What stars will shine at the 2026 Drake Relays?
That’s what we’re looking into, as we highlight 12 Iowa high school girls athletes to keep an eye on at the Blue Oval. From sprinters, to throwers to long-distance runners and jumpers, we’ve identified those near the top of the leaderboard who will be contenders for Drake Relays championship flags and potentially earn some record-breaking moments.
Here are 12 athletes to keep an eye on in Des Moines from April 23-25.
Athletes listed in alphabetical order by last name. Stats from gobound.com as of April 17.
Muscatine sophomore Avery Bradley
The state leader in the 400 hurdles, Bradley is the only Iowan to crack under 1:03 in the event this year with a 1:02.92 time on April 16.
ADM senior Elise Coghlan
Coghlan be in the mix in every hurdle event at the Blue Oval. Coghlan is second in the 400 hurdles with a time of 1:03.05, as well as third in the 100-meter hurdles with a 14.57 second time.
Ankeny sophomore Morgan Fisher
There are many 400-meter dash contenders in the field, but Fisher leads the way. She’s the lone athlete to go under 56 seconds this year with a 55.97 time on April 11.
Burlington junior Kylee Hill
There are two top-tier throwers in the Drake Relays field, and Hill is one of them. She leads the state in shot put this season with a throw of 49-03 and is second in discus with an attempt of 150-04.
Valley senior Morgan Karr
Karr has her eyes on setting the all-time record in the 100-meter hurdles by season’s end. Before then, her 14.01-second time this season is still enough to be the favorite to win the event at the Drake Relays.
Linn-Mar senior Abby Mecklenburg
The all-time record holder in long jump is back for one last run. She has leaped as far as 20-08 in her career, and while she hasn’t reached that mark yet as a senior, what better place to match or surpass than the Blue Oval?
Mount Vernon junior Evelyn Moeller
Moeller is the state leader in the 1500 and 3000-meter runs this season. At 9:39.26 in the 3000, she’s nearly 20 seconds faster than the next best time in Iowa this year and owns a 4:34.69 in the 1500. She’ll be in the Elite Mile rather than the 1500, but her 1500 time is a reflection of how successful she may be in the mile.
Ottumwa senior Delilah Subsin
Subsin is the second-marquee thrower at the Drake Relays. She leads Iowa in discus this season with a 153-08 and is second in shot put with a throw of 47-10.
Davenport Central sophomore Joley Sullivan
Sullivan made a big statement on April 9 in the 800-meter run, recording a 2:13.4 in the event to take Iowa’s top time in 2026. There will be plenty of competition in this event, but Sullivan is the early favorite.
Waukee Northwest junior Logan Vogt
Expect to see a lot of Wolves claim titles at the Drake Relays. Vogt has the state’s second-fastest time in the 400-meter dash this season at 56.4 seconds. She’s also a key part of multiple relays that could secure Drake Relay crowns.
North Polk junior Reese Wagner
Wagner heads to the Blue Oval tied with Mount Ayr’s Aubree Shields for Iowa’s best high jump mark this year of 5-08. Wagner won her first state title last season with that same height.
Waukee Northwest senior Katie Willits
Another Waukee Northwest athlete to watch, Willits enters as the 100-meter dash favorite with a time of 11.98 seconds. She’s the only athlete to crack under 12 seconds this year in Iowa and will be a factor in relays as well.
Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 12 Iowa high school girls athletes to watch at 2026 Drake Relays
Reporting by Eli McKown, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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