Every year the best track athletes in the state train to get their times down so they can have a chance to compete in the Drake Relays. This year Jayden Lovell, sr., and her relay team stayed up until 1 a.m. refreshing Iowa Quikstats to see if they qualified.

The Drake Relays bring together some of the fastest collegiate and high school athletes in the area to compete in their respective divisions. On Frida,y April 28 and Saturday, April 29, Kennedy’s 15 Cougars will compete to be champions.

This is Lovell’s first trip. “I’m hoping to make the finals but we have to run our very best to come close,” she said.

For the women’s team, Cheyenne Mitchell, Natalie McAllister and Katie Beer will be competing in individual events. Jayden Lovell, Alexis Peterson, Katie Beer, and Natalie McAllister are competing in the Shuttle Hurdle Relay and Sophie Feahn, Natalie McAllister, Jurnee Rose-Johnson, and Cheyenne Mitchell will be competing in the 4×100 meter relay.

For the men’s team, Chase Baker, Jesse Price, Malik Haynes, Blake Jones, Payton McCarty, Terrell Jordan, Timmy Kelly, Zac Packingham, and Jack Coker will be competing.

Follow the action here.