Des Moines native Lolo Jones will return to the Drake Relays later this month. The hurdler appeared headed for gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 before clipping a hurdle late in the race. She won her second straight World Indoor Championship last month.
Jones says she took a week off to rest her legs and to get refreshed mentally. She says Drake will be her second outdoor race of the season, as she will do the LSU alumni meet, but she says it won’t be all out training. Jones has bounced back from a hamstring injury she suffered last year at the Drake Relays.
Olympic silver medalist Christian Cantwell is one of two athletes to be inducted into the Drake Relays Hall of Fame. The four-time world champion in the shot put has twice been named the outstanding men’s performer at Drake. He says it’s hard to say he deserved that, but says he is proud and honored to accept it.
Cantwell will be looking for his seventh Drake Relays title later this month. He says it will be a neat experience, but there won’t be any more pressure. Cantwell says he has to think about how many more years he can compete as this high level.
Hurdler Perdita Felicien will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame. She is a two-time world champion.
The Drake Relays are April 22nd through the 24th.