When the ISU women’s track and field athletes arrive at the Drake Relays they will be greeted by fans they’ve never met.

And while the track belongs to Drake, the fans belong to the entire field of competitors.

For ISU athletes, Drake is almost like a second home — a location where many have traveled to since their high school track and field careers.

“It’s a place that we’re familiar with,” said redshirt senior Anna Holtermann. “I’ve competed there multiple times. It’s just a place I’m comfortable with.”

Holtermann competed at the Drake Relays for junior nationals in high school and once as a college athlete. She has also competed at the Jim Duncan Invitational at Drake multiple times, including two weekends ago when she finished third in the hammer throw.

“I’m really excited to be there,” Holtermann said. “I haven’t competed at the Drake Relays since my freshman year. It’s a really great meet with a really great atmosphere.”

Holtermann’s teammate and fellow hammer thrower Kayla Sanborn will join Holtermann in the hammer throw competition at Drake on Saturday. Sanborn competed alongside Holtermann at the Jim Duncan Invitational and placed fifth in the event. 

“[The Drake Relays] is very competitive — there’s a lot of good people there from all over,” Sanborn said. “The fans are so into it and running around looking at different events.”

After falling short of her expectations the first two times competing at the Drake Relays, senior Christina Hillman said she wants to improve on recent performances and gain more experience competing in meets.

“Drake Relays is, if you’re an Iowan athlete, you have a lot of people cheering for you there because you’re from Iowa,” Hillman said. “They love to represent [and] the energy there is fun. You have people you don’t even know cheering for you, which is a great feeling.”

While this will be the last time competing at the Drake Relays for a handful of athletes, it will be the first time for others. Junior sprinter/hurdler Alyssa Gonzalez transferred from Central Connecticut State this year and will make her Drake Relays debut Friday.

Gonzalez is on a hot streak as of late, setting a personal record in the 400-meter hurdles in three of four outdoor meets this season. She has already set one personal record at Drake this season at the Jim Duncan Invitational on April 11 and said the goal is to set another at the Drake Relays.

“I am not disappointed that I keep running faster,” Gonzalez said. “I think it just means I have more to improve in. If I could just run faster this weekend, that would be great. Last weekend at LSU, my race wasn’t as I had wanted it to be. The first 200 [meters] of my race was really bad and the last 200 was really good, but I still ran a personal best.”

With less than 40 miles of travel and the support of thousands of fans, the Drake Relays provides a home away from home for the ISU women’s track and field team.

The Drake Relays officially began with the Beautiful Bulldog Contest on Sunday and the ISU women’s track and field team will make its first appearance at 4 p.m. Thursday.