Iowa Athletes Excel at 2026 Drake Relays: What You Need to Know

Iowa athletes didn’t just show up at the 2026 Drake Relays; they owned the classic Blue Oval.

"The Drake Relays is built on bringing the very best together, from high school standouts to world-class professionals. That's what makes these performances so remarkable. To rise above a field this deep and this competitive speaks volumes about what these athletes achieved on the Blue Oval this week."

-Blake Boldon, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays.

Start with Quentin Nauman from Western Dubuque. This Bobcat put together one of the most impressive meets you’ll see from a high school runner. He grabbed three titles, winning the 3200, anchoring the 1600 medley relay, and closing things out with a win in the Elite Mile. That gave him seven career Drake Relays championships! He was also named a 2026 Drake Relays Most Outstanding Performer with the Robert Kramme Award for High School Boys.

Then there’s the powerhouse that is Waukee Northwest High School girl's relay teams. They set five Iowa all-time bests across multiple relays, including the 4x200, 4x400, 4x800, and shuttle hurdle. Only a dropped baton in the 4x100 kept them from a perfect run, but they still walked away as the clear top program. Eleven different athletes contributed, and several doubled or tripled up across events. The team was named a 2026 Drake Relays Most Outstanding Performer with the Gerry Cooley Award for High School Girls.

Cedar Falls High School track team made plenty of noise too. The boys edged out the Relays Cup team title in a tight battle. On the individual side, Brennen Hoyer delivered a strong 800 win and helped power the 4x800 relay to victory. On the girls side, Charlee Gall stayed consistent and proved she's one of the best with a big win on the "Elite Mile."

Additionally, Kloe Nissen delivered one of the biggest moments on the girl's side. She ran a meet-record 55.00 in the 400 meters. Cedar Falls boasted a strong meet, and she added another headline performance.

You can’t ignore Kaiden Kunze from Norwalk. He pushed the limits in both the 400 and long jump; coming within inches of a long-standing meet record still unbroken in 42 years. That kind of performance puts him on the radar well beyond the state of Iowa.

One name you’ve got to bring up is Ankeny's Hayden Carlson. He didn’t just win, he made Drake history. Carlson set a Drake Relays record in the 110-meter hurdles (13.80). That tells you everything about the level he’s at right now; elite.

Don't sleep on Ottumwa's Delilah Subsin. She backed up her reputation in the field events by winning the discus title, proving she’s one of the most reliable throwers in the state.

On the distance side, keep an eye on runners like Maeve Bowen-Burt from Iowa City High. She took home the 400M hurdles win.

At the college level, the Iowa Hawkeyes track and field showed their strength, by sweeping both the men’s and women’s team titles. The Hawkeyes captured six of the ten scored relay championships, including standout wins in the men’s 4x800 (earning back-to-back titles), the men’s 4x100, and the women’s 4x100. In addition to their relay success, Iowa athletes also claimed individual sprint titles in both the men’s and women’s 100-meter races.

You've seen the proof! Iowa talent didn’t just compete; they set the tone early and often. From dominant relay squads to clutch individual performances, this year’s Drake Relays felt like a showcase of just how deep track and field runs in our great state.