2023 Drake Relays: Iowa Football Commits and Recruits Compete

The 2023 Drake Relays took place this weekend, with several Iowa football recruits and signees taking part in the renowned, invite-only meet that annually features some of the best track athletes in the state and beyond.

2024 wide receiver from Harlan Cade Sears placed 13th (10.90 seconds) in the 100m, with 2023 WR and signee Alex Mota placing 14th (10.91). Both set season bests in their respective races.

Due to injury, the newest 2024 commit Brevin Doll did not race.

2023 Texas Tech football PWO Miles Thompson of Cedar Rapids Washington set a Drake Relays record in the prelims, running 10.37. Thompson's time also qualified as the second-fastest 100-meter dash in state history.

2024 ATH of Iowa Falls-Alden Jaden Damiano placed third in the 110 Meter High Hurdles, running a lifetime best of 14.33. His previous best time was 14.42.

The 4x100 featured several Iowa recruits and signees, as 96 teams participated in the prelims. Here's how those with Hawkeye connections finished.

- Harlan - 2024 WR Sears

Team Place: 7th, 43.48 (Qualified for the final in 43.11)

- Ankeny Centennial - 2024 RB Elijah Porter

Team Place: 10th, 43.25

- Lawton-Bronson - 2025 ATH Louden Grimsley

Team Place: 19th, 43.70

- Carlisle - 2023 PWO Jack Laughlin

Team Place: 42nd, 44.37

- Marion - 2023 signee Mota

Team Place: 47th, 44.37

- Algona - 2025 QB Alex Manske

Team Place: 53rd, 44.55

Harlan also placed in the 4x200 with Sears, earning fifth in 1:28.50. 2023 Iowa signee Aidan Hall did not participate in either relay due to a minor hamstring issue.

A shuttle hurdle team from Central Lyon that included 2024 recruits WR Reece Vander Zee and S Graham Eben was disqualified.

Starting the track season with a bit of a nagging injury, 2024 commit Derek Weisskopf had only participated in two meets going into the Relays this weekend. His season-best in the high jump was 6'6" until topping that by one inch this weekend, leaping to a season-best of 6'7".

The day following his jump, Weisskopf told me that he narrowly missed the cutoff distance for the shot put at Drake as well. Chances are he'll participate in the event at the state meet in late May.

Another 2024 commit, Cam Buffington finished 11th in the long jump with a leap of 20-10.25. The winner of the event was 2023 Iowa State signee, Abu Sama, who jumped 23-6.25. This was Sama's second year in a row winning the event.

A 2023 offensive line PWO, Cael Winter from Waukee NW finished 14th with a toss of 51-6.5. He entered the day seeded 12th with a throw of 55-5.25.

Webster City ATH Jaxon Cherry finished tenth in the discus this weekend, making a throw of 158-4 on his final attempt. Before the weekend started, Cherry received his first Division I football offer from Marshall.

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