DES MOINES, Iowa -- The world-renowned Drake Relays will include a Masters Invitational Women's 800m (Final), at Drake Stadium on Saturday, April 25. The star-studded field includes several age-group World and American record holders in the 400-800m and Olympic Trials qualifiers.

Mark Cleary, USATF Masters Invitational Chair, said, “We are hoping for a new meet record to come out of this field. It’s our largest field yet. Great weather is forecasted, 62 to 64 degrees.”

            Drake Relays Facts:

• 327,429 Athletes have competed within the 102 year history.
• Overall attendance for Drake Relays has reached 2,541,417 people.
• Saturday Sessions at Drake have sold out for 46 Consecutive Years.
• Between Drake Relays Staff, Volunteers, Track Officials, and Support Staff, over 1,144 people put in a collective total of approximately 224,220 hours yearly.  

Masters 800 Women’s Invitational Names, ( Age) Affiliation, Hometown  Notes

Felicia Bishop, (Age 47) Ronald McDonald House of Providence Running Club, Barrington, Rhode Island  
 
Chris Gentile, (Age 45) The Janes Elite Racing, Castle Rock, Colorado, defending champion.  Chris's winning time last year was 2:24.9. Chris ran for Villanova University.  She qualified for the 800, and the 1500 Meter Olympic trials in 2000, at Sacramento, California.

Alisa Harvey , (Age 49) RIADHA, Manassas, Virginia, Event Record Holder, with a time of 2:17.78.  She ran at Olympic Trials in New Orleans in '91 (1500 Meter Run, sixth place), and is the current Masters World Record holder for the Indoor 800m (W45-49), and the Indoor American Record holder in the 800m (W40-44). She also holds the Outdoor American Record in the 800m (W40-44 and W45-49) with a time of 2:13.67.  

Kate Maurer, (Age 43) Ankeny, Iowa, attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. 

Donna Mills, (Age 50) Orange City, IA, unattached.  

Kara Parker, (Age 45) St.Paul, Minnesota, former track star for the University of Minnesota. 

Christine Price, (Age 46) Runablaze Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa, second place last year in this race.   

Charmaine Roberts, (Age 47) Athena, Washington, District of Columbia. Current Masters World Indoor Champion in the (W45-49) 400/800 with a Pending American Record for the Indoor 400 Meter Run.  

Jill Vollweiler, (Age 46) So Cal Track Club, Purchase, New York, this is her third year running the event.  

Laurie Wisotsky, (Age 44) So Cal Track Club, Largo, Florida

Cleary added, “Drake Relays Meet Director Brian Brown and Assistant Meet Director Carolyn  Hill have been fantastic to work with. They deliver a great meet for the athletes every year and have made all the Masters athletes with the Invitational program feel valued and supported.  We appreciate Brian including us in this amazing Meet.”

Contributed by: Robert Weiner Associates and USATF Masters Media Committee

Contacts: Bob Weiner 
301-283-0821/202-306-1200
weinerpublic@comcast.net
 USATF National Masters Media Chair
 
Mark Cleary 
949-589-0242
runnermark@cox.net
USATF Masters Invitational Chair