Masters 4x800m Relay

The Drake Relays is a track and field meet held in Des Moines. Billed as America's Athletic Classic, it is one of the top track and field events in the United States. It's also one of the oldest. I participated in the Relays in high school and then in college. Since then, I have returned each year to watch and spend time with friends.Less than a week before the meet, I was contacted by two old high school teammates. Both planned to run the Masters 800m (40+) on Friday. They said they had been approached by race organizers who had added a new—and very last-minute—Masters event on Thursday: the 4x800m relay.A group of Masters women wished to attempt the world record in the 65–69 age group. They reached out to the race coordinators, and the event was added to the schedule. However, to make the race official, they needed at least one other team on the track. Officials contacted Masters runners, including my friends, to see if they could assemble a team to help the ladies.I agreed, and our…