By Scott Peavey
Once again the Sunflower League promises to be one of the most exciting and competitive leagues throughout the state. The expansion of the 6A classification to 36 teams will in many ways shape the Sunflower League meet into a "super-Regional" or sorts; with Olathe West moving up to 6A for the first time over ⅓ of 6A schools now call the Sunflower home.
The league is stocked with elite athletes and multiple teams that hold realistic dreams of leaving Wichita with a trophy in hand. Both Lawrence and Olathe Northwest figure to battle it out once again on the girls side. Last year the Lions brought home the 6A championship with a dominant showing, and although they return the majority of that title squad the ONW Ravens possess enough high caliber performers to prevent Lawrence from repeating. Gardner-Edgerton, Shawnee Mission North and Olathe South will also push to claim a spot on the Cessna Stadium podium.
On the boys side a talented assortment of upperclassmen have positioned Gardner-Edgerton for their best chance at claiming a state championship since they made the jump to 6A in 2012. The Blazers are a well-rounded squad with contributors in nearly every event. The elite distance crews of both Olathe North and Shawnee Mission North, as well as the other premier athletes at Olathe South, Olathe East and Olathe Northwest (among others), promise to make both the Sunflower and 6A championship races competitive to the end.
The team profiles that follow are as accurate as possible, and take into account the most accurate rosters known at this time. Obviously transfers, injuries, or choosing not to compete will drastically shift the league prognosis as we move into the competitive portion of the season. The only thing that is assured is that the Sunflower League will deliver some of the best track and field competition on a weekly basis!
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Team | Gardner-Edgerton Trailblazers |
Head Coaches | Brian McGee (Head Boys), Larry Ward (Head Girls) |
Returning Individual State Qualifiers | Jakob Renaud (Jr) - 100m SaeVheon Alcorn (Sr) - 200m Trent Cochran (Sr) - 3200m Dayton Williams (Jr) - HJ Teven McKelvey (Jr) - TJ Colton Goodman (Sr) - PV Tyler Chaffee (Sr) - SP Kendra Wait (So) - 100m Kendra Wait (So) - 200m Kylie Moorehouse (So) - 200m Kylie Moorehouse (So) - 400m Sariah Hull (Sr) - 300H Kendra Wait (So) - PV Morgan McIntire (Jr) - PV Becca Mitchell (Sr) - PV Kennedy Comstock (Sr) - JT Brenna Davidson (Sr) - JT Harper Hmielewski (Jr) - SP |
Returning State Medalists | Trent Cochran (Sr) - 5th Place 3200m Dayton Williams (Jr) - 2nd Place HJ Teven McKelvey (Jr) - 8th Place TJ Colton Goodman (Sr) - T-3rd Place PV Kendra Wait (So) - 1st Place 100m Kendra Wait (So) - 5th Place 200m Kylie Moorehouse (So) - 4th Place 400m Kendra Wait (So) - 3rd Place PV Morgan McIntire (Jr) - 7th Place PV Boys 4x100 - 7th Place (4/4 runners returning) Boys 4x400 - 3rd Place (3/4 runners returning) |
Other Returning 2018 Regional Point Scorers | Bryan Oneri (Jr) - DT Sariah Hull (Sr) - 100H Amy Kamtio (Sr) - HJ Madyson Beasley (Sr) - JT Kennedy Comstock (Sr) - SP |
Virtual League Top 3 | Kendra Wait (So) - #2 100m (12.15) Kylie Moorehouse (So) - #2 400m (58.14) Sariah Hull (Sr) - #3 300H (48.41) Kendra Wait (So) - #1 PV (11-8) Becca Mitchell (Sr) - T-#3 PV (10-0) Morgan McIntire (Jr) - T-#3 PV (10-0) Kennedy Comstock (Sr) - #2 JT (130-9) Brenna Davidson (Sr) - #3 JT (129-2) Jakob Renaud (Jr) - #1 100m (11.02) SaeVheon Alcorn (Sr) - #3 100m (11.10) SaeVheon Alcorn (Sr) - #2 200m (22.39) Teven Mckelvey (Jr) - #2 TJ (44-6) Dayton Williams (Jr) - #1 HJ (6-7) Colton Goodman (Sr) - #1 PV (14-0) Storm Frazier (So) - T-#3 PV (12-0) *transfer from Olathe North* Tyler Chaffee (Sr) - #3 SP (48-4) |
Team | Shawnee Mission South Raiders |
Head Coach | J.J. Wannamaker |
Returning Individual State Qualifiers | Gabriel Smith (Sr) - 110H Samuel Macklin (Jr) - LJ William Huggins (Jr) - JT |
Returning State Medalists | Samuel Macklin (Jr) - 1st Place LJ |
Other Returning 2018 Regional Point Scorers | Chloe Wannamaker (So) - 3200m Miah Clark (Sr) - 100H Miah Clark (Sr) - 300H Elisabeth Crawford (Jr) - HJ Emma Ross (Sr) - PV Gabriel Smith (Sr) - 300H Jack Roberts (Sr) - JT |
Virtual League Top 3 | Samuel Macklin (Sr) - #3 TJ (43-10.5) Samuel Macklin (Sr) - #1 LJ (23-10.75) Jack Roberts (Sr) - #1 JT (175-10) |
Team | Shawnee Mission West Vikings |
Head Coach | Courtney Porter |
Returning Individual State Qualifiers | Kierra Prim (Jr) - 100m Jasmine Patterson (So) - 400m Kierra Prim (Jr) - TJ Bianca Musselman (So) - DT Euloge Koudou (Sr) - 200m Cameron Shelton (Sr) - 110H Cameron Shelton (Sr) - 300H Mitchell Loe (So) - JT |
Returning State Medalists | Kierra Prim (Jr) - 5th Place 100m Jasmine Patterson (So) - 5th Place 400m Girls 4x100 - 5th Place (4/4 runners returning) Girls 4x400 - 6th Place (3/4 runners returning) Girls 4x800 - 2nd Place (1/4 runners returning) |
Other Returning 2018 Regional Point Scorers | Bella Musselman (Sr) - 100m Madeline Meyer (Sr) - 200m Emma Vielhauer (So) - 1600m Ella Barth (So) - 3200m Laurel Omollo (Sr) - LJ Euloge Koudou (Sr) - 100m Connor Austin (Sr) - 1600m Grant Kimerer (Sr) - 3200m Charles Callaghan (Jr) - SP |
Virtual League Top 3 | Kierra Prim (Jr) - #3 100m (12.44) Jasmine Patterson (So) - #3 400m (58.29) Laurel Omollo (Sr) - #3 LJ (17-10.25) Kierra Prim (Jr) - #3 TJ (37-4.5) Cameron Shelton (Sr) - #3 110H (15.40) Cameron Shelton (Sr) - #2 300H (40.86) |
Team | Shawnee Mission North Indians |
Head Coach | Aaron Davidson |
Returning Individual State Qualifiers | Kathryn Kasunic (Sr) - 1600m Kathryn Kasunic (Sr) - 3200m Keagen Stiers (Jr) - 3200m Kauilani Misipeka (Jr) - SP Danielle Scaduto (Sr) - JT Jaden Reed (Sr) - 100m Blake Taylor (Jr) - 800m Asher Molina (Sr) - 1600m Asher Molina (Sr) - 3200m |
Returning State Medalists | Kathryn Kasunic (Sr) - 7th Place 3200m Girls 4x800 - 5th Place (2/4 runners returning) Kauilani Misipeka (Jr) - 4th Place SP Danielle Scaduto (Sr) - 7th Place JT Asher Molina (Sr) - 1st Place 1600m Asher Molina (Sr) - 2nd Place 3200m |
Other Returning 2018 Regional Point Scorers | Destany Moore (So) - 100H Christiana Kasunic (So) - HJ Madison Rosas (Sr) - JT Jacob Lucas (Jr) - 800m Logan Jiskra (Sr) - 1600m Carson Langley (Sr) - 110H Tommy Faseru (So) - HJ Gustavo Martinez (Sr) - JT |
Virtual League Top 3 | Kathryn Kasunic (Sr) - #2 1600m (5:21.47) Kathryn Kasunic (Sr) - #1 3200m (11:14.80) Kauilani Misipeka (Jr) - #1 SP (39-6.25) Kauilani Misipeka (Jr) - #1 DT (119-1) Asher Molina (Sr) - #1 1600m (4:21.81) Asher Molina (Sr) - #1 3200m (9:32.23) Harden Boldt (Jr) - T-#3 PV (12-0) |
Team | Shawnee Mission East Lancers |
Head Coach | Emily Fossoh |
Returning Individual State Qualifiers | Destiny Ray (Sr) - 100m Destiny Ray (Sr) - 200m Lucy Hoffman (Sr) - 400m Eleanor Hlobik (Jr) - 800m Kelsey Christensen (So) - 300H Carly Hendrickson (Sr) - HJ Griffin Keeter (Sr) - 3200 |
Returning State Medalists | Destiny Ray (Sr) - 3rd Place 100m Destiny Ray (Sr) - 3rd Place 200m Girls 4x100 - 3rd Place (1/4 runners returning) Girls 4x800 - 4th Place (2/4 runners returning) Carly Hendrickson (Sr) - T-7th Place HJ |
Other Returning 2018 Regional Point Scorers | Diane Macadams (Jr) - 300H Jack Slaughter (Jr) - 400m Wyatt Pearlman (Jr) - 300H |
2019 Virtual League Top 3 | Destiny Ray (Sr) - #1 100m (11.97) Destiny Ray (Sr) - #2 200m (25.36) Eleanor Hlobik (Jr) - #2 800m (2:19.24) Carly Hendrickson (Sr) - HJ (5-4) Jack Slaughter (Jr) - #2 400m (50.91) Gray Warner (Sr) - T-#3 PV (12-0) |
Team | Shawnee Mission Northwest Cougars |
Head Coach | Mike Cooper |
Returning Individual State Qualifiers | Terri McCullough (Sr) - 100m Spencer Kaleko (Sr) - 800m Ben Harrell (Sr) - 1600m Chanler Taylor (Sr) - TJ Jamie Hall (Jr) - TJ |
Returning State Medalists | Spencer Kaleko (Sr) - 6th Place 800m Ben Harrell (Sr) - 8th Place 1600m Boys 4x400 - 1st Place (1/4 runners returning) Boys 4x800 - 7th Place (3/4 runners returning) Chanler Taylor - 2nd Place TJ |
Other Returning 2018 Regional Point Scorers | Rylee Garrett (Jr) - JT Payton Carder (Sr) - 400m Chanler Taylor (Sr) - LJ Mitchell Hufker (Sr) - DT |
Virtual League Top 3 | Spencer Kaleko (Sr) - #3 800m (2:00.52) Chanler Taylor (Sr) - #1 TJ (46-2.25) Chanler Taylor (Sr) - #3 LJ (22-3.25) |
Team | Lawrence Lions |
Head Coach | Jack Hood |
Returning Individual State Qualifiers | Asjah Harris (Jr) - 200m Evann Seratte (Sr) - 400m Evann Seratte (Sr) - 800m Josie Hickerson (Sr) - PV Caroline Dunlap (So) - PV Chisom Ajekwu (Sr) - SP Krissy Howard (Sr) - SP Ella Stewart (Jr) - DT Baylee Unruh (Sr) - JT Amaya Harris (So) - JT Michaela Cordova (Sr) - JT Dre'Shun Bridges (Jr) - 100m Bryce Tibke (Sr) - SP Bryce Tibke (Sr) - DT |
Returning State Medalists | Asjah Harris (Jr) - 2nd Place 200m Evann Seratte (Sr) - 2nd Place 400m Evann Seratte (Sr) - 1st Place 800m Girls 4x100 - 1st Place (4/4 runners returning) Girls 4x400 - 2nd Place (4/4 runners returning) Girls 4x800 - 6th Place (4/4 runners returning) Josie Hickerson (Sr) - 2nd Place PV Chisom Ajekwu (Sr) - 3rd Place SP Krissy Howard (Sr) - 5th Place SP Baylee Unruh (Sr) - 2nd Place JT Amaya Harris (So) - 6th Place JT Bryce Tibke (Sr) - 7th Place DT |
Other Returning 2018 Regional Point Scorers | Ashley Wildman (Jr) - 100m Isabelle Kirkwood (So) - 200m Mariah Reed (So) - HJ Josie Hickerson (Sr) - TJ Abby LaTessa (Sr) - SP Destiny Vongphachanh (Sr) - DT Graham Hough (So) - 100m Kendrick Hobson (Jr) - TJ |
Virtual League Top 3 | Asjah Harris (Jr) - #1 200m (24.68) Evann Seratte (Sr) - #1 400m (57.87) Evann Seratte (Sr) - #1 800m (2:16.09) Hannah Stewart (Sr) - #3 800m (2:19.78) Hannah Stewart (Sr) - #3 1600m (5:22.67) Josie Hickerson (Sr) - #2 PV (11-6) Chisom Ajekwu (Sr) - #2 SP (38-8) Krissy Howard (Sr) - #3 SP (37-10) Baylee Unrush (Sr) - #1 JT (142-4) Declan Oberzan (Sr) - #2 PV (12-6) Bryce Tibke (Sr) - #3 DT (155-1) |
Team | Free State Firebirds |
Head Coach | Jordan Rose |
Returning Individual State Qualifiers | Emma Hertig (Sr) - 800m Julia Larkin (Sr) - 3200m Liliana King Wilson (Jr) - 100H Liliana King Wilson (Jr) - 300H Liliana King Wilson (Jr) - HJ Kala Ewing (Jr) - DT Cole Phillips (Sr) - 400m Charles Johnson (Jr) - 3200m Jaxon Malone (Sr) - LJ |
Returning State Medalists | Emma Hertig (Sr) - 6th Place 800m |
Other Returning 2018 Regional Point Scorers | Ana Kristina Holladay (So) - 400m Erin Fagan (Jr) - 3200m Liliana King Wilson (Jr) - PV Ja'Brandion Douglas (Jr) - 100m Aidan Goertz (Sr) - 800m Kaiy Shaun King Wilson (Sr) - 300H |
Virtual League Top 3 | Julia Larkin (Sr) - #3 3200m (11:38.76) Auna Childress (Jr) - #2 TJ (38-0) Bo Miller (So) - #2 JT (173-6) |
Team | Olathe North Eagles |
Head Coach | Levi Huseman |
Returning Individual State Qualifiers | Kadaisha Mpwo (Sr) - 100m Kaiya McKie (So) - 100H Brea Turner (Sr) - 100H Brea Turner (Sr) - LJ Jose Guzman (Sr) - 1600m Cade Heikes (Sr) - 1600m Jose Guzman (Sr) - 3200m Jackson Caldwell (Sr) - 3200m |
Returning State Medalists | Kaiya McKie (So) - 3rd Place 100H Brea Turner (Sr) - 5th Place 100H Girls 4x800 - 1st Place (2/4 runners returning) Cade Heikes (Sr) - 2nd Place 1600m Joey Guzman (Sr) - 3rd Place 3200m |
Other Returning 2018 Regional Point Scorers | Kadaisha Mpwo (Sr) - 200m Zoey Schillinger (Jr) - 800m Sarah Whitaker (Jr) - 3200m Julia Sketers (Sr) - 3200m Daymonn Sanchez (Sr) - 200m James Thomas (Sr) - TJ |
Virtual League Top 3 | Sarah Whitaker (Jr) - #2 3200m (11:25.81) Kaiya McKie (So) - #1 100H (15.47) Brea Turner (Sr) - #3 100H (15.79) Daymonn Sanchez (Sr) - #2 100m (11.06) Daymonn Sanchez (Sr) - #1 200m (22.39) Cade Heikes (Sr) - #2 1600m (4:24.82) Joey Guzman (Sr) - #3 1600m (4:27.71) Jackson Caldwell (Sr) - #2 3200m (9:39.46) Joey Guzman (Sr) - #3 3200m (9:42.15) |
Team | Olathe South Falcons |
Head Coach | Matthew Bohm |
Returning Individual State Qualifiers | Sophie Reed (Jr) - 200m Dani Winslow (Jr) - 300H Isabella Pierce (Sr) - LJ Isabella Pierce (Sr) - TJ Madeline Bachtold (Sr) - DT Angelina Butler (Jr) - DT Logan Woodside (So) - 400m AJ Shields (Sr) - 110H AJ Shields (Sr) - 300H Myles Nash (Jr) - HJ Damian Tolbert (Sr) - DT |
Returning State Medalists | Sophie Reed (Jr) - 8th Place 200m Dani Winslow (Jr) - 4th Place 300H Girls 4x100 - (DQ in Finals, 4th fastest qualifying time- 4/4 runners returning) Girls 4x400 - 3rd Place (4/4 runners returning) Isabella Pierce - 8th Place TJ Angelina Butler - 6th Place DT Logan Woodside (So) - 8th Place 400m AJ Shields (Sr) - 6th Place 300H Boys 4x400 - 5th Place (2/4 runners returning) Boys 4x800 - 4th Place (1/4 runners returning) Myles Nash (Jr) - 4th Place HJ Damian Tolbert (Sr) - 8th Place DT |
Other Returning 2018 Regional Point Scorers | Riley Degner (Sr) - 200m Kiley Cox (Sr) - 1600m Reed Smith (So) - HJ |
Virtual League Top 3 | Sophie Reed (Jr) - #3 200m (25.71) Dani Winslow (Jr) - #1 300H (45.96) Dani Winslow (Jr) - #2 HJ (5-6) Angelina Butler (Jr) - #2 DT (115-6) Madeline Bachtold (Sr) - #3 DT (110-7) Logan Woodside (So) - #1 400m (49.64) AJ Shields (Sr) - #2 110H (15.36) AJ Shields (Sr) - #1 300H (40.30) AJ Shields (Sr) - T-#3 HJ (6-3) Myles Nash (Jr) - T-#3 HJ (6-3) Damian Tolbert (Sr) - #2 DT (155-2) |
Team | Olathe East Hawks |
Head Coach | Travis Greer |
Returning Individual State Qualifiers | Kirsten Wetterstrom (So) - 300H Connor Young (Sr) - 800m Hezekiah Newman (Jr) - 110H Rayquan Lewis (Sr) - 300H Hezekiah Newman (Jr) - LJ Hezekiah Newman (Jr) - TJ Nathan Matlack (Jr) - JT |
Returning State Medalists | Hezekiah Newman (Jr) - 5th Place 110H Boys 4x800 - 2nd Place (1/4 runners returning) Hezekiah Newman (Jr) - 5th Place LJ Nathan Matlack (Jr) - 8th Place JT |
Other Returning 2018 Regional Point Scorers | Mayah Martin (So) - TJ Ashley Abbott (Sr) - JT Jacob Vermillion (Sr) - 800m Jaime Diaz (Jr) - 3200m Hezekiah Newman (Jr) - HJ |
Virtual League Top 3 | Jacob Vermillion (Sr) - #1 800m (1:59.40) Hezekiah Newman (Jr) - #1 110H (15.11) Rayquan Lewis (Sr) - #3 300H (41.60) Hezekiah Newman (Jr) - #2 HJ (6-4) Nathan Matlack (Jr) - #2 SP (48-8) |
Team | Olathe Northwest Ravens |
Head Coach | Mike Stephens |
Returning Individual State Qualifiers | Madeline Righter (Sr) - 200m Amelia Horton (So) - 400m Macy McKee (Sr) - 100H Josie Morgan (Sr) - 100H Macy McKee (Sr) - 300H Josie Morgan (Sr) - 300H Madeline Righter (Sr) - HJ Jaleesa McWashington (Sr) - LJ Madeline Righter (Sr) - LJ Jaleesa McWashington (Sr) - TJ Christopher George (Sr) - 100m Cole Morris (Sr) - 800m Daverion Goree (Jr) - HJ Dallin Armstrong (Jr) - HJ De'Mario Hanson (Sr) - LJ Connor Boyd (Sr) - SP |
Returning State Medalists | Madeline Righter (Sr) - 6th Place 200m Macy McKee (Sr) - 4th Place 100H Macy McKee (Sr) - 8th Place 300H Girls 4x100 - 2nd Place (3/4 runners returning) Girls 4x400 - 7th Place (2/4 runners returning) Madeline Righter (Sr) - 2nd Place HJ Madeline Righter (Sr) - 2nd Place LJ Jaleesa McWashington (Sr) - 4th Place LJ Jaleesa McWashington (Sr) - 4th Place TJ Boys 4x400 - 6th Place (3/4 runners returning) De'Mario Hanson (Sr) - 4th Place LJ |
Other Returning 2018 Regional Point Scorers | Lindsay Heller (Sr) - TJ Christopher George (Sr) - 200m Edwin Arellano-Aleman (So) - 110H Michael Fruth (Jr) - HJ Connor Boyd (Sr) - DT |
Virtual League Top 3 | Macy McKee (Sr) - #2 100H (15.73) Macy McKee (Sr) - #2 300H (47.53) Maddie Righter (Sr) - #1 HJ (5-8) Jaleesa Mcwashington (Sr) - #1 LJ (19-1) Maddie Righter (Sr) - #2 LJ (18-11.75) Jaleesa Mcwashington (Sr) - #1 TJ (39-7) Cole Morris (Sr) - #2 800m (1:59.41) Mario Hanson (Sr) - #2 LJ (22-4.5) Connor Boyd (Sr) - #1 SP (51-8) Connor Boyd (Sr) - #1 DT (165-10) |
Team | Olathe West Owls |
Head Coach | Dee Bell |
Returning Individual State Qualifiers | Brooklyn Downing (So) - 200m Jenna Mullen (So) - 3200m Ayiana Uhde (Sr) - SP Brady Larson (Sr) - 100m Brady Larson (Sr) - 200m Zachary Krause (Sr) - 110H Jack Loveless (Sr) - 110H Jamesperr Frazier-Baker (So) - 300H Zachary Krause (Sr) - 300H Ross Ehrsam (Sr) - LJ Ross Ehrsam (Sr) - TJ Joe Placek (Jr) - JT |
Returning State Medalists | Ayiana Uhde (Sr) - 8th Place SP Brady Larson (Sr) - 6th Place 200m Joe Placek (Jr) - 6th Place JT |
Other Returning 2018 Regional Point Scorers | Naleah Garry (Jr) - 100m Mikala Bourquin (Jr) - 800m Jenna Mullen (So) - 1600m Michelle Anderson (So) - 100H Mercediez Parks (Jr) - 300H Michelle Anderson (So) - 300H Savanna Willard (So) - HJ Michelle Anderson (So) - LJ Claire Thomas (So) - PV Kaylee Kleinschmit (Sr) - DT Jamesperr Frazier-Baker (So) - 110H Jack Loveless (Sr) - 300H Kaleb Barbee (So) - JT |
Virtual League Top 3 | Jenna Mullen (So) - #1 1600m (5:20.45) Brady Larson (Sr) - #3 200m (22.54) Joe Placek (Jr) - #3 JT (171-4) |
Sunflower League Virtual Meet
(Individual Only)
Pre-Season Top 5 Teams
BOYS
#1 Gardner Edgerton Trailblazers | 87.25 | |
#2 Olathe East Hawks | 67.5 | |
#3 Olathe North Eagles | 59.5 | |
#4 Olathe South Falcons | 53 | |
#5 Olathe Northwest Ravens | 51.5 |
GIRLS
#1 Lawrence Lions | 100.5 | |
#2 Olathe Northwest Ravens | 79 | |
#3 Gardner Edgerton Trailblazers | 71 | |
#4 SM North Indians | 62.33 | |
#5 Olathe South Falcons | 60.5 |