The second-largest collegiate track and field event in the country, the Drake Relays, celebrated its centennial birthday last year, and many people are looking forward to the next century on the historic blue oval track at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.

New to this year’s meet will be the men’s and women’s elite wheelchair 1,500-meter races, marking the first time Paralympic events will be at the Drake Relays.

Also added to the schedule of events will be boys’ and girls’ middle school 4×100 meter relays, the women’s invitational pole vault and the men’s invitational 200 meters.

Add these to the other 113 high school, collegiate and Olympic events and the 2010 Drake Relays will amount to a total of 119 track and field events from Thursday to Saturday. That amount breaks the old record of 116 set in 2004.

First-year ISU assistant coach Grant Wall will be in Des Moines for his first Drake Relays after being a part of the largest collegiate track and field meet, the Penn Relays, as an assistant coach at Columbia University

“I have been to the Penn Relays about 10 times and I have heard [the Drake Relays] compared to Penn, so if that’s the case then it’s going to be a great meet,” Wall said. “Most of [the throwers] are from Iowa so it’s something they grew up with and loved, so we’re all looking forward to it.”

ISU head track and field coach Corey Ihmels has seen the Relays as both a competitor and a coach in his third year as the Cyclones’ coach.

“It’s one of those meets that if I had to pick a meet that I’d want to make sure I didn’t miss, Drake would be one of them,” Ihmels said.

With a roster that’s laden with Iowa natives, Ihmels knows that for some athletes, especially the seniors, it will be a special meet at Drake Stadium this weekend.

“Most of [the athletes] know the history, so it will definitely be a great opportunity for us to get out on the blue oval,” Ihmels said.

Numerous events will be occurring throughout Des Moines this week, but actual competition on the track will begin Wednesday at noon with the beginning of the heptathlon competition. Competition is scheduled to run from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 8:55 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. Saturday. For a complete list of events, visit www.godrakebulldogs.com and click on Drake Relays.