Several athletes and relay teams from across the area have earned spots at the 2026 Drake Relays, one of the most prestigious track and field events in the country. Many of this year’s qualifiers punched their tickets by breaking school records and posting times and marks that will stand as benchmarks for their programs for years to come. The meet will be held at Drake Stadium in Des Moines from Wednesday, April 22nd through Saturday, April 25th.
Boys High Jump — Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
Two area athletes will take to the pit in the boys high jump. Fairfield’s Eli Zillman, a one-time state champion, leads the way with a qualifying jump of 6-08, and Davis County’s Talan Cramer joins him after clearing 6-04.50.
Girls Shot Put — Thursday, 5:00 p.m.
The girls shot put circle will feature two area standouts among 24 total qualifiers. Pekin’s Anna Hadley, a one-time state champion in the event, qualified with a throw of 45-02.50. Ottumwa’s Delilah Subsin headlines the area group with a qualifying throw of 47-10, the top mark among local qualifiers.
Girls 3,000 Meters — Thursday, 6:11 p.m.
Two area runners earned spots in the girls 3,000-meter run. Pekin’s Chloe Glosser qualified with a time of 10:00.64. Albia’s McKenna Montgomery, who became the Class 2A cross country state champion in the fall and has signed with Kansas State University, also qualified in the event — one of two Drake Relays races she will compete in this week.
Girls Discus — Friday, 8:30 a.m.
Anna Hadley of Pekin headlines the area contingent in the girls discus, where she arrives as a two-time state champion with a qualifying throw of 136-00. Ottumwa’s Delilah Subsin once again leads the area with a qualifying throw of 153-08 — the top mark among local qualifiers.
Boys 800 Meters — Friday, 1:57 p.m.
Van Buren County’s Lincoln Bainbridge brings one of the most impressive qualifying resumes of any area athlete to the Drake Relays, having punched his ticket in three separate events. He opens his busy Friday slate in the 800-meter run, where he qualified with a time of 1:54.43 among 16 total qualifiers.
Boys 400 Meters — Friday, 5:46 p.m.
Bainbridge returns to the track Friday evening in the 400-meter dash, where he qualified with a time of 48.20 among 16 total qualifiers.
Girls 400 Meters — Friday, 5:28 p.m.
Oskaloosa’s Tierney Carter will take to the Blue Oval Friday at 5:28 p.m. in the girls 400-meter dash, having qualified with a time of 57.73.
Girls 1,500 Meters — Saturday, 4:28 p.m.
McKenna Montgomery of Albia caps what has been a remarkable stretch of performances with a spot in the girls 1,500-meter final on Saturday at 4:28 p.m. Montgomery ran the event in 4:42.13, meeting the Blue Standard and earning a guaranteed qualifying spot.
Boys 4×100 Relay — Saturday, 10:12 a.m. (prelims), 2:44 p.m. (finals)
Two area relay teams will race on Saturday in the boys 4×100 relay, one of the most electric events of the meet. Among 96 total qualifiers, Pekin’s squad of Aliyas Brock, Alijah Brock, Riley Smith, and Nolan Glick will run in the ninth heat after qualifying with a time of 43.69. Fairfield’s group of Dayson Workman, Voss Richardson, Ethan Bisgard, and Spencer McCready will compete in Heat 11 after qualifying with a time of 43.77.
Boys 400 Hurdles — Saturday, 3:09 p.m.
Bainbridge closes out his Drake Relays schedule in the boys 400-meter hurdles, where he qualified with a time of 53.63 among 16 total qualifiers. Competing in the 800-meter run, 400-meter dash, and 400-meter hurdles, Bainbridge is the area’s most versatile qualifier and one of the most compelling athletes to watch throughout the weekend.
