Florida Gators Track And Field Heads To Des Moines, Iowa For 2012 Drake Relays

Despite the strong showing last week at the Tom Jones Memorial Classic, the men's team lost their top spot in the USTFCCCA poll. The rankings are heavily based on competition, so if you're searching for a reason, I guess that's it. The men head to Des Moines, Iowa ranked No. 2 and the women will arrive ranked No. 4.

The Drake Relays operate in much the same the Florida Relays or Texas Relays operate. There are athletes from colleges, universities, high schools and even the professional level competing for titles in their respective divisions. The meet is an important stop for the Gators this year because they're the second-to-last stop before the SEC Championships begin in Baton Rouge.

As always, schedule of events and meet information after the jump.

In action for the Gator men are:

Tyler Cardillo and John Mitchell (800 meter run), Eddie Lovett and William Wynne (110 meter hurdles), Wynne (400 meter hurdles), Dwight Barbiasz and Franke Hammond Jr. (high jump), Marquis Dendy (long jump), Omar Craddock and Dendy (triple jump), Stipe Zunic (discus), David Triassi and Jeremy Postin (hammer throw) and Zunic (javelin).

The men's team will also participate in the 4x100, 4x200, 4x400, 4x800 meter relays.

In action for the Gator women are:

Darshay Davis (100 meter dash), Ashley Favors and Ugonna Ndu (100 meter hurdles), Paige Morton, Ashley Usery and Ndu (400 meter hurdles), Stephanie Strasser (3,000 meter steeplechase),Taylor Burke (high jump), Brittany Harrell, Daniela Griffin and Lorraine Graham (long jump), Ciarra Brewer (triple jump), Kaitlin Davis, Keely Medeiros and Ashley Miller (discus) and Fidela James and Medeiros (shot put).

The women's team will also participate in the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays.

While the meet technically started on Wednesday, the Gators won't really be in action until today. There are multiple ways to follow the 2012 Drake Relays: You can watch the event live on the Drake University athletic website and up-to-the-minute results will be posted at the NMN Athletics website.