DES MOINES, Iowa (April 13) — The organizers of the 2023 Drake Relays presented by Xtream, powered by Mediacom, have announced the women’s 400-meter hurdles field, which includes former world record holder Dalilah Muhammad. The event will take place from April 26 through April 29.
Muhammad, who won this event in 2022, is a 2016 Olympic champion and a 2019 world champion. She is also the former world record holder, having set her first world record at 52.20 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles in 2019 at this same event before breaking it again later that year in Doha.
Complete Drake Relays 400m Hurdles Field
| Athlete | Country |
|---|---|
| Dalilah Muhammad | USA |
| Gianna Woodruff | Panama |
| Anna Cockrell | USA |
| Ashley Spencer | USA |
| Tia-Adana Belle | Barbados |
| Erin Dowd | USA |
| Bianca Stubler | USA |
| Kaila Barber | USA |
Although her lifetime best is now 51.58 seconds, her American compatriot Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has since broken the world record. – Read more: Olympic champions Sandra Perkovic and Valarie Allman to battle at Bislett Games 2023
Who will challenge Dalilah Muhammad at Drake Relays?
The 33-year-old Muhammad will be challenged by a talented field that includes Ashley Spencer, Gianna Woodruff, Anna Cockrell, and former World Youth Championships silver medalist Tia Adana Belle of Barbados.
As part of her preparations this season, Muhammad will also compete in the open 400m dash at the 2023 Tom Jones Memorial Invitational this weekend in Florida.
Spencer, the Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, is set to compete in her fourth Drake Relays. In the meantime, Cockrell, the two-time NCAA champion and 2016 World Junior gold medalist, was a finalist at the Tokyo Olympics but was disqualified in the final.
Meanwhile, Woodruff, who is the national record holder for Panama and a finalist at the last two global championships, is looking to surprise the field this year after an impressive performance last year.
“The 400-meter hurdles has consistently been one of the most exciting events on the Blue Oval, and this year will be no different,” said Blake Boldon, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays in a recent statement.
“Having a defending Relays champion of Dalilah’s caliber return speaks volumes to the reputation this event has earned. And she’ll be challenged by three other women that have run faster than 54 seconds, including Ashley Spencer, Gianna Woodruff, Anna Cockrell, and Tia-Adana Belle.”
At last year’s Drake Relays, Muhammad clocked a then-world-leading time of 53.88 to win the event ahead of Woodruff and Cockrell.
