Distance Stars
Emily Venters of Lawrence Free State finished her high school career the way she started it - with a state championship. She won her very first state race in cross country as a freshman (she also won the 3200 meters later that year), and finished it with wins in the 1600 and 3200 meters as a senior this year.
Venters won five state titles and 14 state medals during her career.
She led an impressive class 6A girls group of senior distance runners which had elevated the division to possibly the toughest it has ever been. Some of those seniors included Manhattan's Cara Melgares (13 state medals), Wichita North's Gabriela Reyna (seven state medals), Shawnee Mission North's Amber Reed (six state medals), and Lawrence Free State's Kiran Cordes (five state medals).
Kyler True of Olpe has defined distance running in Kansas for at least the past two years. It didn't matter that he ran in class 2A the past three years (and class 1A this year): he is hands-down the best distance runner in the state. He capped his high school career by winning four gold medals at the track and field championships, and finishes with 11 state titles and 16 state medals.
True gave the state meet crowd one of its most exciting moments when he floated around the track to an all-class record of 4:07.17 in the 1600 meters. He and Venters will be competing in the prestigious Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle next weekend.