FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 21, 2000 CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 KOSTEK NAMED 11th RELAYS DIRECTOR Mark Kostek, track and field coordinator at the University of Nebraska since 1980, has been named the director of the Drake Relays succeeding Bob Ehrhart who retired after 31 years at the post. Kostek, who has served as the chairman of the NCAA Track and Field Committee since 1998, becomes the 11th person to serve as director of the Drake Relays since the first event was held in 1910. The Hartford, Conn., native will assume control of a track and field extravaganza that saw a record 9,185 athletes compete in a record 98 events during the 91st running of the Drake Relays April 28-29. The Drake Relays also enjoyed its 35th consecutive sellout crowd of 18,000 for the Saturday session. "I'm so excited because this is a great opportunity," said Kostek, 45. "The Drake Relays is not only one of the most prestigious events in the Midwest but aslo in the United States. When you look at a great school such as Drake along with the city of Des Moines this was a very enticing opportunity that I couldn't pass up." "Under Bob Ehrhart, the Drake Relays have grown and gotten bigger and better each year. There will be some big shoes to fill but I feel I can bring some things to continue to advance the Drake Relays." Kostek has directed all of the Husker home competitions, where he has earned the reputation of one of the finest young meet organizers in the nation and he manages the 190 volunteers of the Husker Track Officials Association. He has served as the meet director for the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational which is considered one of the nation's premier intercollegiate indoor track and field meets. In 1996 Kostek was appointed to the NCAA Men's and Women's Track and Field Committee where he serves as the chairman of the Indoor Subcommittee. The subcommittee is responsible for the conduct of the National Indoor Championships. Kostek also sits on the four-person NCAA Rules Committee, where he represents Division I track and field. The dean of Head Coach Gary Pepin's staff, Kostek has helped guide the Nebraska men's and women's track programs to a top 10 national ranking. This past season Kostek was instrumental in helping lead the Huskers to win both the Big 12 Conference indoor and outdoor men's and women's championships. Nebraska has captured 52 Big Eight/Big 12 Conference indoor and outdoor team titles since 1981. During his tenure at Nebraska, Kostek has directed 15 conference championship events, 16 Frank Sevigne Invitational indoor meets, four NAIA indoor national championships and one NCAA Indoor national championship. An active member of the U.S. Track and Field program, he served as organizing committee chairman and meet director for the 1986 and 1990 National Junior Olympics Track and Field Championships held in Lincoln, Neb. A former NCAA All-American javelin thrower at the University of Kansas, Kostek has coached one NCAA champion and 24 All-Americans during his coaching career at Nebraska. In addition, 42 of his athletes have qualified for the NCAA championships. Kostek, who is a 1986 graduate of the University of Nebraska, is married to the former Cindy Tatum of North Platte, Neb., and they have four children: 15-year-old Tatum; 11-year-old twins, Thomas and Leah; and nine-year-old Katelyn. PREVIOUS DRAKE RELAYS DIRECTORS John L. Griffith 1910-1918 M.B. Banks 1919-1921 K.L. (Tug) Wilson 1922-1925 Ossie Solem 1926-1932 F.P. (Pitch) Johnson 1933-1940 M.E. (Bill) Easton 1941-1947 Tom Deckard 1948-1955 Bob Karnes 1956-1969 Bob Ehrhart 1970-2000