Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Samonte Bawden of Algona will run in the 100-meter dash at the Drake Relays this week.

DES MOINES — Chase McAlister is no stranger to competing inside Drake Stadium.

But the South Central Calhoun senior and future Iowa State University runner will experience a “surreal feeling” this week when he runs on the famed blue oval at the Drake Relays.

McAlister has qualified in the 800-meter run and will also run legs on the distance medley and 4×100 relay. He is joined by teammates Spencer Moon (800, 1600) and Josh Van Hulzen (110 hurdles).

“I’d always hear about famous Olympians coming to run at Drake when I was growing up,” McAlister said. “It’s a surreal feeling knowing that I get to run at the same place.

“To make it (to the Drake Relays) was the goal for the first part of the season. I’m excited to see what the team and I can do against the best in the state.”

McAlister clocked a time of 1:58.02 earlier this year in the 800 at Carroll Athletic Stadium for the seventh-fastest time in the state. Ames’ Aniey Akok has the top time at 1:54.63.

“My goal for the weekend is to try and medal in the 800 and distance medley,” McAlister said. “It’d be really nice to add a Drake Relays medal around my neck to my senior year.”

Last year at state, McAlister placed second in the 800 and was part of the third-place finishing distance medley quartet.

Moon has the seventh-best time in the 1600 at 4:26.36, and sits 12th in the 800 at 1:58.65. West Des Moines Dowling’s Sam Hall leads the pack in the 1600 at 4:23.78.

The distance medley of Josh Henkenius, Jared Birks, McAlister and Moon is ninth in the state with a time of 3:36.08. Ames has posted the quickest time at 3:30.42.

Van Hulzen is tied for 15th in the 110 hurdles at 14.98. Trent Davis from Linn-Mar is first at 14.34.

Algona will also be looking for Drake gold, as Sammonte Bawden sits third in the 100-meter dash. The Bulldogs’ distance medley relay enters ranked fifth.

Bawden, a junior, clocked a time of 10.78 inside Waukee Stadium recently. He is right behind Sioux City East’s Ardell Inlay (10.74) and Urbandale’s Harrison Waylee (10.75).

The speedster will pair up with fellow 100 qualifier Wyatt Wegener, Skyler Groen and Trey Engen for the distance medley, which went 3:34.12. Ames went 3:30.42 recently for the top time.

“This is big-time for me,” Bawden said. “I only got to run one 100 this year, and it qualified me. I can’t wait to run against the great competition there, and to see all of the top athletes (from around Iowa and the country) run, too.

“I’m just going to go out there and do my thing.”

Wegener, a junior, is tied for 22nd in the 100 at 11.10, with Engen set to compete in the 1600 after qualifying with the 13th-fastest time at 4:27.22.

Bawden, Groen, Matt Grein and Wegener qualified for the 4×100 with a time of 44.30, which is 26th-best.

DRAKE RELAYS

Area qualifiers

Boys

Fort Dodge — Tyler Schreier (100), 4×100 relay, 4×200 relay, 4×400 relay.

St. Edmond — 4×100 relay.

South Central Calhoun — Spencer Moon (800, 1600), Chase McAlister (800), Josh Van Hulzen (110 hurdles), 4×100 relay, distance medley relay.

Humboldt — Matt Miller (400), Jamison Heinz (long jump), Owen Terwilliger (shot put), 4×100 relay.

Algona — Wyatt Wegener (100), Sammonte Bawden (100), Trey Engen (1600), 4×100 relay, distance medley relay.

Southeast Valley — 4×100 relay.

Webster City — 4×100 relay.

Bishop Garrigan — TJ Schnurr (shot put).

Girls

Southeast Valley — Kiersten Fisher (100 hurdles, high jump).

Humboldt — Kendal Clark (discus).

Algona — 4×100 relay.

Pocahontas Area — Kaylee Shivers (high jump).

West Bend-Mallard — Rachel Fehr (400).

Emmetsburg — Molly Schany (discus).