OTTUMWA — Katherine Person couldn’t believe her eyes last Friday night in Ankeny.

The worst possible drama unfolded and the most-feared occurrence that can happen to hurdler transpired — a fall.

Person had just completed the opening leg on the Ottumwa Bulldogs’ shuttle hurdle relay squad when that disaster struck in attempt to qualify for the state meet at regionals.

Her senior teammate, Kendra Spurgeon, tripped over a hurdle and crashed to the ground.

Person’s stomach sunk.

Person is a four-time state qualifier and Spurgeon is a four-time Drake Relays qualifier. Little did the two seniors know they were eerily close to not making the 24-team state field in the event — something Ottumwa has qualified for six years in a row.

Spurgeon picked herself off the ground, finished her leg, then saw her teammates Kelsey Kelly-Celania and Kaitlin McElroy not miss a beat and complete the race in stellar fashion.

“Kelsey and Kaitlin ran really good times. Maybe they were mad that Kendra fell and they were just going,” said Person.

Then the Bulldogs waited and hoped. Somehow the Bulldogs were slotted into the state field, albeit in the 24th and final position.

Person will also run in the 100 hurdles at the co-ed state meet, which kicks off today at 9 a.m. with Class 2A shuttle hurdle relay prelims. She talked about what was running through her mind, still trying to catch her breath to witness the feverish finish.

“When it happened, I was like, ‘oOh my God, no, we’re not going to make it,’” said Person. “It was my first race of the night and I was like, is this how the night was going to go? I was so worried that I wasn’t going to make it to state and that would have crushed me.”

Ottumwa’s time of 1:08.92 is a good three seconds off what the foursome could possibly run. To make the finals might be a stretch in a lot of prognosticators mind, but not Person’s.

“The position we’re in right now in the shuttle hurdle is actually good because there’s no pressure. We’re sitting last, but I know we have the potential to make the finals and get a medal,” said Person, who is sitting as 23rd quickest in her individual event.

Then there’s Green fantastic freshman.

Ottumwa freshman Sarah Ryan made history as she became the first OHS girls track athlete to qualify for state in four events. She’ll compete in the open 100, the long jump, 4x100 and 4x200.