Teammate Switch
Morgan Thomas and Megan Eckman of Mill Valley took turns sharing the class 5A high jump title the past two years. The seniors capped off their high school careers with Eckman winning the state title in 2016 and finishing second this year; while Thomas was second in 2016 and won the state title this year.
Just...Dominant!
Konner Swenson of Maize seemingly was a man among boys in the discus and shot put this season. The senior won state titles in both events and had the top marks among all classes for much of the season.
Isaac Smallwood of Wichita Heights capped an undefeated senior season with a state title in the triple jump.
Astrid Same of Wichita East won 9 of 10 meets - including the state title - in the shot put, with a state-best throw of 45-3. Same, who also won the shot put state title in 2015, had a good battle this year with Garder-Edgerton senior Cassidy Androff, who was also the runner-up in 2016.
Richard Newman of Topeka separated himself from what was a pack of high jumpers at 6-6 at mid-season. At the end of the season, he consistently cleared 6-8 and 6-10, and just barely missed 7-0 at the Centennial League championships. He won state titles in the class 6A boys high jump and long jump en route to four state medals at this year's state meet.
Taylor Latimer of Valley Center put on a show of dominance when she won the class 5A girls discus for the second straight year. She also won the shot put this year and placed third in the javelin for the second consecutive season.
Brooke Brownlee of Maranatha Academy won her third consecutive state titles in the 100 and 200 meter runs this season. Overall, she won six of seven state meet races during her high school career.
Tony Kinser of Hugoton also was undefeated for his senior season, winning the state title in the class 3A boys high jump at 6-8.
Kaden Meitler of Smith Center picked up three state titles in his final high school meet. He successfully defended the class 2A boys pole vault title he won in 2016, and added the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles this year. He is a nine-time state medalist.
Jordan Speer of Dighton won a pair of state titles this year in class 1A girls, beating the competition in the discus and shot put. She won four state golds during her high school career, including the javelin and shot put in 2016.
Alyssa Miller of Hill City capped of a dominant three-year run, winning her third discus title in class 2A girls. She also won the shot put in 2016.
Chandler Stiawalt of Ness City swept the high jump, long jump and triple jump in 2016, and added another triple jump title this year. Levi Armon of Ness City finished up his senior season in style, as well: he won the class 2A boys shot put for the second year in a row.
Madison Scott of Republic County was the class 2A girls state champion in the pole vault in 2015, finished second in 2016, then regained the title this year. She was also third place in 2014. Pretty nice career, eh?