Rex Harvey Memorial Shot Put returns to 2024 Drake Relays

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom will spotlight eight top-tier Masters-level athletes later this month with the return of the Rex Harvey Memorial Masters Shot Put. Masters-level competition, which features athletes ages 35 and older, enjoys a respectable history at the Drake Relays. The field for this year’s shot put includes a diverse selection of accomplished throwers from across the country.

“This event is a testament to the extraordinary impact that Rex Harvey had on the track and field universe, especially the Drake Relays and USATF Masters Committee,” Blake Boldon, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays said. “It also exemplifies how Drake Relays fans celebrate athletic achievement at the highest level in all its forms.”

Four men and four women make up the octet of Masters competitors set to participate in America’s Athletic Classic. Scott Eriksson is the only returning athlete from the last time the Relays held a Masters shot put event in 2022. The 62-year-old Plano, Texas native has captured World Masters Championship gold medals and was named USATF 60-64 Male Athlete of the Year in each of the past two years.

Other men’s entrants include Minnesotan and eight-time Masters national champion Troy Bellrichard, 69-year-old David Brandt, and Jim Patterson, an American Masters record holder in both 55-59 outdoor shot put and 60-64 indoor shot put.

The women’s field is equally as competitive with another crop of determined performers. Erika Pierce brings a wide array of skills into this year’s shot put contest after winning the W50 outdoor heptathlon national championship in 2023. She also holds the American record in the W45 outdoor heptathlon.

Linn Dunton adds to the field with her lengthy resume. Dunton was the gold medal winner in shot put, discus, and javelin at the 2022 National Senior Games and took silver in those same events last year. Monica Kendall is another record holder in the W60 age group with a throw of 11.31m.

Jan Unruh, a newcomer to the Masters arena, rounds out the field and returns to the Drake Relays after competing as a collegiate athlete in 1984. She placed second in both the 60-64 weight throw and superweight throw while taking bronze in the shot put at the 2023 USATF Indoor Nationals.

The Rex Harvey Memorial Masters Shot Put is a result of the Rex Harvey Endowment. Before his sudden death in December 2019, Rex Harvey was a longtime Drake Relays official and referee known in the track and field community for his athletic achievements and his leadership on the USATF Masters Committee. The endowment serves to provide Drake Relays leadership with the ability to support any Masters event or athletes to improve the competition's quality and vitality. The fund began with an initial gift from Joan Harvey, Rex's widow, and friends and family.

“The USATF Masters Track and Field Committee is honored to work with our friends at the Drake Relays in honoring our Masters and Drake Relays icon Rex Harvey with this annual event,” said Jerry Bookin-Weiner, chair of the USATF Masters Track & Field Committee. “This event is one of the highlights of our calendar each year and allows us to bring our amazing athletes to the larger track and field community.”

The Rex Harvey Memorial Masters Shot Put is slated as the final field event of the 2024 Relays with a start time of 4:05 p.m. on Saturday, April 27.

Single session tickets are now available, and the Saturday session is heading toward a 57th-consecutive sellout. 2024 Drake Relays tickets are available here.

Troy Bellrichard (M57)

• Works as a radiology technologist in vascular/neuro radiology at Mayo Clinic
• Eight-time national champion in shot put, discus, javelin, and pentathlon between 2018-2024
• Finished the New York City Marathon in 2015 and 2019

David Brandt (M69)

• Took home golds in shot put, discus, and high jump at 2023 USATF Iowa Association Open and Masters Championship Meet

Scott Eriksson (M62)

• Works in software development and entrepreneurship
• Was named the USATF 60-64 Male Athlete of the Year in both 2022 and 2023
• Recently became the publisher for the Masters track and field magazine; “National Masters News”

Jim Patterson (M62)

• Works as a psychotherapist
• Six-time national Masters shot put national champion
• Men’s 60-64 Masters thrower of the year in 2018

Linn Dunton (W67)

• Makes her living as the Athletic Director and throws coach at Liberty Charter High School in San Diego
• Three-time national gold medal winner in shot put, discus, and javelin
• Ranked fifth in the world in shot put

Monica Kendall (W68)

• Is an elementary school physical education teacher
• Has held American outdoor records in each age group between 50-64

Erika Pierce (W53)

• Currently a high school English teacher
• American record holder in the W45 outdoor heptathlon and winner of 2023 W50 heptathlon national title
• Ran in the 400m hurdles at the 1996 Olympic Trials in Atlanta, Ga.

Jan Unruh (W62)

• Retired from teaching special education and coaching track and field in 2019.
• Won trio of medals in weight throw, superweight throw, and shot put at 2023 USATF Indoor Nationals
• Competed in the 1984 university/college heptathlon at the Drake Relays while a student-athlete at the University of Dubuque.