Lance Harter Inducted into Drake Relays Coaches Hall of Fame
DES MOINES, Iowa – Festivities on Thursday at the 113th Drake Relays include Arkansas women’s head coach Lance Harter being inducted into the Drake Relays Coaches Hall of Fame along with the late Ralph Lindeman, former head coach at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
The induction of Harter and Lindeman will increase membership in the Drake Relays Coaches Hall of Fame to 91. The Coaches Hall of Fame was established in 1977 with charter members John L. Griffith (Drake), Harry Gill (Illinois), Tom E. Jones (Wisconsin), Clyde Littlefield (Texas), Leo Johnson (Illinois) and Bill Easton (Drake and Kansas).
“I think it’s more of a recognition of the history and legacy Arkansas women’s track and field has held there,” stated Harter. “They’ve got to figure out an individual to spotlight and that fell on me. They singled me out to be the representative to take the bow for all the athletes that have done this incredible history at the Drake Relays.
“We’ve won multiple championships there as well as the team championship in 2015. We’ve had numerous successes in individual events there as well as relay success. It’s kind of a culmination over the years of athletes doing a great job representing Arkansas.”
Last year on this weekend, Harter had a crew travel to the Penn Relays in Philadelphia where the Razorbacks set a collegiate record in winning the 4 x 1,500m title. A younger crew will experience the Drake Relays this season.
“Last year we took some athletes to the Penn Relays, and they were literally stunned at the attendance and the attention that a relay meet draws,” noted Harter. “I think we want to give that same experience to our young people, because we are going to be pretty young going there, to let them witness what those relay carnival atmosphere is like.
“The blue oval at Drake is unique and what’s really special about it is sometimes the weather is challenging, but it gives that extra deep effort to be able rise to a great race or great culmination of events on that particular day. We’re looking forward to that challenge again.”