Hoosiers travel to prestigious Drake Relays to face off against top athletes

When IU coach Ron Helmer told junior Caity Lauer she did not qualify to compete in her favorite event, the 800-meter run, this weekend, she was disappointed.\nThe meet, which the track and field team departed for on Wednesday, is not the NCAA Regionals or the NCAA Championships, but rather the Drake Relays – one of the biggest meets of the outdoor track season. \nLauer, who ran her career-best in the 800 in last year’s meet, will compete instead in the 4-by-800 meter relay and said she is still excited to go back. \n“It’s like the Super Bowl for track,” she said.\nThe 99th running of the Drake Relays will have plenty of athletes. Nearly 8,000 are expected to compete, including many elite athletes and some Olympians. The relays will also have spectators, as nearly 25,000 are expected to watch.\nThe track meet, which takes place in Des Moines, Iowa, does not start until Thursday, but the festivities started with the Drake Relays Downtown Festival on Monday. Events include the Beautiful Bulldog Contest, Family Fun Night and block parties with live music, making it a unique experience. \n“It’s an event, not just a track meet,” Helmer said.\nEven the running surface at Drake Stadium is different. The Hoosiers will race around a blue track, with fans surrounding nearly the entire circumference.\nThe fans will see high school, collegiate and professional athletes from around the country. Last year, Alan Webb, who is the American record-holder in the mile, broke the Drake Relays record in the event, and he will be back this year to defend his title. \nWebb will be joined by athletes from 686 teams, 34 states and even some from Canada. \nFreshman Andy Weatherford is excited to run in such a big meet, as he will compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase hoping to break the regional standard. The steeplechase is an event where competitors have hurdles they have to clear as they run around the track, including one that goes over a water pit. \n“The plan is to roll with the pack and get the regional mark,” he said. \nWeatherford, who won the 1,600-meter state championship on the Bill Hayes Track his sophomore year of high school, said he has enjoyed training for the steeplechase.\n“It’s a challenge, but I like it,” he said. \nThe Greencastle, Ind., native has received help this season from volunteer assistant coach Tom Chorny, who won the 2001 USA Outdoor Championships and finished 10th in the 2000 Olympic Trials in the steeplechase. Chorny is currently training for this year’s Olympic Trials. \nAnother Hoosier who will make the trip to Iowa is Phil Henson, an IU assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology. \nHenson, who was the assistant track coach at IU for 15 years, will serve as a referee in the meet and said he enjoys giving back to a sport which he has been involved with for most of his life. \n“I enjoy the association with the athletes, coaches and other officials,” he said.\nThe men’s and women’s track and field teams are also planning to send some athletes to compete in the Stan Lyons Invitational in Indianapolis, a much smaller meet compared to the Drake Relays. \nHelmer said he thinks it is great that the Drake Relays have become such a popular event with so much tradition, but he also knows this will give his team a chance to compete against some top-notch athletes. \n“It will be a chance to run against some good people,” \nhe said.