A handful of KCII area athletes are awaiting word on if they will compete in Iowa’s premiere track and field meet next weekend in Des Moines.The qualifying deadline for the 2015 Drake Relays passed at 11:59 p.m. Thursday and it appears some area schools will be represented at the event.

On the boys’ side, Washington senior Tommy Peterson appears to safely be a part of the 24 top shot put athletes who qualify for the Drake Relays in the state. Coming into Thursday’s deadline day, Peterson had the sixth best throw in the state in shot put at 55 feet 7.5 inches. Peterson recorded the throw during last Friday’s Demon Relays at Washington High School.

Demon senior Jacob Hennigan looks to be heading to Des Moines as well, representing Washington in the 110 meter hurdles. Heading into yesterday’s competition, Hennigan’s best time was 15.01 seconds, the 12th best time in the entire state as of Thursday morning. The Drake Relays takes the top 24 times in the 110 meter hurdles for their meet.

Washington’s last potential Drake Relays qualifier is the Demons’ 110 shuttle hurdle team of Hennigan, Alex Gonzalez, Gage Redlinger, and Caleb Bex. The crew recorded their best time of the year at last Friday’s Demon Relays, posting a time of 1:00.02. Heading into the final qualifying day, the time was the 11th best in the state. The Drake Relays qualifies the top 16 shuttle hurdle relay teams for their yearly meet.

Elsewhere, two area athletes look comfortably in the 100 meter dash competition. Coming into yesterday’s qualifying deadline, juniors Mauricio Ramirez of Columbus and Bryce Achen of WACO were unofficially among the top 10 fastest 100 meter dash athletes in the state. Both boys’ recorded their fastest times of the season last Friday at the Demon Relays. Ramirez recorded a time of 11.02 seconds, the sixth fastest time in the state. Achen was one-tenth of a second behind Ramirez, tied for the seventh best time in the state. The Drake Relays welcomes the top 32 100 meter dash times to compete in their meet.

On the girls’ side, Washington’s 4×100 meter relay team of Amber Salow, Morgan Kimball, Makenzi Marek, and Macy Marek had their best run of the season on April 2nd at the Bullette Relays, finishing the event in 53.07 seconds. The time is unofficially the 74th fastest recorded so far this season. The Drake Relays qualifies the top 80 4×100 meter dash teams across the state.

Finally, Winfield-Mount Union senior Lou Krieger-Coen appears to be heading to Des Moines in the discuss competition. Krieger-Coen’s best throw of the year was recorded at 128 feet 1 inch on April 7th at the Bullette Relays in Mediapolis. Heading into yesterday’s qualifying deadline, Coen had recorded the 13th best throw in the state.

The Relays organizers are sorting through the registered times across the state, and are releasing a tentative schedule of events to coaches only later this afternoon. A full list of High School Division events for the 2015 Drake Relays will be released Saturday afternoon.

Listen to KCII’s sports page Monday for a full official list of area athletes headed to the Drake Relays.