NIACC's Khat qualifies for Drake Relays

NIACC's Wal Khat will run in the unseeded University/College 800 at the Drake Relays on Thursday.

April 24, 2017

DES MOINES - NIACC's Wal Khat has qualified for the Drake Relays.

The sophomore will run in the University/College unseeded 800 at 6:05 p.m. on Thursday at one of the most famous track and field meets in the United States.

Khat qualified for Drake with his time of 1 minute, 51.78 seconds at the NJCAA national indoor meet in March in Pittsburg, Kan.

Khat will be the first male individual to run at the Drake Relays for NIACC.

The Drake Relays did not allow two-year schools to compete until 2013.

In 2013, the NIACC men's 4x400 team of Alex Lugo, Nako Omot, OJ Ojullu and Brock Schultz became the first in school history to run at Drake. The foursome ran 3:25.55 in the prelims of the University/College division.

At the 2014 Drake Relays, the NIACC women's 4x100 team of Priscilla John, Adrine Monagi, Dieuwertje Boelen and Shante Hawkins clocked a 50.13 in the prelims and the distance medley relay team of Lindsay Brunson, John, Kalama Towarap and Hannah Palmeter placed 16th (13:00.59).

Also in 2014, Monagi placed 20th in the javelin with a toss of 38.71 meters.

Khat has won 12 of the 14 races he's competed in this season (indoor and outdoor), including two regional indoor titles, one indoor national title and two wins at the Jim Duncan Invitational.

Khat's 2017 outdoor season:

Jim Duncan Invitational - University/College division (April 14-15, 2017)

800 - 1:54.09 (1st); 1,500 - 3:50.85 (1st).

Grinnell's Dick Young Invitational (4-22-17)

1,500 - 4:06.35 (1st).

2017 outdoor season personal bests:

800 - 1:54.09 (4-14-17); 1,500 - 3:50.85 (4-15-17).

2017 indoor season: Was selected as the NJCAA Midwest region indoor track athlete of the year (3-2-17).

University of Dubuque Sol Butler Classic (1-14-17)

600 - 1:22.54 (Placed 1st); Mile - 4:27.60 (Placed 1st).

University of Wartburg Chelsey M. Henkenius Open (1-21-17)

800 - 2:01.60 (1st).

University of Northern Iowa Jack Jennett Open (1-26-17)

800 - 1:56.09 (1st); Mile - 4:27.27 (1st).

Grinnell Indoor Invitational (2-4-17)

600 - 1:23.53 (1st).

SDSU Indoor Classic (Feb. 10-11, 2017)

800 - 1:53.06 (8th); 1,000 - 2:36.70 (19th).

NJCAA Region XI meet (Feb. 17-18)

600 - 1:21.66 (1st); 800 - 1:54.05 (1st).

NJCAA national indoor meet (March 3-4)

800 - Ran 1:55.62 in prelims, qualified for finals.; Placed 1st in finals in 1:51.78.

2017 indoor season personal bests

600 - 1:21.66 (2-17-17); 800 - 1:51.78 (3-4-17); 1,000 - 2:36.70 (2-10-17); Mile - 4:27.27 (1-26-17).