Olympic gold medal couple makes Drake Relays debut
Olympians are no strangers to the world-famous Drake Relays. At this year's event, more than a dozen Olympians will compete on the Blue Oval, including a husband-wife duo.
Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall are making their debut at Drake Relays on Saturday, their first competition of the track and field season since the Paris Olympics.
"We'll just go out there, shake the dust off. It's been a minute since we raced," Hunter said, smiling. "We're excited to be part of the history and be part of what the Drake Relays are all about."
The couple broke onto the world stage in last year's summer games, where Tara won gold in the long jump and Hunter earned a gold medal in the Paralympic Games.
The two are striving to take home the prestigious Drake Relays Champion Flag in their respective events. However, Hunter, who is a double amputee, will compete with able-bodied athletes in the 400-meter run.
"Any chance I get to compete in an able-bodied setting and show that even as a disabled athlete, I am able to compete at that level, I think, boosts the integrity of the sport for Paralympic sport," Hunter said. "The difference now is that we are integrating Paralympic and Olympic competition together in the same meet, and that's a first for us for sure."
The invitation to the Relays was thanks in part to the Woodhalls' coach, Travis Geopfert. Originally from Panora, Geopfert is the head track and field coach at Kansas State University, where Tara is the assistant coach.
"I'm stoked to have our coach and his family from their small town come see us compete," Tara said. The couple says they hope their visit to Des Moines as an interracial and interabled couple can be viewed as barrier-breaking.
"It's a dream come true for us to be competing on the same stage at such an elite level at the same track meet," Tara Davis-Woodhall said. "It's pretty surreal, and I think Drake Relays is gonna be one for the history books just in our little world."
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