GSWTC Team Kansas, Wrap On Field Events

Team Kansas, flexed its muscles in the field events at the Great Southwest. Showing the past few years our distance talent, this year Kansas showed up with some muscle. Of the 8 field events contested Kansas came home with 4 meet championships and 9 total medals from the field events. Overall the men’s team finished 6th place out of the 14 state team competition with 50 points. Texas was the winning men’s team easily outdistancing the rest of the states scoring 172 pts. On the woman’s side of the team scoring the ladies scored 28 points and finished in 10th place of the 20 state field, with Colorado winning with 169.5 points. This was easily the most successful overall year for Team Kansas at the GSWTC.

Kord Ferguson of Ottawa who will be throwing at Wichita State next season, pulled the double with victories in the Shot (63'7") and Disc (196'2"), while Andrew Henn of Paola, who defended his GSWTC championship from a year ago, and Keiryn Swenson of Maize showed why college coaches flock to Kansas to recruit javelin throwers, by each winning the javelin.

Willie Morrison a Jr. from Leavenworth and Alexia Stein a Jr. from Baldwin did their part in the throws as well. Alexia finished as the runner up to Amarissa Hawker of Utah in the Shot with a throw of 42'9.5" and Willie brought home the 5th place medal, missing 4th by .25" with a toss of 55'10.25".

To show how tough Kansas was in the boys discus of the 8 throwers making the finals half the field was Kansas throwers as Kord Furgeson, Conner McMullen, a Jr. from Louisburg, Willie Morrison and Ryan Rafter, a Jr. from Bishop Carroll, were all in the finals. Kord bringing home the championship while Conner finished 4th (177'8"), while Willie (170'10") and Ryan (168'6") finished in 7th and 8th place with Daniel Garrison, another Jr. from Bishop Carroll throwing 123'5". In the girls competition Alexia finished with a 5th place throw of 131'6". Madison Obrien a JR from Paola finished with a throw of 102'5".

In the javelin Andrew Henn who will be throwing for Arkansas next year, easily outdistanced his opponents with a toss of 195'10" beating Brandon Holden of Utah who had a toss of 189'9". Carter Grissom who is a Jr. at Shawnee Mission West also made the finals but finished 8th with a throw of 170'0" and Ricky Sanchez who will be throwing for the Baylor Bears next spring and a recent grad. of Bishop Carroll finished just outside the finals with a mark of 163'10". On the girls side Keiryn Swenson, a Jr. from Maize HS out threw her opponent Katelyn Gouchenour, of Iowa to win the GSW girls javelin with a toss of 149'6".

To show the rest of the GSW people that Kansas not only had the muscle in the field but they showed they could Jump as well. Kai Rowden of Olathe North HS finished 3rd in the high jump with a leap of 6'6.75"

Ezekiel Welch a recent graduate of Maize Hs finished 4th in the Triple Jump with a jump of 46'3.25" just .25" out of 3rd place. Ezekiel also long jumped 21'6". On the girls side of the sand jumpers Sarah Hines, a Jr. at West Elk, finished just outside the finals group with a triple jump of 36'3" and Mariah Hammersmith a sophomore from Hutch Trinity triple jumped 35'4.50" and long jumped 15'8.25".

Later today we will cover the track and let everyone know how Team Kansas faired there as well.

Results

Pictures