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The final day of the 116th Drake Relays at Drake Stadium turned into a showcase for rising high school talent, with multiple record runs and several standout performances that will reverberate through the spring recruiting cycle. At America’s Athletic Classic, athletes combined to set a dozen records — including **four Iowa all-time high school marks** — signaling a fast start to the season for several programs and individuals.
Senior distance runner Quentin Nauman of Western Dubuque continued to justify his recruitment buzz, winning the Elite High School Mile in 4:05.18 — one of the fastest high school miles recorded this year. His finishing lap was blistering, and he completed a trio of titles at Drake for the second straight meet by adding the 3,200 and anchoring the winning 1,600 medley.
Kaiden Kunze also left with multiple crowns, doubling up as a Drake Relays champion and further underscoring the depth of talent on the track this weekend.
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Relays highlight team depth
High school relay competition dominated headlines. A single school’s depth stood out across several events: Waukee Northwest produced record performances in the 4×100, 4×400, 4×800 and the shuttle hurdle relay, combining for both Drake Relays and state-best times. The 4×100 record came in qualifying after the Wolves suffered a baton drop in the final, allowing Southeast Polk to capture the title in 47.25.
- Waukee Northwest: Drake and Iowa bests in 4×100 (prelims), 4×400, 4×800 and shuttle hurdles
- Southeast Polk: Winner of the girls 4×100 final — 47.25
- Iowa City West: Boys shuttle hurdle relay record — 55.82 (Ryder Gorsh closed)
- Cedar Falls: Boys 4×800 champions
- Cedar Rapids Prairie: Edged Cedar Falls 3:13.53 to 3:13.82 in the girls 4×400
Eleven different athletes combined to form Waukee Northwest’s four record-setting relays; sprinter Katie Willits, who won the 100m, was a member of both the 4×100 and the shuttle hurdle squad.
The meet offered tight finishes and clear separations alike — from nail-biting relay sprints to dominant individual victories that reinforced several programs’ depth.
Top individual results and rising names
In the hurdles, Maeve Bowen-Burt from Iowa City High won the girls 400m hurdles in 1:02.01 while Waukee’s Jayden Jeter led the boys in 52.25. Distance races featured repeat winners and breakthrough runs: Charlee Gall of Cedar Falls added the elite mile (4:50.45) to a 3,000 title she’d already secured earlier in the meet; Council Bluffs St. Albert’s Lili Denton claimed the 1,500 in 4:25.78, finishing more than seven seconds ahead of the field.
Johnston’s Jack Crossland took the boys 1,600 in 4:11.06, while Cedar Rapids Prairie and Cedar Falls delivered one of the day’s most exciting relay finishes in the girls 4×400.
Beyond the high school programme, the stadium also hosted elite open events: the card included a world-leading mark and a leading U.S. performance, underscoring the meet’s role as a springtime proving ground for athletes across levels.
Why it matters: performances at Drake carry weight with college coaches and national rankings. Fast early-season times can shift attention, change seedings at qualifying meets and build momentum for athletes and teams as the season progresses.
Results summary (selected)
- Elite High School Mile: Quentin Nauman — 4:05.18
- Elite Mile (girls): Charlee Gall — 4:50.45
- Girls 400m Hurdles: Maeve Bowen-Burt — 1:02.01
- Boys 400m Hurdles: Jayden Jeter — 52.25
- Girls 1,500: Lili Denton — 4:25.78
- Boys 1,600: Jack Crossland — 4:11.06
- Relays — notable: Waukee Northwest — multiple Drake and Iowa bests; Iowa City West — boys shuttle hurdles 55.82
The final day at Drake reaffirmed the meet’s reputation as both a destination for elite open competition and a platform for high school athletes to stake early-season claims. Expect these names and teams to remain in view as the season moves toward state qualifiers and national-class meets.
