Mile News


Simpson, Houlihan lead parade of Olympians headed to Drake Relays

April 14, 2017

Iowa natives part of "one of the best women’s 1500 meter fields we’ve ever assembled.”

By Cody Goodwin, The Des Moines Register

A slew of local athletes and plenty of Olympians will make their way to Des Moines in just a couple of weeks.

New Drake Relays director Blake Boldon said on Wednesday that fresh events and familiar faces are on tap for the 2017 Drake Relays, scheduled for April 26-29. He announced fields for the women’s 1500 meter run, high jump and the men’s 1500, all of which feature world class athletes.

The women’s 1500 features one of those familiar faces in Webster City native Jenny Simpson, a three-time Olympian and 2016 bronze medalist. A five-time Drake Relays champion, Simpson will run against, among others, Sioux City's Shelby Houlihan, another 2016 Olympian.

Simpson and Houlihan will compete against the likes of Kate Grace, the top-ranked 800 meter runner in the country last year; Alexa Efraimson, a junior world medalist; Brenda Martinez, a 2016 Olympian; and Charlene Lipsey, a five-time All-American from LSU.

“That field will be one of the best women’s 1500 meter fields we’ve ever assembled,” Boldon said.

Continue reading at: www.desmoinesregister.com

Tags: shelby houlihan (20) , kate grace (17) , jenny simpson (138) , drake relays (22) , charlene lipsey (3) , brenda martinez (43) , blake boldon (13) , alexa efraimson (20)

Facebook Comments

Return the Mile to prominence on the American & worldwide sports and cultural landscape by elevating and celebrating the Mile to create a movement.

ELEVATE
Bring Back the Mile as the premier event in the sport, and increase interest in and media coverage of the Mile for both those who love the distance as well as the general public.

CELEBRATE
Bring Back the Mile to celebrate the storied distance and to recognize the people who made and make the Mile great and to promote Mile events and the next generation of U.S. Milers.

NATIONAL MOVEMENT
Bring Back the Mile to create a national movement for the Mile as America’s Distance,
to inspire Americans to run the Mile as part of their fitness program and to replace the 1600 meters at High School State Track & Field Meets across the country.

Become a Mile Maniac member or a BBTM sponsor today! Join us, and go Mile!

Join Us

Thanks for joining the movement and being a Mile Maniac. We'll keep you up to-date with our Mile wires as well as exclusive contests and opportunities. Help us spread the word by sharing our site and joining us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!