KEEPING TRACK OF THE FIELD
A look at the standouts to watch at this weekend's State Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Wichita State's Cessna Stadium
SPRINTS
BOYS --A state title wasn’t in the cards a year ago for Kapaun Mt. Carmel’s Jack Guthridge, who was just a tick behind the top tier in loaded Class 5A fields in the 100, 200 and 400. The Crusader still had a solid showing, earning top-six finishes in all three races topped by a third in the 200. This season, however, Guthridge has been Kapaun’s ace and arguably is the favorite to sweep the crowns in all three races. Guthridge is the state leader in the 400, posting the eighth-fastest time of all-time with a 47-57 this season – a full second faster than anyone else in the state. He’s also ranked No. 1 in the state in the 200 with a season-best of 21.25, though his cushion in that event is slimmer with De Soto’s Carson Miller at 21.61. The toughest of the three titles likely will be in the 100 where Seaman’s Aaron Merritt is tied for the fastest time in the state with a 10.48. But Guthridge is right there, .02 back with a 10.50, and Miller will also be in the hunt. While the duel between Merritt and Guthridge for the 5A 100 title will be a dandy, it’s the 6A showdown that will be the showstopper. ... Seven of the state’s top-10 times have come from 6A runners with Wichita Northwest’s Jalil Cooper leading the pack, tied with Merritt for the top time in the state with a 10.48 of his own. Hot on his heels are Wichita Southeast’s Dejaun Colbert (10.55), Shawnee Mission South’s Korrey Womack (10.57), Derby’s Martel Jackson (10.60), Maize’s Bryson Hayes (10.62), Olathe North’s Joe Ouellette (10.63) and Dodge City’s Tochi Okoro (10.69). Three other 6A runners are just outside the top 10 and at 10.71 or under, making just getting to the finals a feat this season. The same group also will be there in the 200 as well and Ouellette also ranks No. 1 in the 400 in 6A, traililng only Guthridge for the state lead. ... Hayden’s Finn Dunshee was the Class 4A champion in the 100 last year, but drops down to 3A this year where he’s got the top time in that classification in both the 100 and 200 this season. Teammate Jensen Schrickel has 3A’s best time in the 400 and the Wildcats were the 400 relay champions in 4A last year and have the top 3A time in that event as well. ...Tanner Heckel was the state runner-up in the Class 2A 100 last yeaer for Inman. Now he’s at Lyndon and has the top time in 2A this year at 10.83.St. Mary’s Colgan’s Tucker Harrell is right behind after running a 10.94 at regionals. ... Bishop Miege’s Lamar Lynch returns as the 200 champion in Class 4A and has a top-10 time in the state this year in the 100 with a 10.63. He’s also top 10 in the 200 though Ottawa’s Nate Sims in the 4A leader in that event at 21.56. ... Kiowa County’s Brock Deterding is a threat to sweep the 1A 100 and 200. Wichita East and Wichita Southeast have the top two 400 relay times with Olathe South, Maize, Olathe North, Derby, Dodge City and Wichita Heights also in the top 10 in the state – all from 6A. De Soto and Piper are the lone non-6As in the top 10 this year. ... Wamego's Harrison Cutting has the top 4A 400 time but Scott City's Camden Vulgamore posted the top regional mark to potentially set up a showdown for the title. ... Chase County's Tucker Groh also ranks in the top 10 overall in the state with 2A's top 400 time, but Moundridge's Kaden Elmore, last year's 100 champion and 200 runner-up was fastest in regionals. Jefferson County North's Isaac Kane is back as the defending 400 champ.
GIRLS --With the departure of the likes of Olathe North’s Kaliyah Jordan and Kapaun Mt. Carmel’s Lillian Harris as sprint gold medal sweepers a year ago, plenty of new sprint champions will be crowned on the girls side this weekend. The lone returning 100 champion from a year ago is Garden Plain’s Haidyn Thompson, who took the 2A title a year ago. But she’s been slowed this season and will have her hands full in trying to defend that crown. Oxford’s Makhila Maupin, last year’s 200 champion in 1A has moved up to 2A this year and has the top time in both the 100 and 200 in her new classification. She’ll have to battle defending champion Julia Kilgore for the 200 title with Moundridge’s Cammi Unruh also in the mix after posting the fastest regional time. Kilgore is also the returning champion in the 400. ... Smoky Valley’s Breanne Peters was last year’s 100 champion in 3A but won’t run the event this yeaer. She is back to defend her title in the 200 and will once again contend with Hesston sophom*ore Ashley Lehman, who was runner-up to Peters in the 200 last year and was fourth in the 100. She’s got the top 3A time in both events this year. ... Manhattan will look to go 1-2 in the 6A 100 as Hanna Pellant and Harli Omli have the top-two times in the state this year, separated by just .04 seconds (11.68-11.72). Last year’s 100 runner-up, Olathe East’s Damiya Richards is just .04 behind Omli, who was last year’s 400 state champion and runner-up in the 200 to Jordan. Neither of those titles will come easily this year as Blue Valley North’s Delia Gregory has the fastest 200 and 400 times in the state. She’s also the anchor for North’s 1,600 relay team that ranks No. 1 all-time in state history with a 3:52.65. Pellant and Omoli also headline Manhattan’s state-leading 400 relay. Campus’ BreAna Garrett-Tillemans and Wichita Heights’ Karynne David also will contend in 6A. ... With Harris gone in 5A, it could be her teammate taking over the 100 title with Crusader Trinity Oblinger sharing the top 5A time with Maize South’s Ashley Singhateh, who was the 3A hurdles champion the past two years for Eureka before transferring in the offseason. Lansing’s Mckenzie Hayse will be in the mix as well and has the top 5A 200 time. ... It could be a North Central Kansas League showdown for the 4A 100 and 200 titles with Chapman’s Haley Litzinger and Abilene’s Renatta Heintz having the two fastest regional times. ... Ness City has three qualifiers in the 1A 100 led by Taegin Liggett, who has the top time in the 1A 100 this year. Clifton-Clyde’s Sevy Wurtz and Hanover’s Anna Jueneman are right behind with Jueneman the reigning champion in the 400 and runner-up in the 200 to Maupin, who is now in 2A.
MIDDLE/DISTANCE
BOYS -- Last yaar, Wichita Trinity’s Clay Shively said he wanted to show up to the state meet wearing a T-shirt that said, ‘This is not a sub-4-minute mile,’ in reference to his intentions to not go after that hallowed mark at the state meet. With this being his last go-around, Shively may just take a shot at it and Jim Ryun’s all-time state 1,600 record of 3:53.7. Shively has already gone under 4 minutes this year with a 3:58.8 that ranks No. 2 all-time and he also turned it the state’s all-time fastest 3,200 with an 8:41.29 that broke the old record by two seconds, but he won’t run that event at state. Shively also has the second-fastest 800 in the state with a 1:52.73, which would easily eclipse the existing 3A meet record. Shively set the meet record in the 1,600 last year with a 4:12.60. With Shively opting not to run the 3,200, teammate Samuel Ferguson will look to defend his title in the event from a year ago. Marysville’s Silas Miller was runner-up to Ferguson a year ago and had the fastest regional time by five seconds though Ferguson’s best is s3ven seconds faster than Miller’s. ... Shively was one of last year’s trio of distance stars but the graduation of Tonganoxie’s Eli Gilmore, who became the first male to win the 400, 800, 1,600 and 3,200 in the same year, and Shawnee Mission East’s Wyatt Haughton, who set 6A meet records in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200, leaves those titles there for the taking. Shawnee Mision South’s Max Larson trails only Shively in the 3,200 this year and will be challenged by Blue valley West’s Brock Olsen and Gardner Edgerton’s Parker Walion, with Walion the state’s best in the 800 this year with a 1:52.63 that ranks No. 14 all-time in Kansas. Olathe South’s Dylan Plath is less than a second behind in the 800 and will also push Walion and Larson in the 1,600. ... Shawnee Heights’ Jackson Esquibel captured the 5A 3,200 last year and was narrowly edged out for the 1,600 by departed Luke Brock of Kapaun. He won the cross country title in the fall and though he’s the favorite in the 3,200, the 1,600 will again be his toughest get with Blue Valley Southwest’s Canyon Buehler, Bishop Carroll;s Micah Campbell and De Soto’s Palmer O’Connor all in the top 10 this year. O’Connor also has the fastest 800 time in 5A and the Wildcats’ 3,200 relay is No. 4 all-time with Trinity’s relay No. 2. ... Meade’s Logan Keith swept the 800 and 3,200 in 2A last year, but a repeat will be a tall order. Central Heights’ Cody Hammond was the lone 2A runner under 2 minutes at regionals and he’s also among the leaders in the 1,600 with teammates Connor Burkdoll and Owen Miller contenders in the 3,200. Kansas City Christian’s Andrew Schumacher won the cross country title and has the top 3,200 time in 2A. He'll be bidding for the distance triple this year and also has a strong teammate in Spencer Mumford. ... Circle’s Blake Logan has the top 4A times in the 3,200 and 1,600. Olathe West’s 3,200 relay is a notch behind Trinity and De Soto but is the class of 6A. ... Axtell’s Grady Buessing is the defending 1A champion in the 800 and 1,600 and could sweep the distance triple this year, owning thetop 1,600 and 3,200 times in 1A this year. Kiowa County’s Samuel Martinez had faster regional times in both and St. John’s Quade Smith is the 1A leader in the 800.
GIRLS --Shively’s exploits this season were to be expected. What Seaman’s Ryin Miller has done, however, has somewhat taken the entire state by surprise. Limited to running only relays last year because of commitments to soccer, the Viking sophom*ore had been unleashed this season and has already placed herself among the best distance runners in state history. She ranks top-four all-time in state history in the 800 (4th, 2:10.64), 1,600 (3rd, 4:46.98) and 3,200 (3rd, 10:13.97). She’ll go after state titles in all three events and if she can come near her season bests, she’ll break 5A state meet records in the 1,600 and 3,200 with the 800 mark still lower than her best. Miller’s emergence has turned last year’s champions in those events into the hunters instead of the hunted. Salina Central’s Katelyn Rupe has won two straight 3,200 titles but lost a head-to-head showdown with Miller at the KU Relays when she ran the sixth-best time in state history. Blue Valley Southwest’s Isabella Ross won the 800 and 1,600 titles last year but ranks third in 5A in both events this year. Spring Hill’s Marisa January also will factor into the 800 mix with the third-best time in the state this year. ... Prairie View’s Bree Allen almost single-handedly won the Buffaloes the Class 3A state title last year, sweeping the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 titles. She’ll have a big-time challenge to repeat that performance again this year. Though she’s tops in 3A in the 1,600, she’s got a test on her hands in the 800 in Norton’s Mackenzie Clydesdale and in the 3,200 from Wichita Trinity Academy’s Emily Hein, who won the cross country title in the fall and has a best time that’s nearly 20 seconds faster than Allen’s. ... Plagued by injuries for most of her track career, four-time 6A cross country champion Anjali Hocker Singhof Olathe North is finally healthy for the State Outdoors and is one of four 6A runners under 11 minutes this year. Olathe West has a plethora of challengers in the distance events as well as the top all-time 3,200 relay in state history, running a 9:02.69 earlier this season. ... A pair of freshmen sensations burst onto the scene during cross country with Northern Heights’ Ellei McCrory and Smith Center’s Madison Howland capturing the 1A and 2A titles, respectively. They’ve got the top 3,200 and 1,600 times in their respective classes this spring with McCrory’s 10:48.98 in the 3,200 a top-five time in the state overall. Wabaunsee’s Payton Wurtz has been the distance runner-up in 2A to departed standout Chesney Peterson of Stanton County for the past two years and now will contend with Howland. Two-time 1A champion Emma Weiner of Golden Plains will deal with McCrory. ... Chapman’s Elyssa Frieze has won two straight Class 4A 3,200 titles and will shoot for a three-peat with Eudora’s Sydney Owens coming off a state cross country title and teammate Hanna Keltner and Circle’s Brett Jacobson also among the top challengers.
HURDLES
BOYS –With the State Outdoors void of Parrish brothers from Olathe North, the Class 6A hurdles events will have a different look at the top of the medal stand this year. Twins Josh and Jason Parrish monopolized the 110-meter high hurdles and 300 intermediate hurdles the last two years, with Josh winning the shorter distance and Jason the longer. In the 110s, Wichita Heights sophom*ore Quinton Rolle Jr. is coming off a 6A-best performance in regionals, winning in 14.35. Rolle finished third at the Greater Wichita Athletic League meet to Wichita East senior Marcus White, who ranks in the state’s top 10 this season along with Derby’s Ben Schnelle. Rolle also had the top regional qualifying time in the 300s, but right behind was Wichita East’s Camren Davis, who ran a state-best 38.48 a week before regionals to take the GWAL title. … After winning the 5A 110 hurdles in a bit of an upset last spring, Piper’s Jayden Henry reeled off the state’s fastest time in the event this spring, winning the United Kansas Conference title in 14.04. Henry’s top tests will likely come from Seaman speedster Aaron Merritt, who was .02 off Henry’s 14.15 regional qualifying time, Kapaun Mt. Carmel’s Dawson Grabendike and Bishop Carroll’s Luke Holthusen, who finished second to Henry in the event last May. Pittsburg sophom*ore DeMarus Partee also has a top-10 time across all classes in Kansas this season. Grabendike was the lone state qualifier under 40 seconds in the 300s (39.05), but Goddard senior Tyson Wallace, Eisenhower junior Justus Reynolds and Piper sophom*ore Shinji Pollard have all posted top-10 state times. … In 4A, Abilene senior Judah Bowell had the top regionals times in the 100s (14.81) and 300s (40.21). He ran 14.47 at the Southeast of Saline Invitational, the No. 5 time in the state this spring. Andale junior Harrison Potucek, who posted top-three regional times in both events, is a threat after medaling in both events a year ago. … After winning the 3A 300s and finishing second in the 110s, Goodland junior Linkon Cure will go for a hurdles sweep. The highly recruited football prospect is the lone 3A hurdler on the state’s top-10 list this season in the 110s (14.66) and 300s (39.03). … The top six finishers in the 2A 110s and the top four in the 300s were seniors last year. Jayhawk-Linn’s Gus Grote, seventh in the 110s a year ago, has the top time in the class at 15.48. Remington’s Eli Gerber led regional qualifiers in the 300s at 41.34. … With Ingalls’ double winner Will Ast graduated, the 1A hurdles races are up for grabs. Quinter’s Bradley Bogert, last year’s 400 champion and 110 hurdles runner-up, was the top regional qualifier in the 110s at 15.07. Osborne’s Sam Kendig was the lone qualifier under 40 seconds in the 300s (39.56).
GIRLS – A talented group of senior hurdlers will make their final state appearances this weekend, setting up some potentially electric showdowns, specifically in the larger classes. For the last two years, Olathe Northwest’s Olivia Cooper and Wichita Northwest’s Adryana Shelby have split the 6A 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles, with Cooper taking the shorter distance and Shelby the longer. Shelby, a New Mexico signee, has had a strong spring, lowering her PR in the 100s to 13.66, No. 2 in state history and just .04 off all-time mark set by Topeka High’s Janelle Wright in 2000. Cooper has seen limited action this season and only ran in the 100s at regionals, finishing second in 14.63 to Shawnee Mission South’s Aurora Wessel, another senior who has enjoyed a solid campaign. Wessel, third in both events a year ago, ran 13.92 in the 100s at the KU Relays and a state-leading 43.24 in the 300s at the Sunflower League meet. Both landed her on Kansas’ all-time top-10 list. Shelby’s season-best in the 300s is 43.80. Olathe North sophom*ore Avani Hocker Singh has also cracked 44 seconds (43.91) in the 300s and could contend in 6A. … Veterans also rule the roost in 5A, where Maize South’s Ashley Singhateh looks for her third consecutive hurdles sweep after winning both events in 3A the past two years for Eureka. Singhateh’s best times of 14.32 and 44.13 lead 5A, with the former ranked No. 17 all-time in Kansas. Singhateh ran 14.39 in the 100s at regionals to defeat Andover senior McKinlee Walker, the reigning 5A champ. Walker, a Pittsburg State signee, ran 14.18 last season. Her best this spring is 14.79. … Class 4A’s strength is in the junior class, where Clearwater’s Madison Williams will try to repeat in the 100s and 300s. Williams ran a 4A season-best 45.27 in the 300s at the Scott City regional. Rose Hill’s Ava Markley posted a state top-10 time for the current season in the 100s at 15.02. Chanute senior Kynleigh Chard won the Southeast Kansas League 300 hurdles title in 45.35, No. 2 in 4A this season to Williams. … With Singhateh competing in a larger class, the 3A hurdles titles are there for the taking. Burlington junior Keely Hoback ran 14.43 at the Halstead regional, while West Franklin senior Hope Crabtree posted 3A’s top time this spring in the 300s at that meet at 45.48. Nemaha Central’s Cali Honeyman finished second in the 100s to Singhateh a year ago and returns. … Multi-sport standout Lily Brown of Pittsburg Colgan returns to defend her 100-meter hurdles title, but could be pushed by TMP-Marian junior Shalee Gottschalk, who has 2A’s top time this spring of 15.38. Brown led 2A in the 300s this spring, winning the CNC League meet in 45.52. But Gottschalk and Inman senior Madilyn Heflin, last year’s 2A runner-up, had slightly faster times in regionals than Brown. … The possibility for a great sequel exists in the 1A 100s, where juniors Addy Goeckel of Washington County and South Gray’s Kylie Stapleton are the top qualifiers. Goeckel won the event last year in 15.42, .02 ahead of Stapleton. Stapleton owns the fastest time in 1A this season, 15.23. Goeckel, who went on to earn the hurdles sweep last May, set a PR and a 1A-best 45.59 in the 300s at the Twin Valley League meet.
HORIZONTAL JUMPS
BOYS --Tanner Heckel’s sweep of the long jump and triple jump titles last year helped propel Inman to the Class 2A team championship. This year, he’s looking to repeat and this time lead Lyndon to the title after moving in the offseason. Heckel is tied for the state lead in the long jump with a leap of 23-9, a makr matched by Wichita East’s Tristen Cross. St. Mary’s Colgan’s Tucker Harrell and Wichita Independent’s Ripley Cole are just under 23 feet so Heckel can’t afford to have an off day to keep that title. Defending the title in the triple jump will be even tougher with Heckel’s best this season of 45-0.5 more than a foot behind Sedgwick’s Noah Little, who has gone 46-4.5. ... Coffeyville’s Dontae Boykins captured the 4A triple jump title last year and was runner-up in the long jump. He’s the 4A leader in both events this season as he looks to double up. ... Two other 6A jumpers have joined Cross over 23 feet this season with Shawnee Mission West’s Brandon Wilson going 23-3.75 and Olathe North’s Elijah Madden right behind at 23-2. Madden also is at 45-9 in the triple jump, which trails Olathe West’s Elijah Hakim, who is one of two jumpers over 47 feet this year. Madden will look to keep the jump titles in house with graduated Eagle teammate Josh Parrish sweeping the crowns last year. ... Andover Central’s Brandt Stupka is tops in the state at 47-1, an inch ahead of Hakim, as he looks to unseat defending champion Alesecio Batson of Topeka West, who has a best of 45-10.75 this year. Great Bend freshman Cooper Ohnmacht is sandwiched in between those two at 46-5.5. ... With graduation claiming many of the top jumpers from last year’s tight 1A competitions, Axtell’s Brandon Schmelzle could be in line for a sweep this season. But the triple jump will be tough with Pawnee Heights’ Brady Carlson the lone jumper over 44 feet at regionals and the 1A leader this season. ... Hayden’s Jensen Schrickel was the 4A long jump champion in 2022 as a freshman before not competing in the event last year. He’ll battle 3A leader Tyler Holmes for the long jump crown while three 3A jumpers are over 45 feet in the triple this season led by Lakin’s Ross Rider (45-9), a half-inch farther than Southeast of Saline’s Tate Nurnberg.
GIRLS --Ottawa’s Emery Keebaugh has a shot at history this weekend as she looks to become just the third girl in state history to pull the career sweep of the triple jump – something only Pratt-Skyline’s Michelle Egging and Liberal’s Dahlia Ingram have done. It’s certainly not a shoo-in. Keebaugh’s best of 37-11 this year is only an inch farther than McPherson’s Mallory Holmes with Holmes hitting that mark last week at regionals. Keebaugh did top 38 feet at state last year, so she knows how to rise to the occasion. She also could challenge in the long jump after having the second-best regional jump, trailing only Chapman’s Haley Litzinger, who was runner-up at state last year. Eudora’s Adalyn Hemphill is the 4A leader this season. ... St. Mary’s Colgan’s Lily Brown won the 2A triple jump title last year and is the lone jumper in the state to soar past 40 feet this year with her 40-1 ranking No. 9 all-time. ... Heritage Christian’s Rachel Van Gorp swept the long jump and triple jump titles in Class 3A last year and has the second-best long jump in the state overall this season, trailing only Rosjai Curtis of Shawnee Mission North. Van Gorp’s best is 19-7.5, more than a foot ahead of Smoky Valley’s Breanne Peters, who is also her toughest competition for the triple jump title after finishing runner-up to Van Gorp a year ago. Van Gorp’s season-best this year in the triple is 38-0.5 while Peters comes in with a best of 37-9.25. Van Gorp’s teammate Caelyn Ferguson is also over 37 feet at 37-4. ... Curtis is the only long jumper in the state over 20 feet, hitting 20-5.25 this season. She was last year’s 6A triple jump champion and has the second-best mark in the state in that event with a 39-8.75. Olathe Northwest’s Michenainda Aritus won the 6A long jump title last year and ranks third in the state overall this year with an 18-7. ... Little River’s Havana Olander took the 1A triple jump title as a freshman last year and has the top mark in that class this year with a 37-0.25, only a few inches ahead of Hanover’s Gracie Bruna, this year’s freshman sensation. Clifton-Clyde’s Sevy Wurtz was the 1A runner-up in the long jump and is tied for South Gray’s Kylie Stapleton for the 1A lead this year, each with a 17-11. Stapleton placed fourth last year and fifth-place finisher Janae Granereof Msrmaton Valley is also back and less than 2 inches behind Wurtz and Stapleton. ... Emporia’s Paige Newland has had a breakout season and could win double gold in 5A. She trails only Lansing’s Mckenzie Hayse in the long jump and St. James Academy'sBeatrice Wiley in the triple with three inches or less separating them in both.
VERTICAL JUMPS
BOYS – Fans won’t have to wait long at the State Outdoor Track and Field Championships to watch the best high school pole vaulter in Kansas track and field history do his thing. Andover Central senior Bryce Barkdull, the reigning Class 5A champion and national leader this season at 17 feet, 9 inches, will compete at 8 a.m. Friday inside Cessna Stadium. Barkdull eclipsed Steve Stubblefield’s 43-year-old state record last year, and has since raised it twice, first at the KU Relays in mid-April, when he cleared a meet-record 17-7, then at the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division II meet two weeks ago in Salina. Barkdull has won seven competitions this spring, with his biggest disappointment, ironically, coming at Cessna in early April when he no-heighted at the Shocker Pre-State Challenge. Barkdull did set a meet-record mark at state last year, clearing 17-1. … The No. 2 vaulter in Kansas this spring, Blue Valley Southwest sophom*ore Dylan Cross, also competes in 5A. He cleared 16-3 at the Saints + Mustangs Invitational to claim a spot on the state’s all-time top 15, and is one of three Timberwolves, along with senior Carson Ratzlaff and junior Gabe Heck, who have cleared 15 feet. Each class except 2A has had a 15-foot pole vaulter this season. In 6A, Olathe North’s Ian Quarles, a third-place finisher a year ago, has gone 15-8. … A good 4A battle looms between Louisburg junior Cooper Wingfield, who cleared 15-7 at the De Soto Invitational, and Andale senior Rylan White, who won the Shocker Pre-State before clearing 15 feet at the Hutchinson Invitational. … Reigning 3A champion Josiah Ball of Hoisington cleared 15-7.5 at his home meet, the Bill Kimble Invitational, and will try to repeat as part of a four-event schedule. … Will Wegerer, who took third in 1A a year ago, set Cunningham’s school record this spring and has cleared 15-1. … No high jumper cleared 7 feet during the 2023 high school season until Basehor-Linwood’s Tyson Ruud did so at state to win the 5A competition. The runner-up that day, Maize’s Alan Hanna, was one of two juniors who broke that barrier during their respective league meets on May 10. Hanna moved up to 6A with his Eagle teammates this season and will be challenged by Manhattan seniors Vincent Malone and Aaron Newcomer, who both cleared 6-8 at regionals. Olathe South senior Will Allen has cleared 6-8.5 this spring. … The other 7-footer this season is two-time 2A champion and multi-sport standout Brogan Rowley. Rowley set his PR at the Heart of America League meet. … With Ruud graduated and Hanna in a new class, Blue Valley Southwest’s Kaleb Tesmer is the top returnee in 5A. Tesmer, third a year ago, ranks third in the state this season after clearing 6-10 in early April at the Harry McDonald Blue Valley Relays. … Augusta senior Isaiah Blackwell built momentum for the 4A competition with a school-record 6-8.75 clearance at regionals. He finished second a year ago. … Southeast of Saline junior Tate Turnberg cleared a 3A-best 6-8 to win the Beloit regional and grabbed a top-10 spot in Kansas this season.
GIRLS – Their meet schedules will take them to other events, but around midday Saturday, the talented Central Kansas League trio of Hoisington senior Shellamae Farmer, Smoky Valley senior Breanne Peters and Hesston sophom*ore Ashley Lehman will come together to battle each other for the final time in the Class 3A pole vault. Farmer, winner of the last two 3A titles, will be competing at her future home, Wichita State. While the event is more Farmer’s specialty, that doesn’t mean the outcome will be predictable. All three have claimed spots on Kansas’ all-time top-20 list. Farmer and Peters have cleared 12-6, good for a 13th place tie, while Lehman’s PR of 12-3 ranks 20th. Lehman cleared that height at the CKL meet this spring to tie Farmer for first while Peters took third. Two of the three competed at the Beloit regional last week, where Peters won at 12-0 while Farmer was second at 11-6. … While three 6A pole vaulters have cleared 12 feet, including two from Mill Valley, only Shawnee Mission North’s Alexis Phillips and Mill Valley’s Ava Fleetwood will compete. Phillips, third a year ago, set her PR at the Shawnee Mission South regional. Blue Valley’s Ainsley Hileman, last year’s runner-up, is also in the field. … After finishing fifth and first the last two years in 4A, Louisburg’s Maddy Carpenter-Ross will try to defend her title. Her best this year is 11-7. … Leavenworth junior Emma Thompson cleared a 5A-best 11-6 in early April and won United Kansas Conference and Seaman regional titles. … After finishing second on misses in the 6A high jump last season, Lawrence senior Paige Platt will try to end her high school career on top. She’s one of two Kansas athletes to clear 5-8 this spring along with the 3A leader, Southeast of Saline sophom*ore Elliana Smith. Platt set her PR in early April and figures to be tested by Blue Valley North senior Anna Bundy, who tied for fourth a year ago and has cleared 5-7 this spring. … Smith figures to face stern challenges in 3A from Lakin freshman Aryn Michaelis, who has cleared 5-7, Marysville sophom*ore Kacy Roesch and Cherryvale’s Bethany Umbarger, the reigning 3A champion. Roesch and Umbarger have both cleared 5-6 this spring. … The top six finishers from last year’s 2A high jump are back, including reigning champion Lily Brown of Pittsburg Colgan. Brown has cleared 5-5 this season, while Remington senior Eva Hilgenfeld, the runner-up to Brown on misses, leads the class at 5-6. Oakley’s Bella Hudson, Erie’s Ella Burnett, Inman’s Katie Nichols and Ellis’ Isabella Eck all cleared 5 foot or better at state. … Versatile sophom*ore Jessa Losew of Hutchinson Central Christian will compete in four 1A events, and after finishing second last year to now-graduated Raegan Becker of Centralia, will be the favorite in the high jump. She has cleared 5-7 this spring, but will have to be sharp with last year’s third-place finisher, South Gray’s Vi Helm, also in the field.
THROWS BOYS --
GIRLS --Last year, Andale’s McKenzie Fairchild went out with a bang, sweeping the 4A shot put, discus and javelin for the second straight year to finish her career with seven overall gold medals. With Fairchild’s graduation, there’s opportunity for someone new to step up and steal the show in throwing events. … Olathe Northwest’s Val Galligan is one of the most decorated throwers in this year’s meet. She is the two-time defending 6A champion in javelin and will look to repeat in discus this year. Galligan, who is headed to the University of Missouri for track and field, owns the state’s best throw in the javelin at 161-4 and discus at 150. Olathe Northwest teammateKendall Yarnell is one of Galligan’s top challenger in the discus. She’s No. 1 on the performance list in that event and has the second best throw in the state at 148. Beloit'sTatum Seyfert is the reigning champion in the 3A shot put and discus. She’s the heavy favorite to repeat in the shot put with a state-best throw of 45-7. In the discus, she likely be challenged again by Osage City’s Lexi Boss, runner-up in the event last year. Boss has the third-best discus throw in the state at 144-6 while Seyfert has the fifth-best mark at 142-6. … Norton’s Jenessa Ruder, a University of Nebraska signee, won the 3A javelin as a sophom*ore and placed runner-up last year to now-graduated Lindsey Cure from Goodland. Ruder has the second-best javelin throw in the state at 157, followed by Olathe Heritage senior Maddy Wolf’s 145-7. … In shot put, Atwood-Rawlins County's Abby Micek is the only other returning champion besides Seyfert, with two-time champion Ja’Asia Stafford from Wallace County not competing this year. Micek was the 2A champion last year but will drop down to Class 1A this year, where she is the heavy favorite. She owns the best throw in the state at 45-7. … Micek’s move to 1A will open the door for a new champ in 2A. Mission Valley’s Emma Slade, Chase County’s Madelyn Wilson and Ellis’ Natalee North are among the contenders in 2A. North will look to defend her in the discus, but Slade is No. 1 on the seed list and has the fourth-best throw in the state. In 6A shot put, Olathe Northwest’s Galligan and Olathe West’s Addie Cline are 1-2 on the performance list and both have throws in the top-five on the state leaderboard. …. Eisenhower’s Leah Wilkinson is first on the performance list in 5A shot put and has the fifth-best throw in the state. … Paola’s Jade Meade and Kena Leonard are 1-2 on the seed list in 4A shot put. Meade is also the top seed in 4A discus. … In 5A discus, Spring Hill’s Margo Todd is the No. 1 on the performance list and has the sixth-best throw in the state. … Northern Heights’ Jaitlyn Johnson has the top seed mark in 1A. .... Other than Galligan, Maycee Russell is the only other 2023 javelin champion returning. Russell won the 1A title last year but is coming off a broken ankle that forced her to miss parts of the volleyball and basketball season. She is seventh on the seed list. ... Washington County’s Jesse Hoover is the top seed in 1A javelin. … In 2A javelin, Smith Center’s Camryn Hutchinson is No. 1 on the seed list while 2023 runner-up Emily Bainter from Hoxie is second. … Andale’s Taya Orth and Labette County’s Riley Bebb are the top contenders to succeed Fairchild as 4A javelin champion. In 5A javelin, Basehor-Linwood’s Claire Vanderwiede is No. 1 seed while Great Bend’s Macy Nachtigal has the fifth-best throw in the state.
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