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FAMOUS RELAYS GUESTS From Ronald Reagan to Suzy Favor Hamilton, many famous people have either competed in or attended the Drake Relays by LAUREN EHRLER
Staff Writer lauren.ehrler@drake.edu
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MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
RONALD REAGAN In 1933, future U.S. President Ronald Reagan began his broadcast career announcing the Drake Relays for WHO Radio in Des Moines. He came back in 1974 as the parade marshal.
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
THE READERS’ GUIDE TO RELAYS EVENTS TRACK
compiled by JENNI MATASEK |Staff Writer
2 STEVE ALLEN
The first host of “The Tonight Show” Steve Allen was once a Drake student and came back as the parade marshal in 1957.
3 WILMA RUDOLPH
After being the first woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympic games in 1960, Wilma Rudolph won the 100-meter sprint at the 1961 Drake Relays. The women’s 100 was also the first women’s event held at the Drake Relays.
4 JESSE OWENS
Jesse Owens won the 100 and long jump in record fashion in the 1935 Drake Relays. He went on to win four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics. He returned in 1959 to be named the top athlete of the first half-century of the Drake Relays. He was also the parade marshal in 1979.
>STEEPLECHASE
CATEGORY
photo by NICOLE BRAUNSDORF |Staff Photographer
DESCRIPTION
EVENTS
Racers run while jumping over hurdles that stand either 1.067 meters (for men) or .840 meters (for women) above the ground. Athletes are disqualified if they knock a hurdle down by hand, run over a hurdle not in their respective lane or interfere with another racer.
• 100 meter – Runners race over 10 hurdles, spaced 8.5 meters apart • 110 meter – Runners race over 10 hurdles, spaced 9.14 meters apart • 400 meter – Runners race over 10 hurdles, spaced 35 meters apart
Relay races are ran with a team of four racers. Each runner carries a baton, which they must pass to the next racer or their team within an exchange zone of 20 meters. If the baton is dropped by a racer, either the next racer must pick it up if it is within the exchange zone, or the person who dropped it can if it falls outside the zone. A team can be disqualified if the baton isn’t passed in the 20-meter exchange zone, is recovered illegally or is transferred not using runners’ hands.
• 4x100 meter – Each racer runs 100 meters (1/4 lap) • 4x200 meter – Each racer runs 200 meters (1/2 lap) • 4x400 meter – Each racer runs 400 meters (one lap) • 4x800 meter • 4x1600 meter • Sprint medley • Distance medley • Shuttle hurdle
Sprints
Runners in these races are required to stay in their respective lanes during the race. If they do not, it results in a disqualification.
• 100 meter • 110 meter • 400 meter
Medium Distance
Runners in these races move into the innermost lane after a fourth of the race has been run. For example, after 200 meters has been run in the 800 meter, runners may move into the innermost lane. Athletes don’t have to finish in their respective lanes.
• 800 meter (two laps) • 1500 meter (less than four laps) • 1600 meter (four laps) • Mile run (more than four laps)
Hurdles
Relays
FIELD 5 CARL LEWIS
The 10-time Olympic gold medalist, now actor, made his Drake Relays debut in 1994, winning the invitational 100.
6 WILT CHAMBERLAIN
The former NBA basketball player and member of the Harlem Globetrotters was a member of both the basketball and track and field teams at Kansas University. He tied for first in the 1957 Drake Relays high-jump competition.
7 MICHAEL JOHNSON
The four time Olympic gold medalist sprinter not only still holds the world records in the 400 and 4x400 relay, but also holds the Drake Relays records in the 200 and 400. Last year, Johnson was named the top male Drake Relays athlete of the century.
>LONG JUMP
CATEGORY Throwing Events
photo by KEVIN MORRISON |Staff Photographer
DESCRIPTION Throwing events are measured by how far a competitor throws the intended object from the radius of the throwing circle. Each competitor gets three throws, with the best scores used to determine who moves on to the next round.
8 GWEN TORRENCE
Gwen Torrence, who was named the top female Drake Relays athlete of the century, is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and the Drake Relays career victory winner.
Horizontal Jumping Events
Vertical Jumping Events
• Shot Put – Competitors “put” either a 4 kg (women) or 7.26 kg (men) spherical ball from one hand. • Discus – Competitors throw a 1 kg (women) or 2 kg (men) disc. • Javelin – Competitors throw a spear-like javelin. • Hammer Throw – Competitors throw a 4 km (women) or 7.26 kg (men) weight connected by a wire.
Horizontal jumping events have competitors run down a track into a sand pit. Distances are measured from the foul line to the closest break in the sand the competitor has made.
• Long Jump – As the name implies, competitors try to jump the farthest after a sprint. • Triple Jump – The triple jump has competitors taking two jumps, one on each foot, before jumping into the pit. As with long jump, distance is measured from the foul line to where the competitor lands.
In vertical jumping events, competitors test who can jump the highest. Athletes are given three tries to clear a set height, with competitors raising the bar as they clear each height.
• High Jump – Competitors must clear a vertical bar from jumping off one foot. If the vertical bar is displaced, athletes must try again to clear the height. The vertical bar is raised between 3 and 5 cm each time. • Pole Vault – Competitors must clear a vertical bar with the use of a pole. Like the high jump, if the athlete does not clear the bar, they can try again up to three times. The vertical bar is raised between 5 and 15 cm.
FAVOR HAMILTON & 9 SUZY STEVE SCOTT Former Olympians and Drake Relays contestants Suzy Favor Hamilton and Steve Scott will return to this year’s 101st running of the Drake Relays to lead the first Grand Blue Mile run.
EVENTS