[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10675]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              DRAKE RELAYS

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President. I wish to pay tribute to a 100-year 
tradition in my home State of Iowa . This past weekend, the Drake 
Relays in Des Moines, IA, celebrated a century of competition for the 
world's elite track and field athletes.
  Schools and athletes from all over the country come to Des Moines 
each year to compete in this classic. The display put on by the Drake 
community every year brings alumni, Iowans, athletes, friends, and 
families together to cheer competitors in victory and defeat.
  The Drake Relays has been creating memorable moments for 100 years. 
It is moments created by Jesse Owens, Michael Johnson, Carl Lewis, Jim 
Ryun, Gwen Torrence, and Iowa's very own Lolo Jones, Natasha Kaiser-
Brown, Kevin Little, and Joey Woody. It is unknown athletes making 
their own mark in history and taking the first step toward fame far 
beyond the borders of Iowa. It is high school kids, like my son Robin, 
whose capstone moment of their athletic career was participating in the 
Drake Relays.
  Anybody who has attended the Relays understands the marvel of this 
one-of-a-kind sporting event. For some it is the blue track that helps 
athletes run a little faster, jump a little longer and higher, and 
throw a little further. For others it is the fans filling every seat to 
cheer for the athletes who cross the finish line in first and for those 
who cross last. And for some it is the intense competition from the 
high school kids all the way to the top athletes in the world who are 
standing shoulder to shoulder waiting for their event.
  Whatever it is, there is a reason fans and athletes alike keep coming 
back to the Drake Relays year after year.
  Just as Jesse Owens said, ``There's something special about the Drake 
Relays.''
  Congratulations to the Drake Relays on 100 years of ``America's 
Athletic Classic.''

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