BOYS STATE TRACK PREVIEW
 

 
CLASS 6A
 
2023 State champion: Olathe North
 
2023 State runner-up: Shawnee Mission East
 
2023 Review: With the Parrish brothers once again leading the way, Olathe North successfully defended the Class 6A crown it won in 2022, running away from the field for the second straight year. After doubling up Shawnee Mission East for the team crown in 2022 (112-56), the Eagles nearly duplicated that performance, winning by a 104-53 margin. Josh and Jason Parrish didn’t have older brother Jacob to run it back with last year, but handled the workload just fine themselves. They went 1-2 in the 110 hurdles with Josh taking the win and then flipped the script in the 300 hurdles with Jason getting the victory. Josh also added victories in the long and triple jump and Jason led the 1,600 relay to the meet-capping victory. North also got a win from Christian Harris in the 200 and runner-up finishes from Cole Smither in the high jump and the 400 relay to cruise to the state title. East’s runner-up showing was led by Wyatt Haughton’s dominating day in the distance events. The senior swept the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 races (winning the 800 and 1,600 for the second straight year) and left his mark in doing so, setting the 6A state meet record in all three races – two of the three marks having stood for 30 or more years. Manhattan was a close third behind East, just 1.5 points back, led by a win from Tanner Dowling-Burnett in the 400 right after the 400 relay also claimed a victory. Blue Valley North had the only other double champions in finishing fourth with Alonzo Morgan taking the 100 title a race after the 3,200 relay struck gold. Other individual event winners included Olathe East’s Brett Carroll (shot put), Olathe West’s Elijah Hakim (high jump), Mill Valley’s Jayden Woods (discus), Gardner Edgerton’s Pierson Carlisle (pole vault) and Olathe Northwest’s Kyle Souders (javelin).
 
2024 Contenders: With Olathe North now out of Parrish brothers to carry the torch and Wyatt Haughton having graduated from Shawnee Mission East, the race for this year’s Class 6A state title appears to be wide-open. The Parrishes and Haughton combined for seven individual event wins at last year’s state meet and leave major voids that both teams will have tough times filling. State runner-up high jumper Cole Smither and third-place pole vaulter Ian Quarles are North’s top returning individual state placers while East’s only returning individual placer is Evan Whittington, who was fifth in the 300 hurdles. Manhattan very well could be the favorite after losing only six off last year’s state team, though 400 champion Tanner Dowling-Burnett is one of them. Aaron Newcomer and Vincent Malone were top five in the high jump last year and Sam Molt was third in the javelin. Charles Morgan is the only returner from the champion 400 relay, but the Indians have the overall numbers to make a run. Only three individual state champions from last year’s meet return – high jump champion Elijah Hakim of Olathe West, shot put champion Brett Carroll of Olathe East and discus champion Jayden Woods of Mill Valley. Hakim was also state runner-up in the long jump and seventh in the triple jump, positioning himself to be one of the top individual performers in Class 6A this year. If he can get some help, West could challenge to bring home a title like the girls’ team did last year. Olathe East could also challenge with Diego Barron a top contender in the distance races to go with Carroll in the throws. Gardner Edgerton lost state pole vault champion Pierson Carlisle, but has the top returning javelin thrower in Dawson Kindler and a distance contender in Parker Walion, who led the Trailblazers to a cross country state title in the fall.
 

 
CLASS 5A
 
2023 State champion: St. James Academy
 
2023 State runner-up: Kapaun Mt. Carmel
 
2023 Review: It was a team championship in every sense for St. James Academy last year. The Thunder didn’t have an individual champion on their way to nipping Kapaun Mt. Carmel by a mere 2.5 points for the title. Instead, they got their only event victories from the 1,600 and 3,200 relays and the victory in the final race of the night clinched the win with Kapaun finishing runner-up in the 1,600 relay. St. James’ top individual placers were runner-up finishes from Spencer Dohm in the shot put and Andrew Holton in the 400 but the Thunder had state medalists in 12 of the 17 events, including multiple placers in the 400 and 800. Kapaun countered with a title and runner-up finish from Luke Brock in the 1,600 and 800, respectively, while Nathan Thengvall and Jack Guthridge each posted a pair of top-three finishes in keeping the heat on St. James right until the very last race of the meet where the Crusaders finished second to St. James in the 1,600 relay. St. Thomas Aquinas had the most event wins of any school on its way to a third-place team finish. Alex Waldie accounted for two of the wins, sweeping titles in the 400 and 800 while Joe Loughman added a win in the javelin and K’Lyn Curtis took second in the discus. Waldie was one of three double champions in 5A with Lansing’s Jamale Williams sweeping titles in the shot put and discus and Highland Park’s Tre Richardson winning crowns in the long jump and the 100. The stars of the 5A meet were Andover Central’s Bryce Barkdull, who set the state meet record in the pole vault in clearing 17-1, and Basehor-Linwood’s Tyson Ruud, who became the lone 7-foot high jumper in the state last year. Other individual state champions included Shawnee Heights’ Jackson Esquibel (3,200), Piper’s Jayden Henry (110 hurdles), Bishop Carroll’s Luke Holthusen (300 hurdles), Maize’s Bryce Cohoon (200) and Topeka West’s Alesecio Batson (triple jump).
 
2024 Contenders: Runner-up a year ago, Kapaun Mt. Carmel looks to be the slight favorite to claim its first state title since 1983, returning the most points from last year. The Crusaders graduated two-time 1,600 state champion Luke Brock, but return Nathan Thengvall, who was runner-up in the 800 and third in the 400, and Jack Guthridge, who was third in the 400 and 200. Kapaun doesn’t return a single point from the field events so finding some there could be the key to ending the 40-year title drought. Last year’s champion, St. James Academy, relied on its overall depth to top Kapaun by just 2.5 points for the title last year. The Thunder only won one event, the 3,200 relay, and simply piled up points with state placers in nearly event. The top returners are Michael Bianco, who was third in the 3,200 and fifth in the 1,600, and Spencer Dohm, who was runner-up in the shot put. St. Thomas Aquinas finished third, less than 10 points out of first, but has a big hole to fill with the graduation of Alex Waldie, who won state titles in the 400 and 800 last year. The Saints return a state champion in Joe Loughman, who won the javelin title in a tight competition with Hays’ Wyatt Waddell, and runner-up finisher K’Lyn Curtis, who was second in the discus to departed champion Jamale Williams of Lansing. Dillon Marshall, Joey Goodenow and Mikahi McMahon also return as state placers for the Saints. Waddell helped the Indians to a fourth-place team finish but has graduated. Hays returns just two state placers off last year’s team, Dalton Meyers, who was fourth in the javelin, and Kamani Jones, sixth in the triple jump. Bishop Carroll was fifth last year and will be in the mix once again after winning back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019. Luke Holthusen was the 300 hurdles champion and was just edged out for the 110 hurdles title as well and will lead the Golden Eagles. Carroll returns three other state placers and multiple members of its placing relays. Piper finished 10^th, but has a strong duo in 110 hurdles champion Jayden Henry and sophomore hurdler Shinji Pollard. The Pirates were largely underclassmen with their state contingent last year and if some can step up to help the hurdlers, they could work their way up the standings. Shawnee Heights returns 3,200 champion Jackson Esquibel, who nearly pulled the double last year with the 1,600 before being edged at the finish by Kapaun’s Brock. He’s the favorite for both crowns this year, coming off a state cross country title in the fall. Blue Valley Southwest has the top-two returning high jumpers in Kaleb Tesmer and Dylan Dunn. Andover Central’s Bryce Barkdull will look to push his 5A state meet record in the pole vault to even higher heights as the state’s all-time best in the event while Topeka West’s Alesecio Batson returns to defend his triple jump title.
 

 
CLASS 4A
 
2023 State champion: Andale
 
2023 State runner-up: Louisburg
 
2023 Review: After running away with the team championship in 2022, Andale found itself locked in a neck-and-neck battle with a familiar rival, Louisburg, for the title last year. The Wildcats dethroned Andale in 2021 before the Indians reclaimed the title in 2022. Last year, the title came down to the final race with Louisburg needed to finish third or higher in the 1,600 relay to overtake Andale for the title with the Indians not competing in the relay. But Bishop Miege came up big on the final leg of the race and nipped Louisburg for third, leaving the Wildcats fourth and a half-point shy of Andale’s final total of 87.5 points. Andale did its heavy title lifting in the throws, including a thrilling finish in the dark to the javelin competition that saw the Indians finish 1-2-4 in the event led by champion Riley Marx. Marx also led a 2-4-6 Andale finish in the discus and Jack Kraus added a title in the shot put as Andale got seven of its 13 state placers in those three events. Louisburg’s runner-up finish was led by a 1-2 finish from Caden Caplinger and Cooper Wingfield in the pole vault while Mason Dobbins added a state title in the high jump, a runner-up finish in the 110 hurdles and a third in the 200. Wamego was a distant third in the team standings, holding off Bishop Miege for the final trophy by 5.75 points. The Red Raiders were led by the Cutting brothers who helped the 3,200 relay to a victory and also accounted for multiple medals in the middle distance events. The show-stopper in 4A – and the entire state meet to be honest – was Tonganoxie’s Eli Gilmore, who became the first boy in state history to win the 400, 800, 1,600 and 3,200 in the same state meet. The historic performance needed some complementary pieces as Gilmore scored 40 of the Chieftains’ 44 state points. Hayden accounted for four event victories as Finn Dunshee won the 100, Jake Muller won the 300 hurdles and both ran on the Wildcats’ 1,600 relay that set a state meet record as well as the winning 400 relay. Bishop Miege had a pair of champions as Lamar Lynch won the 200 and PJ McCallop took the long jump title. Other individual champions included Coffeyville’s Dontae Boykins (triple jump), Ottawa’s Zion Woodin (discus) and Rose Hill’s Teagan Cobb (110 hurdles).
 
2024 Contenders: Winners of three of the last four Class 4A state titles, Andale will have its depth tested like no other year if the Indians are to pull off the three-peat. Last year’s title was in doubt until the very end when the Indians needed a late rally by Bishop Miege in the 1,600 relay to hold off Louisburg by a mere half-point for the title. This year, it could be the Indians chasing Louisburg with the bulk of last year’s point scorers having graduated. Dominant in the throwing events, Andale graduated state champions Riley Marx (javelin) and Jack Kraus (shot put) as well as scorer Jonah Meyer, leaving Cooper Marx – a triple-event placer – as the lone returner from that stellar group. Senior Rylan White and junior Harrison Potucek will lead the efforts on the track after White took third in the 100 and Potucek medalled in both hurdle races. Andale has routinely plugged holes to stay in the title hunt, but the task is significant this year. Louisburg goes in with an edge in the team race simply based on one event. Last year, Caden Caplinger and Cooper Wingfield finished 1-2 in the pole vault. That was a strong base to go with big scoring meets from Mason Dobbins and Nathan Vincent, both of whom have graduated. Dobbins was the high jump champion and runner-up in the 110 hurdles. Junior Jerynce Brings Plenty could deliver nice points in the distance races after top-six showings in the 1,600 and 3,200 last year. Louisburg does have its share of holes to fill to stay in the hunt, but has a strong base to build around. Wamego was third in the team standings after spending the season re-writing the school’s record books. The Red Raiders lost five key seniors that played a huge role in those records, including the likes of Jonny Cutting and Brady Stegman. Harrison Cutting is the top returner after taking second in the 800 and running on the winning 3,200 relay team. The Red Raiders will have to have some newcomers step up to stay in contention. Bishop Miege wasn’t just Andale’s hero a year ago with the Stags putting together a solid meet to finish fourth as a team. The Stags lost long jump champion PJ McCallop to graduation, but return 200 champion Lamar Lynch, who also led the 400 relay to a runner-up finish, edged at the finish by Hayden. The addition of Howard Peoples from Sumner Academy gives the Stags another standout, but only one other member of last year’s team returns. Scott City moves up to 4A from 3A after finishing fifth in those standings a year ago. Camden Vulgamore was a multi-event placer who returns for the Beavers, as does state-placing javelin thrower Jackson Rumford. Eudora was sixth in 4A last year and is led by Kole Manley, a state placer in both the pole vault and javelin. Coffeyville could be a team to keep an eye on, returning triple jump champion Dontae Boykins and all but one member of last year’s eighth-place team. Boykins, Lynch and Caplinger are the lone returning individual state champions from a year ago.

 

CLASS 3A

 

2023 State champion: Wichita Collegiate

 

2023 State runner-up: Southeast of Saline

 

2023 Review: Wichita Collegiate only won one event at last year’s Class 3A state meet, taking the title in the 400 relay with AJ Batiste on the anchor bringing it home. But that victory combined with solid depth on the track were enough to deliver a team state championship as well. The Spartans had at least one medalist in every track event except the 400 and 300 hurdles and in addition to the title in the 400 relay got runner-up finishes from Batiste in the 100 and CJ Meyer in the 800 and thirds from Will Meyer in the 3,200 and James Shackelford in the 200 to finish with 60 points, nine ahead of two-time defending champion Southeast of Saline. The Trojans also got their lone win in a relay, taking the 3,200 relay crown while getting a pair of runner-up finishes from Nakari Morrical-Palmer in the 200 and 400 and a second from the 1,600 relay. The biggest question going into the 3A meet arguably was whether Wichita Trinity Academy’s Clay Shively would attempt to run a sub-4-minute mile. Shively opted not to chase that hallowed mark, but that didn’t stop him from cruising to state championships in the 1,600 and 800, setting the state meet record in the 1,600 and coming up .30 seconds shy of the state mark in the 800. Shively led a 1-2-4 Trinity finish in the 1,600 along with Samuel Ferguson and Caleb Tofteland with Ferguson previously winning the 3,200 title earlier in the meet. The distance dominance by the Knights carried them to a third-place team finish with 48 points, just three behind Southeast. Shively was one of three double individual champions in 3A as the 17 event titles were spread out amongst 13 schools. Beloit’s Grady Seyfert finally got the shot put and discus titles that had eluded him throughout his career, sweeping them with comfortable wins over Nemaha Central’s Connor Deters in both. Council Grove’s Ethan Burton swept the sprint titles, taking the 100 in 10.76 seconds and edging Morrical-Palmer by .17 seconds for the 200 crown. Other individual champions included Perry-Lecompton’s Kael Gorski (110 hurdles), Kingman’s Avery Albright (400), Goodland’s Linkon Cure (300 hurdles), Russell’s Brayden Strobel (high jump), Hesston’s Tyler Rewerts (long jump), Osage City’s Landon Boss (javelin), Hoisington’s Josiah Ball (pole vault) and Prairie View’s Stevie McGuire (triple jump).

 

2024 Contenders: Wichita Collegiate’s state title last year was its first since 2015, and the Spartans will go into 2024 at least in the conversation as a title contender, even with the loss of standout distance runner CJ Meyer and former 100 champion Jaden Mitchell, who battled injuries a year ago. AJ Batsiste’s status is also uncertain, but he stepped in as the Spartan’s top sprinter last year, taking second in the 100 and anchoring the 400 relay to a state-meet record. The Spartans return two other members of that relay, including James Shackelford, who was third in the 200, while CJ’s younger brother, Will, is also back after taking third in the 3,200 and seventh in the 1,600. The Spartans got just four points from field events last year (Mitchell in the long jump) and if they can find a few there this year, they’ll be tough to beat. Champions two years ago and runner-up last year, Southeast of Saline will have to replace top scorers Nakari Morrical-Palmer and Damion Jackson off last year’s team. The Trojans still have a strong distance corps led by Levi Allen and Cayden Walker, who led the cross country team to a runner-up state finish. Collegiate’s top challenger very well could be Wichita Trinity Academy. The Knights have the top middle distance runner in the state in senior Clay Shively, who set the 1,600 meet record last year and could go sub-4 minutes this year. He also won the 800 a year ago while teammate Samuel Ferguson was the 3,200 champion. Shively, Ferguson and Caleb Tofteland went 1-2-4 in the 1,600 and Tofteland also is back to give the Knights a dominant distance group that’s won two straight state cross country titles. Like Collegiate, the Knights could use some points in the field events, or even the sprints, to make a serious run at a state title. Moving down from Class 4A, Hayden immediately becomes a contender for the title in 3A this year. The Wildcats were fifth in 4A and, despite losing state champion hurdler Jake Muller, have plenty back to make a run in 3A. Finn Dunshee was the 100 champion and anchored the Wildcats’ champion 400 relay. He also was on the record-setting 1,600 relay and both Jensen Schrickel and Liam Stegman also return off both relays. Schrickel was a state champion in the long jump as a freshman in 2022 before focusing on track events last year. If he can return and add some points in the jumps this year, Hayden very well could come away with a state title. Marysville was fourth a year ago and returns standout distance runner Silas Miller, who will battle the Trinity and Collegiate stalwarts in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 after taking second in the 3,200 and third in the 1,600 last year. He’s the lone returning state point scorer for the Bulldogs this year. With last year’s individual titles spread out among 13 schools, no other school really has emerged from the pack as a top contender for the team titles. Hoisington’s Josiah Ball returns as the pole vault champion and is a contender in the hurdles, as is defending 300 hurdles champion Linkon Cure of Goodland, who will look to add the 110 hurdles title as well.

 

CLASS 2A

 

2023 State champion: Inman

 

2023 State runner-up: Garden Plain

 

2023 Review: Last year’s Class 2A championship came down to the final race of the night, though a lot needed to fall into place for Inman not to hang on for the state title. The Teutons had an entry in the 1,600 relay and needed only to finish no worse than four spots behind Garden Plain, which trailed the Teutons by six points going into the race. Inman finished eighth in the race, but the Owls couldn’t take advantage and their fifth-place finish allowed Inman to hold on for the state title, winning by a mere three points over Garden Plain. Chase County, which finished second in the race, leap-frogged Ell-Saline for third, six points out of first and three behind runner-up Garden Plain. Inman’s title was led by junior Tanner Heckel, who swept the 2A titles in the long jump and triple jump and also added a runner-up finish in the 100 and third in the javelin. The Teutons also got big points from Eli Brunk in the hurdles as he finished runner-up in both to Smith Center’s Garrett Wanner. Garden Plain got a pair of event victories as Luke Hillman won the shot put title and took fifth in the discus and the 400 relay added a win as well. Chase County’s lone win came in the 3,200 relay and the Bulldogs had three top-four relay finishes to go along with a third from Tucker Groh in the 400. Heckel and Wanner were joined as a double winner by Meade’s Logan Keith, who moved up from being a 1A double-state champion in 2022 to claiming the 800 and 3,200 titles in 2A last year, helping the Buffaloes finish fifth. Ell-Saline’s fourth-place showing was led by a title from Brogan Rowley in the high jump. Other individual event champions included Moundridge’s Kaden Elmore (100), Hutchinson Trinity’s Jonah Godina (1,600), Jefferson County North’s Isaac Kane (400), Ellinwood’s Koy Behnke (200), Plainville’s Braylon Bittel (discus), Ellis’ Rex Johnson (javelin) and Bennington’s Jace Ohlson (pole vault).

 

2024 Contenders: Inman’s loss has been Lyndon’s gain throughout the 2023-24 season and track and field should be no different. Tanner Heckel’s transfer from Inman to Lyndon helped the Tiger football team to its first state championship and the basketball team to a runner-up finish in Class 2A. He’ll bring a load of points to the track team after being a double-state champion in the long and triple jumps in 2A last year while also taking second in the 100 and fourth in the javelin. He’ll pair nicely with Kaedin Massey, who was one of the top discus throwers in the entire state last year before settling for a runner-up state finish. The Tigers have a strong senior class overall and if they can rise to the occasion in the spring as they did in the fall and winter, the program might finish with another title in hand. State champs a year ago, Inman will be hard-pressed to get into the top 10 with not only Heckel gone, but also Eli Brunk, who graduated after runner-up finishes in both hurdle events. Garden Plain took second last year but also lost its top point producers with Gage Lee the top returner after finishing fourth in the javelin. Chase County lost some key members off last year’s third-place team, including three members of its champion 3,200 relay team. But Tucker Groh was a multi-event placer and Brock and Wyatt Griffin and Luke Budke return to give the Bulldogs a solid core to build around as they look to move up into the top two. Ell-Saline was fourth last year and has a returning champion in Brogan Rowley, who won the high jump and was runner-up in the long jump. The Cardinals also return multi-placers Carson Fouard and Garrison Zenger in the distance events, though gaining ground in those events will be tough with last year’s top returners – Meade’s Logan Keith and Kansas City Christian’s Andrew Schumacher and Spencer Mumford – also back this year. Keith has swept the 800 and 3,200 each of the last two years – 2A in 2023 and 1A in 2022 – and will look to get the Buffaloes into the team mix after they finished fifth last year. Meade returns all but two members of last year’s team overall and placed in all three relays. If KC Christian can get some pieces to go around Schumacher and Mumford, the Panthers could move up the standings as well. Plainville’s Braylon Bittel denied Massey the discus title last year and will be his top challenger this year. Moundridge’s Kaden Elmore is the returning 100 champion after taking the title last year as a sophomore and the Wildcats could ride the momentum of a second straight basketball title into track. Jefferson County North’s Isaac Kane was a surprise champion in the 400 last year and returns, as does pole vault champion Jace Ohlson of Bennington.

 

CLASS 1A

 

2023 State champion: Axtell

 

2023 State runner-up: Kiowa County

 

2023 Review: The conclusion of the Class 1A meet didn’t come without controversy that ultimately affected the final team standings. In the last race of the night, Quinter captured the title in the 1,600 relay, a victory that seemingly gave the Bulldogs the 1A state title. However, the Bulldogs were disqualified from the race for interference with a Kiowa County runner and the DQ cost the Bulldogs the title. Axtell was the beneficiary, taking fourth in the 1,600 relay to win the title by nine points over runner-up Kiowa County while Quinter settled for third, 10 points behind the Eagles. Axtell had done the work to put itself in position for the title. Grady Buessing swept titles in the 800 and 1,600 and anchored the winning 3,200 relay and Brandon Schmelzle medalled in four events to give the Eagles 64 points. Kiowa County’s lone win came in the controversial 1,600 relay after Quinter’s DQ, but Brock (100) and Brady Deterding (400) and Samuel Martinez (3,200) each had runner-up finishes, as did the 400 relay. Quinter’s effort was led by titles from Lakin Getz in the javelin and Bradley Bogert in the 400 with Bogert also taking second in the 110 hurdles and fourth in the 200. Ingalls’ Will Ast swept the hurdles titles to lead the Bulldogs to a fourth-place team finish while Madison’s Bryson Turner was a triple crown champion in the 100, 200 and triple jump to lead Madison to a fifth. Brewster’s Brock Woolf joined the double-champion group, sweeping the shot put and discus titles. Other individual champions included Wallace County’s Evan Pearce (3,200), Burlingame’s Matthew Heckman (high jump), Dighton’s Max Neeley (pole vault) and Pawnee Heights’ Alec Carlson (long jump) with Neeley claiming his third straight title in the pole vault.

 

2024 Contenders: Despite graduating two members of last year’s title team, Axtell will be a strong contender to repeat as 1A champions again this year. The Eagles return double-state champion Grady Buessing, who swept the 800 and 1,600 titles and also added a third gold on the 3,200 relay. Brandon Schmelzle was a four-event state medalist and could be a title threat in both the long and triple jump after the top finishers in each event graduated. Landon Schmitz was a double-placer in the hurdles last year as a freshman and could also be in the title hunt this year. After losing out on a title last year by a late DQ, Quinter will certainly be hungry to dethrone Axtell and claim the title it felt it won a year ago. What’s more, the Bulldogs have the firepower to do it as well. Lakin Getz returns as the state champion in the javelin and Bradley Bogert is back as the 400 champion while also taking second in the 110 hurdles and fourth in the 200. Quinter only graduated two seniors overall off last year’s team and is coming off a big year so far that saw the cross country team win the 1A state title and basketball team qualify for the state tournament. Those two stand as the clear favorites while last year’s runner-up, Kiowa County, will be right on their heels after losing only Brady Deterding off last year’s team. Samuel Martinez is a threat in the distance races, taking second in the 3,200, and Brock Deterding is back after a runner-up finish in the 100 and as part of the runner-up 400 relay. Ingalls and Madison lost their heavy hitters off last year’s fourth and fifth-place teams, respectively with the graduation of Will Ast and Bryson Turner, who combined for five golds last year. Wallace County was seventh a year ago and returns all but one from its state squad, including reigning 3,200 champion Evan Pearce. Canton-Galva won the 400 relay last year and will be led by Lane McMannis, a multiple placer last year.