OTTUMWA — The best — a trait Alex Kelly knows all too well.

That’s why the elite trackster has chosen to run at Arkansas University.

Perhaps the most illustrious runner Ottumwa High School has ever witnessed will get his chance to shine once more at the greatest track and field program in the nation.

Kelly, the school record holder in the open 400 and the anchor leg on Ottumwa’s state title winning 4x400 relay this past spring, will run at college — in Fayettville, Ark.

He becomes just the second Division I runner to ever take it to that prestigious level under current OHS track head coach Jim Nickerson.

“He matured into a young man that was on a mission to win,” said Nickerson, who first took over the head coaching job at Ottumwa in 1989.

Josh Wilson, who ran at Northern Iowa, is Nickerson’s other D-I runner. Wilson ran at Ottumwa in the late 90s.

Kelly shattered Stephen Dial’s 1985 OHS school record time of 48.59 with a second-place state finish of 47.89 in the open 400 — the ninth-fastest recorded time in Iowa state track meet lore. Kelly’s 46.68 anchor split brought home gold for Nickerson in the 4x400 relay — the second state title winner for the Bulldog coach in 21 years.

Kelly became the first OHS male athlete to run in four separate state events this season at the famed blue oval of Drake Stadium.

Kelly was one of Class 4A’s best high jumpers and also ran in the open 200 at state, an event he reached the finals in. His running style is purely athlete, according to Nickerson.

“He runs so relaxed and floats along the track. He has an extremely long stride, almost like a deer. He doesn’t touch the track,” said Nickerson.

Kelly will run at the most prestigious Div. I track institution in the nation. Arkansas is hands-down the predominant power in the sport — having won 40 national titles in cross country and track in its storied run. Louisiana State and Stanford are a distant second with five NCAA crowns.

The Razorbacks’ famous track alum include Tyson Gay, the third-fastest human being in all the world in the 100 and 200 dashes, respectively.

Kelly tracked down Dowling Catholic to win the 4x400 at state, a picture-perfect race, according to Nickerson. The feared 4x400 foursome included seniors Tim Easton, Clint Utter and freshman Zach Messer. That group also holds the school record with a time of 3:17.83.

Nickerson knew his “loaded gun” would not be denied when all the chips were on the table for a chance to reel in one of the state’s best times.