Nearly every athlete dreams of squaring off against the best competition in the world – it’s why they do what they do. After all, if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Most college athletes don’t get a taste of this elite level while still in school. That usually comes after their collegiate careers, in professional leagues. However, a small group of Billikens will get a shot at these dreams this weekend at the Drake Relays.
The Drake Relays is an annual track and field event held in Des Moines, Iowa. The event brings in some of the best athletes in the world, both collegiate and professional.
“[The event] is on a whole different level from regular collegiate events. The competition, … the amount of spectators, it’s all on a much higher scale,” sophomore Dahmar Smiles said. “It’s definitely a different experience.”
Smiles, the only male representative from Saint Louis University, will be joined by five female Billikens at the competition, which begins on April 22. Junior Tiffany Alexander, sophomores Brittney Cloudy and Mallory Dugger and freshmen Kalie Kirk and Ashley Roche complete the group of Billikens that will compete.
Drake University will serve as the host of the event that expects more than 7,200 athletes to compete over four days in front of more than 10,000 fans. This will be the 101st running of the Drake Relays. Athletes from 58 foreign countries will compete at the meet, offering the Billikens a look at the cream of the world’s crop.
“The amount of competition is the biggest difference for me. It really helps me. I know that I run better when the competition is better,” Smiles said.
The competition will even include athletes from traditional track and field powerhouses like Jamaica and Kenya. Smiles isn’t daunted by this step up in competition, though.
“I’m excited. A little nervous I guess, but I know that I belong here. I’ve had the chance to run in big events like this before, so I know what to expect … I qualified for the meet and I expect to compete,” Smiles said.
Smiles will compete in the men’s 110- and 400-meter hurdles events. He competed for SLU in the same events last year at the Drake Relays. Kirk, Alexander, Cloudy and Roche will compete in the women’s 4×100-meter relay. Kirk, Alexander, Roche and Dugger will run the 4×400-meter relay. Cloudy is also competing in the women’s triple jump.
The rest of the Billiken track and field squad will head to Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville for the SIUE Twilight on April 24.
Smiles was a standout performer on a high school team that won the Maryland state title during his sophomore, junior and senior years. “[Running at the Drake Relays] feels good. It really helps my confidence knowing that I am another step closer to achieving my goals,” Smiles said.
These goals include running for the United States in the 2012 Olympics in London.
“By the end of my high school career I realized I could maybe [compete] professionally. Since then I’ve just been trying to take all of the appropriate steps to get there.”
Hopefully for Smiles, this weekend proves to be another one of these steps.
