Athletes usually know when they are on the brink of achieving something memorable.
Jacob Pauli has a hunch he's close to clearing 19 feet in the pole vault. Such a breakthrough at this week's Drake Relays would make the Northern Iowa senior a contender in a special invitational event usually dominated by Olympians. I not only want to jump 19 feet for myself and my coaches, but it makes it so much better when 20,000 people are watching. The 92nd edition of the Drake Relays, a track and field showcase hailed as America's Athletic Classic, begins with an inaugural distance carnival Thursday night. The three days of competition will feature 104 events, more than 30 Olympic qualifiers and 22 NCAA champions.