The Drake Relays aren’t just another high school track meet — they attract national attention, drawing professional athletes from across the country who use the event to qualify for major competitions, with some even setting meet, national and world records. Founded in 1910, the Drake Relays are one of the oldest track meets in the nation, which has created deep historical roots in Des Moines. This has led to city-wide events, including the week-long celebration known as “Relays Week.”

The boys track team traveled to Drake Stadium in Des Moines on April 24-27 to compete on the blue oval in the prestigious Drake Relays. After qualifying numerous individuals and relay teams with the blue standard throughout the past month, the team sent 29 athletes as competitors and alternates.

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Sophie Bergman

Before warming up, Neil James '27, Julian Manson '26, KingSton Swayzer '27 and Mason Goering '26 have a team huddle April 25 at Drake Stadium.

This year, the Trojans had newfound success in field events. James Barnett ’28 placed fourth in the shot put with a throw of 55-11, and Colin Whitters ’26 followed in ninth, throwing 53-04.25. Whitters also secured third place in the discus with a throw of 172-05.50, while Elite Mbulekoya ’26 earned eighth place with a throw of 157-10.50. In the long jump, University of Iowa football commit Mason Woods ’25 placed third, jumping 22-6.25. 

In addition to standout field performances, the Trojans garnered a multitude of placements in relay events. The sprint medley relay — comprised of Woods, Julian Manson ’26, KingSton Swayzer ’27 and Moustafa Tiea ’25 — narrowly missed second place, running 3:29.49, just behind Norwalk’s 3:29.22. The 4×200-meter relay also placed third, with Woods, Manson, Mason Goering ’26 and Harel Gameti ’25 running 1:27.82. The 4×800-meter relay finished fifth with a time of 7:52.64, made up of Dara Olaleye ’27, Sam Showers ’25, Aadi Gopinath ’28 and Tiea — a particularly impressive result given that Olaleye and Gopinath are underclassmen and it’s their first year competing in the event.

While individual performances were less dominant this year, Waleed Ibrahim ’26 made it to the finals of the 110-meter hurdles, where he finished seventh with a time of 14.16.

Click here to view the full results.

After meeting the blue standard qualifications over the past month, the girls team sent 12 athletes overall, with five of them competing, to Des Moines for the Drake Relays, held April 24-27 at Drake Stadium.

Sophia Olivo ’25 opened the meet on Thursday with an impressive run in the 100-meter hurdles. Racing in a stacked field, Olivo placed third in her heat and 11th overall, just missing a spot in the finals by three places. Even without advancing, Olivo had plenty to celebrate, clocking her fastest time of the season of 15.10.

Gallery • 1 Photos

Sophie Bergman

Sophia Olivo '25, Lily McConnell '25 and Eva Willis '26 warm-up on the track April 24 at Drake Stadium. Olivo placed eleventh overall in the girls' 100m hurdles.

The momentum continued into Friday, when the 4×100-meter relay team took the track. Miracle Stewart ’25, Amara MacLagan ’28, Evelyn Cornish ’27 and Natalie Steva ’25 battled against almost a hundred teams from across the state, ultimately finishing 45th. Although they didn’t qualify for finals, earning a spot at the Drake Relays marked a major milestone for the team.

The Drake Relays offered an unforgettable experience. With roaring crowds, fierce competition, and Olympic athletes like Tara Davis-Woodhall and Masai Russell competing, the event served as a valuable stepping stone as the team gears up for the rest of the season.

The Trojans will attempt to qualify for the state meet May 15 on Trojan Field, where they will compete against other local schools. Field events will begin at 4:00 p.m., with track events beginning at 4:45 p.m. The top two placements in each event will automatically qualify for the state track and field meet, which will also be held at Drake Stadium May 22-24.