DES MOINES, Iowa ---
As the world gets set for the
opening of the XXX Olympiad in London, England, the Drake Relays recognizes 21 Team USA track and field athletes who competed on
the blue oval at the Drake Relays in 2012 and have qualified for the games.
Drake Relays alumni Chaunte'
Lowe and Kara Patterson own American records in their respective events being
set at the 2010 U.S. Outdoor Championships held at Drake Stadium. Lowe set the
U.S. record in the women's high jump at 6-8 3/4, while Patterson established a
U.S. mark in the women's javelin at 218-8.
Jenny Simpson is set to run
the 1500 after competing in the 3000 steeplechase in Beijing where she set an
American record. She is the 2011 World Champion in the 1500.
High jumper Amy Acuff will be
competing for Team USA in her fifth straight Olympic Games following a
successful comeback after the birth of her daughter in 2009 and subsequent
retirement.
Though this list represents
Americans only, keep in mind that several international stars scheduled to
compete at the London Olympics also participated in the 2012 Drake Relays
including Javier Culson from Puerto Rico, who won the 2011 World Championships
in the men's 400 hurdles.
Culson opened the 2012
outdoor season by winning the Drake Relays invitational 400 hurdles and enters
the Olympics owning the fastest time in the world in 2012 at 47.78 seconds.
Athletes from more than 57
countries competed at the 2012 Drake Relays and several of those will represent
their native lands competing at the London Olympics.
Men - 9
Jeff Demps, Florida, 4x100 relay
Tony McQuay, Florida, 400, 4x400 relay
Derek Miles, pole vault
Jamie Nieto, high jump
Jeremy Scott, pole vault
Wallace Spearman, 200
Brad Walker, pole vault
Ryan Whiting, shot put
Isiah Young, Ole Miss, 200
Women - 12
Amy Acuff, high jump
Keisha Baker, 4x400 relay
Brittany Borman, Oklahoma, javelin
Tia Brooks, Oklahoma, shot put
Sharon Day, heptathlon (competed in high jump at Drake)
Becky Holliday, pole vault
Lacy Janson, pole vault
Lolo Jones, 100 hurdles (scratched at Drake Relays)
Chaunte' Lowe, high jump
Kara Patterson, javelin
Jenny Simpson, 1500
Jenn Suhr, pole vault