his season debut. Jehue Gordon, the 2013 world champion, will compete in his first race since his season debut as part of the Empire Athletics 4x400m at Florida Relays.
Who Can Watch
FloTrack will provide LIVE coverage of the 2017 Drake Relays in the following territories: Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand on the final day of competition, April 29th.
How To Watch
ON TV: Now available on Roku and Apple TV 4 -- download the FloSports app today!
STREAMING: Available only on FloTrack. SIGN UP HERE
- A yearly FloPRO subscription provides access to ALL FloSports sites.
Join The Conversation On Social
• Follow us on Twitter @FloTrack
• Follow us on Instagram @FloTrack_TrackIsBack
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Archived Competition Footage
Video footage from the competition will be archived and stored in a video on-demand (VOD) library for FloPRO subscribers in Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand to watch.