Select Few From Neighboring States Will Elevate Level Of Competition In Des Moines

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Photos by Carlos Celio and Joe Hale

Tradtionally, the high school portion of the Drake Relays is a Iowa-only affair. 

But this year elite high school miles have been created and top athletes from seven 'neighboring' states will have the rare opportunity to compete on the Blue Oval in Des Moines at the 113th Drake Relays. Technically, Iowa's border touches six states, but Kansas is also close. 

The boys lineup features Iowan Jackson Heidesch of Dowling Catholic and Ford Washburn of City High in Iowa City, two of the state's all-time greats, taking on sub-four miler Simeon Birnbaum of Rapid City Stevens of South Dakota, Daniel Watcke of Hinsdale Central (Illinois), Clay Shively of Trinity Academy (Kansas), Noah Breker of Robbinsdale Armstrong (Minnesota), Andrew Hauser of Rock Bridge (Missouri), Hobbs Campbell of Joplin (Missouri), Wyatt Haughton and Caden Peters of Shawnee Mission East (Kansas). Carson Lane of Johnston IA and Washburn's teammate, Truman Thompson, are also in the field. 

WATCH THE 113TH DRAKE RELAYS PRESENTED BY XTREAM LIVE ON USATF.TV

Heidesch won the New Balance Nationals Indoor title in the mile (4:02.25) and was second in the 2-mile (8:44.45). Birnbaum recently won the Arcadia Invitational 3,200 meters in a US#1 time of 8:34.10. 

Paityn Noe of Ballard IA and Addison Dorenkam of Valley headline the girls field and will be joined by fellow Iowans Adrienne Buettner-Cable of Roosevelt, Marley Turk of Ames and Lydia Sommer of Pleasant Valley. 

Coming in from out of state are Josie Baker of Kirkwood (Missouri), Libby Castelli and Ruth Pardy of O'Gorman (South Dakota) and Jordyn Arens of Crofton (Nebraska). 

Noe is the reigning Drake Relays and Iowa state champion in the 3,000 meters. She finished 11th at the New Balance Nationals Indoor 2-mile in Boston. Dorenkamp is the reigning state champion in the 1,500 meters.