Speed Thrills
Kansas has its share of speed on the track as well.
The fastest senior on the track this year was Clifford Robinson of Leavenworth, who won class 5A titles in the 100 (10.71) and 200 (21.72). He also anchored his school's winning 4 X 100 meter relay team (42.07, the best in Kansas this season).
We'll miss watching Newton's fantastic sprinter Kade Remsberg, the 2015 state champion in the 100 and 200 meters. He finished third and second in those events this year, but wraps up a high school career that saw him earn six state medals in the short sprints - none lower than third place.
Remsberg was also undefeated over four years in the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League meet.
Plainville sprinters Sam Kaup and Hayden Friend powered their school to the class 2A state title this year. Friend, in fact, clinched the team title when he won the 200 meters (he also won the 100 meters this year). Kaup was the 200 meter state champ in 2016.
In class 3A, two of the best were seniors. Jacob Koelzer of Nemaha Central won the 100 meter title in 2016 and 2017, and was a three-time runner-up in the 200 meters. Kaden Davis of Ellsworth won the 200 meters the past two years, and added the 400 meter title this year.
Raelee Ibarra of Central Christian was the queen of the sprints in class 1A girls. She swept the 100 and 200 meters and anchored her team's winning 4 X 100 relay.