Drake Relays open with potential for several new records

The 95th Drake Relays opened on Wednesday with the first of two days of competition in the decathlon and heptathlon. A standout field combined with good weather could provide for some fast times this week. Relays’ director Mark Kostek says as many as 25 records could be in jeopardy. He says to have the type of history they have and to have this kind of potential to break so many records, “just blows my mind.”Kostek says 17 NCAA champions are in the meet and more than 50 of this week’s competitors should be in the summer Olympics in Athens. He says he doesn’t think people realize how good we have it in Des Moines. Kostek hopes to see one of the oldest records fall this weekend, the mile record set in 1979. He says the invitation mile is a very good field with the number two man in the field looking to establish a new Drake record of around three minutes and 52 seconds.The distance carnival begins with the women’s invitational five thousand meter run this afternoon and several field events will be contested as well.