By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Here are 10 storylines involving elite athletes to follow Thursday through Saturday at the 110th Drake Relays Presented by HyVee at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

Programming note: You can watch the live Webcast here of the meet Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The USATF.TV broadcast and on-demand videos will only be available for USATF.TV +PLUS subscribers. Subscribe here.

Crouser seeks another crowning achievement

What does Ryan Crouser do for an encore following the best shot put in the world since 1990?

That’s what everyone in attendance at Drake Stadium will be anticipating Saturday when the reigning Olympic gold medalist returns to the ring for the Tokyo Countdown elite invitational shot put after producing a personal-best 74 feet, 7.25 inches (22.74m) on April 20 at the 25th Beach Invitational at Long Beach State’s Jack Rose Track.

Crouser elevated to the No. 6 all-time performer, achieving the best mark by any shot putter since fellow American Randy Barnes produced the world record 75-10.25 (23.12m) at the Jack in the Box Invitational on May 20, 1990.

With the elite invitational men’s shot put returning last year to the Drake Relays schedule for the first time since 2013, Crouser needed only one fair attempt of 72-2.50 (22.01m) in the first round to win the competition.

Not only will Crouser attempt to become the first male shot putter to win back-to-back titles since fellow American Christian Cantwell captured three in a row from 2006-08, he also will pursue both meet and stadium records, which eluded him last year.

Cantwell set the meet record of 72-6.25 (22.10m) in 2006, which also stood as the stadium record until Ryan Whiting won the 2013 USATF Outdoor Championships at Drake with a mark of 72-6.50 (22.11m).

Although fellow professionals Ashinia Miller of Jamaica and Josh Awotunde are scheduled to compete, there will also be plenty of intrigue surrounding the performance of North Dakota State fifth-year senior Payton Otterdahl, who elevated to the No. 15 all-time collegiate outdoor performer at the Beach Invitational with a mark of 70-1.50 (21.37m).

Otterdahl, the only athlete besides Crouser in the field to surpass 70 feet, eclipsed Crouser’s collegiate indoor record Feb. 23 with an effort of 71-6.75 (21.81m).

Harrison hopes to keep streaks alive

Keni Harrison has a pair of streaks she’ll attempt to preserve Saturday in the World Showdown elite invitational women’s 100-meter hurdles, the biggest being her pursuit of a fourth consecutive title, which would tie her with Lolo Jones (2005-08) for the most in meet history.

Harrison has also won six straight 100 hurdles races, including three rounds at last year’s USATF Outdoor Championships. Her last loss at Jim Duncan Track was in the 400 hurdles semifinals at the 2013 USATF Outdoor Championships.

Harrison ran the fastest time under all conditions in meet history last year with a wind-aided 12.37 seconds. The meet record remains 12.40 by Jasmin Stowers in 2015, with the stadium record 12.26 by Brianna Rollins-McNeal at the 2013 USATF Outdoor Championships.

Harrison produced a world-leading 12.63 in her 100 hurdles opener April 20 at the 61st Mt. SAC Relays at El Camino College’s Murdock Stadium, but a quick start by the official prevented her from getting out of the blocks as strong as she would have liked.

There are plenty of challengers ready to push Harrison, including last year’s runner-up Tobi Amusan of Nigeria. Reigning Olympic silver medalist Nia Ali is also scheduled to compete, along with Harrison’s training partners, Pedrya Seymour and defending NCAA Division 1 Outdoor champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn.

Great Britain’s Cindy Ofili, a two-time women's university-college section winner in 2015-16 during her Michigan career, is also scheduled to compete.

Hurdling heroes set to renew acquaintances

Jamaica’s Omar McLeod won the elite invitational men’s 110-meter hurdles at Drake in 2016 and 2017 after capturing the university-college section at Arkansas in 2015, but didn’t return last year to pursue four in a row, which allowed American Devon Allen to capture the championship in 13.42 seconds.

Aaron Mallett won the university-college title in 2017 at Iowa in 13.49.

McLeod clocked a wind-legal 13.29 in his 110 hurdles opener April 13 at the Hurricane Invitational in Coral Gables, Fla.

He still holds the meet record of 13.08 from his 2016 victory, with American David Oliver boasting the stadium record of 12.93 from the 2010 USATF Outdoor Championships.

Americans Freddie Crittenden and Mallett, along with Serbia’s Milan Ristic and Eddie Lovett of the U.S. Virgin Islands are scheduled to return from last year.

Perhaps the most dangerous entry in the field is Kentucky junior Daniel Roberts, who boasts a personal-best 13.27. Roberts was originally entered in the university-college section, but was moved to the elite invitational section and has the potential to be the first collegiate athlete to capture the title since the event was added to the schedule in 2002.

Anticipated return to the runway

Sandi Morris hasn’t pole vaulted in competition since Sept. 8, using the winter and early spring to rehabilitate from left ankle surgery during the fall.

Although Morris won’t participate Wednesday at the annual Capital Square Vault indoors in Des Moines, she is scheduled to make her return to competition Friday at Drake Stadium in the World Showdown women’s elite invitational pole vault, looking to join American Kellie Suttle (1998-2001) as the only female athletes in meet history to win four years in a row.

Morris set the meet record last year with a 16-foot clearance (4.88m). The stadium record of 16-0.50 (4.89m) still belongs to Jenn Suhr from the 2010 USATF Outdoor Championships.

Suhr, who last won at Drake Relays in 2012 on her way to capturing the Olympic gold medal, enters the meet with a world-leading clearance of 16-1.25 (4.91m) from March 30 at the 92nd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.

Morris prevailed against Suhr by a 15-9 (4.80m) to 15-1 (4.60m) margin at Drake Stadium at last year’s USATF Outdoor Championships, as well as in their last meeting July 20 in Monaco.

Also scheduled to compete Friday is Annie Rhodes-Johnigan, who set the meet record April 20 with a 15-3 (4.65m) clearance to elevate to No. 4 in the world this year at the 61st Mt. SAC Relays in Torrance, Calif. Fellow Americans Kortney Ross and Kristen Leland, who tied for second behind Rhodes-Johnigan at Mt. SAC Relays, are also entered.

An All-American showdown

The three American athletes with 19-foot clearances this year, indoors or outdoors, are scheduled to meet for the first time this season Saturday in the World Showdown elite invitational men’s pole vault.

Sam Kendricks, winner of the past two Drake Relays titles and reigning USATF Outdoor champion, will square off against USATF Indoor winner Andrew Irwin and defending NCAA Division 1 Outdoor champ Chris Nilsen of South Dakota.

Kendricks won last year’s competition by setting the meet record with a 19-1.50 (5.83m) clearance, then increased the stadium record to 19-2.25 (5.85m) in June at the USATF Outdoor Championships.

Nilsen placed second at both events, clearing 18-11.50 (5.78m) at Drake Relays, followed by 19-0.25 (5.80m) at the USATF Outdoor Championships. His outdoor personal best remains 19-2.75 (5.86m).

Nilsen produced the best outdoor mark in the world this year April 20 at the 25th Beach Invitational with a 19-1 (5.82m) clearance.

Irwin cleared a personal-best 19-3.50 (5.88m) in February on his way to capturing the indoor title two weeks later. He ranks third in the world outdoor rankings this season with a 19-0.25 clearance.

Kendricks hasn’t competed since Feb. 24 at the All-Star Perche indoor event in France, clearing 19-5.50 (5.93m). He is attempting to win at Drake Relays for a third year in a row, the most by any male athlete since fellow American Jeff Hartwig won seven in a row from 1995-2001.

Three-peat remains a tough feat

American Georganne Moline had an opportunity to win for a third consecutive year in the Tokyo Countdown women’s elite invitational 400-meter hurdles, which would have equaled the achievement of former Iowa State standout Debbie Esser (1977-79) as the only athletes in meet history to accomplish the feat, but Moline decided not to compete.

Moline’s absence has left 2017 World Outdoor champion Kori Carter and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Ashley Spencer as the likely favorites.

The meet and stadium records have both stood since 2013.

Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic set the meet record of 54.41 seconds, then American Dalilah Muhammad produced the stadium record of 53.83 at the USATF Outdoor Championships.

American Jaide Stepter and Gianna Woodruff of Panama are also scheduled to compete.

Bednarek gets big opportunity

For those who didn’t know about Iowa Central Community College standout Adva Cohen before last year’s Drake Relays, they quickly learned about the potential of the Israeli star, who set the meet record in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase by clocking 9:52.37 on her way to placing fifth in August at the European Championships in 9:29.74 before transferring to New Mexico in the fall.

The two-year college athlete with the potential to make the same impact this year could be Indian Hills Community College (Iowa) freshman sprinter Kenny Bednarek.

The Rice Lake High WI graduate is entered in the men’s elite invitational 200 meters Friday, the first time the event has been showcased at Drake Relays since 2012.

Bednarek’s last appearance at Jim Duncan Track came April 13 at the Blue Oval Invitational, when he produced wind-aided marks of 10.22 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 20.12 in the 200.

His best wind-legal marks remain 10.42 in the 100 and 20.43 in the 200.

Bednarek will compete against a field loaded with Olympians, including Yancarlos Martinez of the Dominican Republic, Turkey’s Jak Ali Harvey and Bermuda’s Tre Houston. He’s also expected to face fellow Americans Brandon Carnes, Kyree King, Ameer Webb and Wallace Spearmon, who won the event in 2012 in 20.02.

Raising the bar again

Levern Spencer, 34, placed third last year, but the ageless wonder from Saint Lucia is back to challenge for another title Saturday in the Tokyo Countdown women’s elite invitational high jump.

Spencer, who has previously won at Drake Relays in 2008, 2016 and 2017, is seeking a fourth victory, matching Americans Chaunte Lowe (2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014) and Amy Acuff (2001, 2004-06) for most in meet history.

In addition to Spencer, another three-time Olympian in Doreen Amata of Nigeria is also scheduled to compete.

The top two entries are Americans Erica Bougard and Amina Smith, who rank fourth and fifth in the world this season at 6-2.25 (1.89m) and 6-2 (1.88m), respectively. Erika Kinsey of Sweden is tied for 10th in the world at 6-0.75 (1.85m).

Kendell Williams, another American heptathlete along with Bougard, is entered in both the Tokyo Countdown women’s elite invitational long jump Friday and the high jump Saturday.

North American rivals seek new heights

Following a one-year hiatus, the Tokyo Countdown men’s elite invitational high jump has returned to the Drake Relays schedule.

Canada’s Derek Drouin captured the title in 2017 with a 7-6.50 (2.30m) clearance. Drouin also holds meet and stadium records with his 7-10.50 (2.40m) clearance at the 2014 Drake Relays.

Only one Canadian is scheduled to compete this year, but Django Lovett is tied for No. 2 in the world at 7-6.50 following his victory April 20 at the 61st Mt. SAC Relays and leads all entries.

Reigning USATF Outdoor champion Jeron Robinson, who cleared 7-7 (2.31m) to capture the title in June at Drake Stadium, is No. 4 in the world this season at 7-5.75 (2.28m).

Fellow Americans Trey Culver, JaCorian Duffield, Bryan McBride and Ricky Robertson, along with a pair of talented athletes from the Bahamas, Trevor Barry and Jamal Wilson, are also scheduled to compete.

Saunders looks to soar once again

The last time the women’s elite invitational long jump was held in 2017, a thrilling battle involving Great Britain’s Lorraine Ugen and Nigeria’s Ese Brume was decided on a tiebreaker based on which athlete had the better second jump.

Sha’Keela Saunders was involved in a similar showdown in June at the USATF Outdoor Championships, capturing her first national title by less than an inch with a wind-aided leap of 21-5.50 (6.54m).

Saunders returns to Drake Stadium to compete Friday in the Tokyo Countdown women’s elite invitational long jump, looking to secure another memorable victory.

Saunders was leading in the final round April 20 at the 61st Mt. SAC Relays in Torrance, Calif., before being overtaken by Brazil’s Eliane Martins.

A pair of challengers are both former Georgia athletes in Jamaica’s Chanice Porter and American Kendell Williams, who rank seventh and eighth, respectively, in the world this season.

Porter produced a leap of 21-10.50 (6.67m) at the Spec Towns Invitational on April 6 in Athens, with Williams achieving a mark of 21-7.75 (6.60m).

Great Britain’s Jahisha Thomas, an All-American in the long jump and triple jump at Iowa, makes her return to Drake Stadium, adding more international flavor to the event, along with Japan’s Konomi Kai and Tamaka Shimizu.

Americans Taliyah Brooks and Kylie Price, who have both surpassed 22 feet in their careers, are also scheduled to jump, along with former USC All-American Madisen Richards, making her professional debut.