Three Tulip City based track and field athletes are among a select few who have already qualified for the 2023 Drake Relays by breaking Blue Standard times and distances during the indoor season.

Chase Lauman and Hanson King of Pella, and Pella Christian’s Trevor Veenstra have already been able to showcase their abilities in what could be early signs of potential special finishes in April and May at the peak of the outdoor schedule. The five events these three individuals have qualified for are among just 28 total boys entries in the entire state through two weeks of indoor competition.

Lauman in particular has broken out after a strong finish to his high school cross country career and an All-State placement in October; the future UNI Panther has run three races in the 800 meters (1:56.98 at UNI), 1600 meters (4:17.24 at the IATC Indoor), and 3200 meters (9:24.86 at the IATC Indoor) — and broke the Drake Relays automatic qualifying times in all three in just his first events of each this spring.

King has made a huge leap from his sophomore to junior campaigns for the Dutch; his first throw of the new year of 54 feet matched the automatic Drake Relays distance needed to earn a spot at the three-day showcase April 27th through 29th. His season best in 2022 was 45 feet, 9.25 inches.

Veenstra of Eagle Lane is following in the footsteps of older brother and current Iowa State Cyclone Blake; Trevor broke Blake’s high mark by a wide margin and earned his Blue Standard by throwing 55 feet, 6.75 inches at the Iowa Track and Field Association Indoor Championships fittingly in Ames.

Last year, a total of 373 Iowa High School performances met the Blue Standard, including 210 girls’ entries and 163 boys.

The indoor track and field season continues for Pella High athletes not on spring break this Friday and Saturday at Central College, while the Eagles will join the Dutch at the Little Hawkeye Conference indoor championship next week at Grinnell College.