Sprinting toward Drake

CEDAR RAPIDS - Every track and field athlete dreams of the chance to compete at Drake University's world-class track and field complex against Iowa's elite.

This annual Drake Relays attracts top high school talent from all around the state, as well as college and Olympic-caliber athletes.

For Xavier's 400-meter relay teams, an opportunity of a lifetime awaits as they get the chance to compete in front of several thousand people with the voice of legendary announcer Mike Jay echoing in the background.

The boys' track team will take juniors Sean Murphy, Bryce Charipar and Nick Stark, along with freshman Jax Junge to the event as representatives for the 400 team. This is a very tight knit group with a lot of experience at both Drake and the state championships. Stark narrowly missed qualifications in the 100-meter dash and long jump this year with highly competitive fields of athletes for both events. A first-place finish may be a tough task, but Charipar sees this opportunity as a valuable exposure to quality athletes and a way to improve themselves.

'I'm sure everyone would like to win the event, but a personal record would be just as beneficial,” Charipar said. 'We are just looking to get better.”

On the girls' relay team, all four grades will be represented with senior leader Taylor Skala, junior Sydney Oakley, sophomore Jenna Schwach and freshman Anna Parr. Skala and Oakley were able to qualify for state in the same event with two graduated seniors last May.

Skala has loved taking part in this event throughout her high school career and hopes to get a glimpse of what the future holds for this group of girls.

'This experience is great preparation for state,” Skala said. 'It gives us a chance to compete against other teams that we usually don't compete against, and it is always a fun time to enjoy with my teammates.”

The preliminary rounds for the boys begins around 6:10 p.m. on Friday. The girls' portion begins an hour earlier at 5:10 p.m.