By: Jake Waddingham, Drake Relays Correspondent

The 2015 Drake Relays will have more than 20 elite athletes currently ranked in the 10 top in the world in their events racing around the blue oval in what should be a good preview for the Beijing World Championships. Here are the top seven races track and field fans should be following this week in Des Moines, Iowa.

Women’s 100m Hurdles - 2:30pm CT, Saturday
The 2015 Drake Relays have assembled a star-studded field that is a de facto Beijing World Championship preview. 2014 #1 Dawn Harper-Nelson will have to defeat 2014 #2 Queen Harrison if she wants to claim a win at the blue oval. Kristi Castlin is back to try to defend her 2014 title where she edged out Brianna Rollins with a stadium record time of 12.58. Don’t forget, fans will have a chance to watch these athletes in action 7:03pm Friday during the 100m Shuttle Hurdle Relay.

Men’s 400m Hurdles and 110m Hurdles - 7:36pm CT, Friday
Not to be outdone, the men’s half of the hurdle events for the 2015 Drake Relays is also deep with talent, highlighted by the Beijing World Championship preview in the 400m hurdles. No. 1 world ranked Javier Culson of Puerto Rico will battle No. 2 Michael Tinsley. Expect Johnny Dutch to be in the mix for the win. The men’s 110m hurdles features five ranked hurdlers, plus world record holder in the decathlon Ashton Eaton. Hansle Parchment and Andrew Riley, both of Jamaica, will be up against David Oliver, Ronnie Ash and Ryan Wilson. Aries Merritt, who currently holds the world record in the 110m hurdles at 12.80, is also expected to compete for the win. That race is slated for 7:13pm Friday. Eaton is listed as a leg on the shuttle hurdle relay 2:40pm Saturday and the pole vault.

Women’s 400m - 3:05pm CT, Saturday
Once the hurdles are cleared off the track, the world’s top three females in the 400m will step into the blocks. Reigning Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross will be tested by Novlene Williams of Jamaica and Francena McCorory. Richards-Ross and McCorory were part of the USA’s Olympic gold medal 4x400 relay team in 2012. Natasha Hastings, currently ranked No. 7 in the world, will be a darkhorse candidate to take down the top three.

Women’s 800m - 8:00pm CT, Friday
The women’s 800m will be a good indicator to who will represent the USA for the Beijing World Championships. No. 2 ranked Ajee Wilson and No. 3 ranked Brenda Martinez are the favorites to win at Drake, but Molly Beckwith Ludlow and Chanelle Price could be in contention if the race starts out slow. Fans will have the privilege to see Maggie Vessey’s newest custom racing singlet.

Men’s 400m - 7:24pm CT, Friday
Gold medalist LaShawn Merritt highlights the list of competitors for Friday evening’s Beijing World Championship preview. This race has the Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 10th ranked 400m runners in the world. Kirani James of Grenada and Yousef Ahmed-Masrahi of Saudi Arabia are the top to contenders to challenge Merritt on the blue oval.

Grand Blue Mile - 6:00pm CT, Tuesday
The Drake Relays officially kicked off Monday with the Beautiful Bulldog Contest, and the racing started Tuesday with a prestigious field for the Grand Blue Mile. In a tactical race with a loaded field on the men's side, Matt Centrowitz out-kicked Olympic Silver medalist Leo Manzano for the win. On the women's side, Heather Kampf defended her Grand Blue Mile title just days after competing in the B.A.A. Mile on the streets of Boston. 

Matt Centrowitz after winning the men's Grand Blue Mile:

Heather Kampf after winning the women's Grand Blue Mile: