Manhattan Boys, Olathe North Girls Capture 6A Titles In Kansas

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

After more than a year's wait for the return of Kansas State High School Track and Field Championships due to the pandemic, athletes had to wait a little longer. Lightning suspended the start of the three-day meet on Thursday, but after a brief delay, the wait was well worth it as teams from 6A through 1A were crowned and the first boys wheelchair 100-meter dash took place at Wichita’s Cessna Stadium. 

Senior Tommy Hazen of St. Thomas Aquinas broke the 5A record in the 3,200, clocking 9:05.39 on Thursday at the 6A-5A meet. Teammate Logan Segan claimed the 1,600 (4:22.64), while Hazen, who is committed to Kansas State, picked up a bronze medal (4:23.81). 

In the team battle, it was a tight finish as the Shawnee-Mill Valley boys edged out St. Thomas Aquinas, 74-71 for the crown.

Jeremiah Smith of Tecumseh-Shawnee Heights swept the sprints, winning the 100 (10.52) and 200 (21.92).

The St. Thomas Aquinas girls swept the 5A title in dominant fashion scoring 92 points. The team was paced by Paris Bond, who won the high jump (5-6), triple jump (37-9.50) and finished runner-up in the pole vault (12 feet). 

Shawnee-Mill Valley senior Lily Fleetwood soared to a 5A state record in the pole vault, clearing 13 feet.

Hope Jackson of Wichita Bishop Caroll won the 3,200 (10:59.77) and 1,600 (5:04.75).

Anjali Hocker Singh of Olathe North led her team to a 6A state title as she won the 3,200 (10:33.91), placed second in the 1,600 (4:59.40) and second in the 800 (2:19.23).

In boys 6A action, Ben Shryock of Free State won the 3,200 (9:15.01), ran on the winning 4x800 (7:54.11) and finished seventh in the 1,600 (4:26.22). 

The Manhattan boys won the team title, scoring big points in the jumps and throws. Senior Darius O’Connell won the shot put (59-6) and teammate Charles Jones finished second in the long and triple jump and finished fifth in the high jump. 

Peyton Moore of Shawnee Mission-West claimed the 100 (10.61) and was second in the 200 (21.77). 

Wichita-Heights’ Eijah Mosley won the 200 (21.68) and 400 (49.12). 

2A/1A- Saturday, May 29th

Sterling senior Tyus Wilson set a new meet record in the high jump as he cleared 7-2 to win the 2A state title. That broke the record of 7-0.25 set by Travis Baker in 1999. Wilson’s mark was also a personal best and moved him to US#2. 

In the team race, the Garden Plain boys and girls swept the 2A championships. The Garden Plain boys had a strong showing in the throws with 38 points as Arden Rex claimed the javelin title with a throw of 182-8, while teammate Will Tice was second (176-6). Jack Haukap won the shot put title with a throw of 52-5.75 for Garden Plains. Rex also picked up a state title in the 200 (22.51) and was second in the 400 (51.91).

In girls 2A action, Garden Plain easily defended their state title from 2019 picking up 46 points in the sprints. Junior Brooke Hammond won the 100 (12.27), 200 (25.65) and 400 (60.79).

Stanton County's Chesney Peterson broke a 2A meet record in the 1,600, clocking 5:00.72. The previous record was held by Janet Haskin of Onaga of 5:00.95 set in 1988. Peterson also won the 3,200 (10:47.92) and 800 (2:16.80). 

In the throws, Emma Yungeberg, a junior from Blue Rapids-Valley Heights, won the javelin (144 feet) and shot put (40-11) and grabbed runner-up honors in the discus (126-10).

The Kiowa County girls defended their 1A title putting up 64 points. The team was paced by  junior Addisyn Heinson, who swept the sprints, winning the 100 (12.59), 200 (25.62) and 400 (57.60).

The Hanover boys won the 1A title with 55 points, picking up almost half of the points in the jumps.

Madison junior Casey Helm helped guide his team to a runner-up 1A state finish as he won the shot put (55-4.50) and discus (164-10).

4A/3A-Friday, May 28th

The US#2 javelin thrower in the country did not disappoint Friday at the 4A-3A meet. Senior Kateyln Fairchild of Andale broke a 4A state meet record with 170 feet, bettering the previous record of 165-5 from 2008 set by Roxi Grizzel of Tonganoxie. She added a shot put title (42-2.50) and placed second in the discus title (132-10). Sister McKenzie, a sophomore, was just as impressive, as she took gold in the discus (140-feet), second in the javelin (159-2) and second in the shot put (40-6). The two sisters helped Andale defend their 4A state championship from 2019 in dominant fashion with a total of 137.50 points. 

It was a similar situation over in 4A boys, as Andale sophomore Riley Marx won the javelin title with a current US#21 throw of 194-7 and won the discus (150-3) leading his team a runner-up 4A team crown. 

The Louisburg boys scored 77.50 points to win the 4A crown over Andale. Tom Koontz of Louisburg led the way, winning the 110 hurdles (14.97), placed second in the 300 hurdles (40.54) and ran on the runner-up 4x100 (43.52) and third-place 4x400 (3:29.13).   

Junior Sawyer Schmidt of Augusta won the 3,200 (9:37.23) and1,600 (4:23.44).

Andale’s Ty McPhail cleared 15-9 to win the pole vault. 

Senior Isabelle Peters guided Lindsborg-Smoky Valley to a 3A state title as she won the pole vault (11-6), 100 hurdles (14.78) and 200 dash (25.94).

Dylan Sprecker led the Southeast of Saline boys to a 3A team title as he won the 1,600 (4:17.74), 800 (1:55.34) and was part of the winning 4x800 (8:12.87) runner-up 4x400 (3:31.04). 

Junior Brennon Walker of Beloit won the 3A javelin title (184-1). 

TEAM CHAMPIONS 

6A - Manhattan boys 66.50 points; Olathe North girls 87.33 points RESULTS

5A - Shawnee-Mill Valley boys 74 points; OP-St. Thomas Aquinas girls 92 points RESULTS

4A - Louisburg boys 77.50 points; Andale girls 137.50 points RESULTS

3A - Southeast of Saline boys 84 points; Lindsborg-Smoky Valley girls 85 points RESULTS

2A - Garden Plain boys 73 points; Garden Plain girls 108 points RESULTS

1A -  Hanover boys 55 points; Kiowa County girls 64 points RESULTS