DRAKE RELAYS: Show Place in the Midwest
In 1961, Tennessee State’s Wilma Rudolph competed in the first women’s 100 meters competition, and Bob Hayes came into national prominence in 1962. Both were among the hundreds of Olympic gold medalists who competed at Drake Stadium. The list reads like a “Who’s Who” including Bruce Jenner, Michael Johnson, Carl Lewis, Jesse Owens, Frank Shorter, Gwen Torrence, and Jeremy Wariner. At the 2012 Olympic Games, there were 113 former athletes who performed in Des Moines, Iowa at the Jim Duncan Track.
Here is a list of former Black college athletes who won acclaim at the Midwest classic.
Bob Hayes, Florida A&M
Stan Wright, Texas Southern
MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS
1962 Bob Hayes, Florida A&M
1979 Essie Kelly, Prairie View A&M
1980 Essie Kelly, Prairie View A&M
1997 Lorraine Graham, Lincoln, PA
RELAYS
April 1983 Sprint Medley Relay (2,2,4,8) 3:12.19 Alabama State
28 April 1989 4 × 200m Relay 1:31.96 Texas Southern (Linda
Eseimokumoh, Beatrice Utondu,
Dyan Webber, Mary Onyali)
25 April 2015 4×110m Shuttle
Hurdles Relay 52.94 USA Blue
Jason Richardson, Aleec Harris,
Aries Merritt, David Oliver)
Women’s Events
25 April 2015 400m 50.13
Francena McCorory (Hampton)
Adidas
HALL of FAME
Performers
120-Yd High Hurdles
Willie Stevens, Tennessee A&I
Long Jump
Ralph Boston, Tennessee State (inducted 1966)
Coaches
Stanley Wright, Texas Southern/FDU
1951-84 (inducted 1984)
Dwight Reed, Lincoln University, MO
1949-95 (inducted 1985)
Hoover Wright, Prairie View A&M
1961-2003 (inducted 1986)
Dave Bethany, Texas Southern
1970-95 (inducted 1991)
Charles Paxton, Southern
1973-81 (inducted 1991)
Barbara Jackett, Prairie View A&M
1966-91 (inducted 1996)
Victor Thomas, Lincoln University, MO
2002 – present (inducted 2012)
Ralph Boston, Southern
David Oliver, Howard
RECORDHOLDERS
Long Jump Ralph Boston, Tennessee State 26-1 ¼ (World Record)
Triple Jump Paul Emordi, Texas Southern 55-3 ¼ (University)
400-Meter Dash Francena McCorory, Hampton) Adidas 50.13 (University)
4×100-Meter Relay Lincoln, MO 39.57 (College)
Sprint Medley Relay Prairie View A&M 3:14.43y (College)
4×800-Meter Relay Prairie View A&M 7:23.7y (College)
4×200-Meter Relay Texas Southern 1:31.96 (University)
4×200-Meter Relay Lincoln, MO 1:34.84 (College)
4×400-Meter Relay Lincoln, MO 3:34.52 (College)
800-Meter Medley Relay Prairie View A&M 1:38.76 (University-College-Women)
Francena McCorory, Hampton Left)
Victor Thomas, Lincoln, MO