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Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom begins its 115th year
DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom kicked off its 2025 season with the annual celebration of Relays Night hosted by Drake men’s basketball. Wednesday night’s festivities included an introduction of the Relays staff, celebrated the victors of the 2024 Relays Wellness Challenge, and announced commitments of two elite level athletes and a premier collegiate team.
The featured commitments include familiar faces Ryan Crouser and Shelby Houlihan, as well as the team from Kansas State University.
Crouser, a three-time Olympic champion and the current world record holder in the outdoor shot put (23.56m/77′ 3.75″), will be returning to Drake Stadium in April. He boasts 11 U.S. championships, two world titles, four NCAA crowns while competing for the University of Texas, and six Drake Relays titles over his career. Crouser has eight of the top 10 furthest outdoor throws ever and nine of the top 10 furthers indoor throws of all time. Crouser’s return to Des Moines will serve as another chance to awe track and field fans as well as a chance to eclipse his own Drake Stadium and Drake Relays records.
Sioux City native Shelby Houlihan will be returning to competition on a recognizable surface. She won eight Drake Relays titles and eight Iowa High School State Meet championships on the Blue Oval as a prep star at Sioux City East. Houlihan competed collegiately at Arizona State University where she won the 2014 NCAA 1500m crown and was a 10-time First Team All-American. Her professional career has also been decorated with a 2014 NACAC 800m title, finals appearances in the 5k at the 2016 Olympics and 2017 World Championships, a fourth-place finish in the 1500m at the 2019 World Outdoor Championships with an American record pace of 3:54.99. She toppled another American record in 2020 with a 5k run of 14:26.32 and was a member of a world record-beating 4x1500m relay squad.
The 115th running of the Drake Relays will be the first competition of the year for both Crouser and Houlihan. Houlihan is set to compete as part of the annual Grand Blue Mile events on Tuesday, Apr. 22 as well as chase down the Drake Stadium women’s 1-mile record of 4:40.20 (Francie Larrieu, USA, 4/26/1975) on the Blue Oval. Crouser’s participation details will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Kansas State…
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