By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor
The 113th Drake Relays presented by Xtream and Powered by Mediacom are scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 26-29 at Jim Duncan Track and Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.
WATCH THE 113TH DRAKE RELAYS PRESENTED BY XTREAM LIVE APRIL 27-29 ON USATF.TV
Here are 10 elite invitational storylines involving professional and collegiate athletes to keep an eye on at one of the most prestigious meets in the country:
Potential for a world record redo and a milestone
Ryan Crouser, the reigning World Athletics Outdoor Championships gold medalist and Olympic champion in the shot put, produced the top indoor performance in global history Feb. 18 with his mark of 76 feet, 8.50 inches (23.38m) at the Simplot Games at Idaho State’s Holt Arena in Pocatello.
Upon further review, the ring used was not in compliance with World Athletics rules and it was determined April 11 that Crouser’s effort would not be recognized as the world indoor record.
Blake Boldon, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays, wanted to create another opportunity for Crouser to challenge the world indoor record again Wednesday at the Drake Fieldhouse.
Crouser will also have a pair of opportunities to achieve the 200th career 22-meter performance of his career, including the elite competition Saturday at Drake Stadium.
Crouser has 198 marks in his career of at least 22 meters, including 28 indoors. He had five attempts that surpassed the 22-meter mark at the Simplot Games.
Crouser has produced 12 performances that have eclipsed the 22-meter mark in his career in Des Moines, including 10 in 2020 when he had the opportunity to compete in a pair of events in Drake Stadium in a five-day span during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the past two years, Crouser has been unable to achieve a 22-meter performance at the Drake Relays, after producing the Drake Stadium record of 74-6.50 (22.72m) in 2020.
Crouser also has 11 career indoor competitions with at least one 22-meter effort, but none in Des Moines.
The recognized world indoor record, according to World Athletics, is a 74-10.50 (22.82m) performance by Crouser in 2021 at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Arkansas.
Crouser achieved the recognized absolute world record of 76-8.25 (23.37m) at the 2021 Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Oregon.
Americans Adrian Piperi and Josh Awotunde are also scheduled to participate in both the indoor and outdoor shot put competitions in Des Moines, along with…
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