This spring has been full of unexpected opportunities for me as a running fan. Kyle and I have a mutual friend that works for Drake University’s Athletic Department and he needed updated video and photo footage for promotion of the Drake Relays. This was my first time as a spectator at a track meet that has elite runners present and on Friday evening Jenny Simpson was attempting to set a new American Record for 2 miles in an exhibition race. I was ecstatic to be given an all access pass to be Kyle’s Sherpa and haul around camera equipment, as I was able to be standing on the gray boarder of the blue oval when history was made.

Chatting with Olympian Shalaya Kipp after she paced Jenny Simpson to a new American Record in the 2 mile at the 2018 Drake Relays. Photo by Biggs Productions

 Here’s a video clip of some of the slow motion footage by Biggs Productions.

Overall, the biggest highlight of the evening was the candid conversation I had with Shalaya Kipp, an Olympic steeple chaser who is currently working on her doctorate at Colorado in Integrative Physiology. I started following her when she was sponsored by Oiselle and appreciate the work she is doing when it comes to women in athletics. I was excited to see Shalaya qualified in the steeple chase at the USATF Outdoor Championships that were in Des Moines in June 2018.