The first major milestone in an Iowa high school track & field athlete’s season is approaching. By the end of the evening this Thursday the 15th, the deadline will pass for submitting qualifying performances for the 2021 Drake Relays. All high school events this year will be on Thursday, April 22 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.

Greene County is in contention to qualify both girls and boys to the 111th Drake Relays. The Relays choose what events to conduct and how many individuals and relays to qualify. Entering this week Nathan Black, Bryce Stalder, Jackson Morton, and the 110 meter shuttle hurdle relay were Greene County boys’ events with the best chance to qualify for Drake, while Brooklynn Olson, Brianna Osterson and the 4 x 100 meter relay had the best chance for Greene County girls to qualify.

According to the statistic website Varsity Bound, Morton stands 13th in the 110 meter high hurdles and there are 32 qualifiers in that event. Stalder is ninth in the long jump and 24 qualifiers will make it in this event. The high jump also qualifies 24 and Black is among the top 18 entering the week. Morton, Black, Stalder, and Jaxon Warnke are the foursome who made up the shuttle hurdle relay that is attempting to be one of 16 quartets accepted into Drake. They were 15th entering this week.

Brooklynn Olson is 21st in the girls’ shot put and there are 24 qualifiers. Olson was 27th in the discus throw, which also accepts 24 girls. Brianna Osterson stands 26th in the long jump and 24 girls qualify, and the 4 x 100 meter relay quartet of Olivia Shannon, Natalie Heupel, Makala Kafer, and Osterson will try to make the field of 48. They enter the week standing 51st.

The Rams go to Carroll Monday for the Carroll Coed Relays, then Thursday the boys go to Saydel in Des Moines, and the girls compete in Le Grand at East Marshall. The Drake Relays qualifying list for high school athletes is expected on Friday.