Drake Relays director Brian Brown says he will continue adding depth to an event which is attracting more world class athletes each year. Despite battling the elements over the weekend five new records were set on Saturday and Brown predicts even stronger fields in the future. He says they’ve built a relationship with the athletes and have resources to make the event interesting to them.
Brown says the star studded fields at Drake help promote a sport that needs more exposure. “Our sport is one that is always under attack, you have professional baseball, basketball and hockey and soccer, so our sport has to garner the respect in order to maintain its place in sports. I think the athletes understand that,” Brown says.
Several years ago an Olympic hopeful would show up at Drake and take part in what was basically an exhibition. Now they show up hoping to win. He says there’s now a top athlete in every race and makes for some great competition.