The 97th Drake Relays begin today with the multi-events in Drake Stadium and a new event in downtown Des Moines. A women’s high jump exhibition will be held at Nollen Plaza over the noon hour and feature the world’s top ranked high jumper in Chaunte Howard.

Drake Relays director Brian Brown who says the top three jumpers in the U.S. will be taking part and it will give fans a chance to watch it up close. He says they’ll have the same “mondo” surface that they have on the track.

Brown says a lot of people will learn a lot about the event of high jumping. Brown says people will see “amazing feats.” The decathlon and heptathalon begin this afternoon in the stadium.