In four weeks the Drake Relays will be held at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. It’s one of track & field’s biggest meets and Iowa high school girls and boys, collegiate men and women, and world class males and females all compete the last three days of April at the same venue. Greene County boys’ head track and field coach Chad Morton is also an official in the sport and he’s worked the various jumping events over the years at the Relays. “It really is a special event, especially for the track nerds and track junkies that are around. I’ve talked to a lot of officials around the United States and anytime you bring up Drake Relays people know what you’re talking about and what’s happening.”

High school athletes get to mingle with college and professionals, and Morton says the pros like it, too, “I know there are USA track & field athletes who enjoy that experience and enjoy that comraderie and seeing those kids.”

Iowa high schoolers must qualify for the Drake Relays and it’s held all in one class regardless of school size with no team scoring. Typically, Greene County qualifies one or more events and that is the goal for 2022.