Wariner, Jones back to enhance Relays

By Rob Gray, Correspondent

DES MOINES - Maintaining the tradition is not enough.

Drake Relays Director Brian Brown works to nurture, enhance and expand “America's Athletic Classic,” which kicks into full gear Thursday for the 102nd time. About 7,000 athletes will compete for titles in 115 events at Drake Stadium.

“It's another epic opportunity,” Brown said. “In other words, there's an opportunity to build on every event this week, culminating, I think, with some great elite races on Saturday.”

How elite?

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner returns for Saturday's special invitational 400-meter dash. It will be his fifth appearance in Des Moines and first since winning the 400 in 2009 in a time of 45.06 seconds.

“I'm excited to come back this year to Drake,” Wariner said this month in a teleconference. “Last year I was not able to come because I was injured, but the crowd has always been great there and supported me with everything I've done.”

Fan favorite and hometown hero Lolo Jones confirmed Monday she will compete in the special invitational 100-meter hurdles. The 2008 Olympian and four-time Relays champion ranks third in the world in the 100 hurdles despite battling injuries.

Alan Webb, the American record holder in the mile, won Tuesday's Grand Blue Mile on the road and with defending champ Boaz Lalang and other elite distance runners will compete in Saturday's track mile.

“I was fighting with Boaz to get second, and then we just started going,” Webb said after Tuesday's race. “It's a tough field, and everyone's running really well.”

Pole vaulter Derek Miles is another Olympian in Des Moines.

“I have been coming here ever since I was in college at South Dakota,” Miles, 39, said this month. “It's awesome seeing so many people coming out to see the track event.”

Brown wants one record to fall in particular - his, set in 1997 in the high jump.

“That's what I'm looking forward to,” said Brown, a former NCAA indoor high jump champion at Northwestern (La.) State. “I think there's at least seven individuals who can take down the high jump record. People ask me about it and I'm sincere as I can be: It needs to come down. It's time.”

102nd Drake Relays

When: Now through Saturday

Where: Drake Stadium, Des Moines

Schedule: Thursday, 9:30 a.m. (decathlon/heptathlon), 4 p.m. (Distance Carnival); Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m.

Tickets: $85 for all-session; single session, $5 Thursday, $10 to $35 Friday, $40 Saturday

Other Information: Go to

www.godrakebulldogs.com for an event schedule and results; go to

www.IowaPrepSports.com for local qualifiers