Washington’s Ethan Hansen (right) prepares to hand off the baton to Bryce Rickey during the 4×200 competition at Thursday’s district meet. The group of Hansen, Ricky, Kyle Schindler, and Gage Redlinger placed second in the meet with a time of 1:33.99, qualifying the group for the state track meet.

The 2015 high school track season will continue next week for a handful of Washington boys’ track athletes. The Demons battled in the Class 3A District 6 track meet at the Mapleleaf Athletic Complex Thursday, finishing the meet in fourth place with 57 points and automatically qualified two events for the state meet.

For a third straight year, Washington senior Tommy Peterson will end his track season a part of the state meet’s shot put competition. Peterson placed second at districts with a throw of 51 feet 10 inches, four inches short of Clear Creek Amana’s Drew Wagner for the district championship. It was just the second time this season Peterson didn’t finish first in the shot put competition. His top throw came during the Demon Relays on April 10, setting the school shot put record with a throw of 55 feet 7.5 inches.

Washington’s only other automatic qualifying event came from the Demons’ 4×200 meter relay team of Ethan Hansen, Bryce Rickey, Kyle Schindler, and Gage Redlinger. The crew clocked a time of 1:33.99, the second best finish in the district. The Solon Spartans claimed the 4×200 meter district championship with a time of 1:32.44.

Washington boys’ track coach Steve Roth was proud of his 4×200 meter relay team, “I have got some kids in there that have never been to the state tournament.” Roth said, “They have worked hard for three years, a couple juniors, a sophomore, and a senior, they have worked hard for three years and to get them into the meet in second place, that tickles me.”

Washington’s qualified two additional events for next week’s state track based on their time at their district track meet. Senior Jacob Hennigan will finish his high school athletic career in Des Moines a part of the 110 meter high hurdles. Hennigan’s time of 15.14 was the fifth best in the state during Thursday’s district meets. The shuttle hurdle team of Hennigan, Redlinger, Alex Gonzalez, and Caleb Bex, are also on their way to the capital city after posting a time of 59.73. The squad posted the eighth best time among the 24 teams who qualified.

The teams with the eight best times in each event who don’t automatically qualify for state are welcomed to compete in the Iowa’s top meet.

The Iowa Girls’ and Boys’ State Track Meet 2015 begins Thursday at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.