Mainstay may have a wrecking ball in its future. 90th Relays will be first for new track in Drake Stadium.
Senior columnists reflect on past, look to future.
A look back at Relays, Street Painting Kari Linder features editor It all began 89 years ago, with no more than 100 fans shivering in the stands as they watched the 82 runners compete in a blizzard. Expecting 250 athletes from 15 area colleges, the turnout that the first Drake Relays had would seem discouraging to most. The fans and athletes toughed it out though. Between races the athletes warmed up in tents in the infield, and students built fires, most staying to the bitter end of the meet. Nobody imagined how much of a tradition Relays would become.