Roberts hits Drake Relays blue standard

Qualifying for the Drake Relays is hard enough in its own, but hitting a Blue Standard is a step above.

Blue Standards are prestigious qualifying marks that guarantee acceptance into the high school portion of the event.

The marks are set high, and not all who qualify will hit the standard marks in each event.

On Tuesday at Wartburg College, the first area athlete clinched a berth to the Drake Relays.

That athlete is HLV-TC’s Ema Roberts.

Roberts is the defending Class 1A high jump champion and is a previous Drake Relays qualifier, placing fifth last season.

In the Warriors only indoor track and field meet this season, Roberts cleared five feet, six inches, which is the blue standard in the event.

It is also just an inch off Roberts’ career best — not a shabby way to start the season for the senior.

“That was her goal, (to hit standard),” HLV-TC coach Austin Roberts said. “I’m glad she was able to hit it.”

In a total of 34 high school events this year, 27 standard marks have become more difficult to hit.

Last season, Williamsburg led the way, qualifying in eight total events (four girls, four boys) among area teams. In total, there were 12 area event qualifiers.

As indoor meets end, several athletes have already put themselves into position to potentially qualify this season. Teams will now get a few weeks of outdoor meets to push for qualifying marks.

Each field size will vary, and after blue standards, fields will be filled with the next highest marks in the state among all classes.

The deadline for entries will be April 18. The Relays will be April 23-26.

The 34 events and their field sizes are listed here: 100-meter (32), 400 (16), 800 (16), 1600/1500 (21), 3200/3000 (21), 110/100 hurdles (32), 400 hurdles (16), 4x100 relay (96), 4x200 relay (24), 4x800 relay (16), shuttle hurdle relay (16), distance medley relay (boys only, 24), sprint medley relay (girls only, 24), high jump (24), discus (24), shot put (24) and long jump (24).

Drake Relays Blue Standards

Boys

100 m — 10.80

400 — 49.00

800 — 1:55.00

1600 — 4:17.00

3200 — 9:20.00

110 hurdles — 14.70

400 hurdles — 54.25

400 wheelchair — 1:10

4x100 relay — 43.50

4x200 relay — 1:29.00

4x400 relay — 3:24.50

4x800 relay — 8:02.00

Shuttle hurdle relay — 59.75

Distance medley relay — 3:34.00

High jump — 6—07

Long jump — 22—06

Discus — 175—00

Shot put — 56—00

Girls

100 m — 12.43

400 — 57.05

800 — 2:15.50

1500 — 4:43.00

3000 — 10:14.00

100 hurdles — 15.30

400 hurdles — 1:05.25

400 wheelchair — 1:30

4x100 relay — 50.50

4x200 relay — 1:44.50

4x400 relay — 4:02.50

4x800 relay — 9:34.00

Shuttle hurdle relay — 1:06.50

Sprint medley relay — 1:49.00

High jump — 5—06

Long jump — 17—10

Discus — 135—00

Shot put — 41—00