2023 Outdoor Class Previews
Class 1A I 2A I 3A I 4A I 5A I 6A
In 2023, you can expect to see a lot of fireworks in 2A. The girls' state meet may just be Chesney Peterson vs The World. Garden Plain and Wabaunsee managed to fend off Peterson's Stanton County team, but with both teams taking graduation hits, another 40-point showing from Peterson may just do it.
On the boys side, Heart of America teams Inman and Moundridge will duke it out all year. Eerily similar to the 1A girls race, it's defending champs versus an up-and-coming rival.
SPRINTS
Defending champs return in all three events for the boys: Isaiah Bates (Pleasanton) in the 100, Harrison Brunk (Inman) in the 200, and Kaden Elmore (Moundridge) in the 400.
With Brooke Hammond graduating from Garden Plain, the 100 and 200 are up for grabs. Michaela Rippe (Rawlins County) is the early favorite in the 100, while Ashlyn Finlay (Syracuse) heads up the 200. Bennington's Rori Miles and St Marys' Hope Garland will challenge as well.
JUMPS
Tanner Heckel will be a big scorer in the Long/Triple for Inman. Trego Community's James Kreigh & Gunner Wilson will also be factored into those events. Brogan Rowley (Ell-Saline) is nearly unstoppable in the high jump, while the pole vault is wide open.
If any event is wide-open in 2A, it's the girls high jump. Clearing 5'2" will likely score, and anyone going 5'4" or 5'6" on a good day could take home gold. Colgan's Lily Brown has some hops and is the top triple jump returner. Kanyon Olberding from Jackson Heights is another girl to watch. Pole vault returns two Southwest Kansans over ten feet: Stanton County's Suzanne Farnham and Elkhart's Nakaela O'Hair.
THROWS
This is the year for younger boys throwers to make a name for themselves. Braylon Bittel (Plainville) returns as reigning discus champion, but with over half of last year's state throwers graduating, dozens of points will be up for grabs.
Emma Yungeberg from Valley Heights has moved on, so there is hardware up for grabs in the throws. Mission Valley's Emma Slade could score some serious points in the shot & disc, while Camryn Hutchinson from Smith Center is a force in the javelin. Look for Garden Plain's Molly Zoglman to star as well.
Team Rankings | Results | Individual Rankings
DISTANCE
Chesney Peterson. Payton Wurtz. They both went nuts with the 400-800-1600-3200 quadruple a year ago. No reason to think they won't dominate again.
Not many changes on the boys' side, either. Andrew Harder (Berean Academy) returns as defending 1600/3200 champ. XC heavyweight Kamryn Golub (Stanton Co) will have a say in things as well. Logan Keith enters the fray with Meade moving into 2A. He was the 1A 800m champ a year ago.
HURDLES
Meade's Grayden Stapleton will be tough to beat in both events. Inman's Eli Brunk will likely score well as a hurdler, along with Alex Toenjes from St. Marys.
Landrea Sears is now out of the equation, so there is an opening for some youngsters to step up. Lily Brown from Pittsburg-Colgan had a stellar 2022 season in the 100 hurdles, while KC Christian's Katalina Chan looks to be a blossoming star in the 300 hurdles.
RELAYS
On the boys' side, Moundridge & Inman both bring back serious contenders in the 4x100 and 4x400. Chase County's 4x100 will be good. Moundridge also brings back a solid core for their 4x800.
Private schools seem to score a lot in the girls relays. Pitt-Colgan and Berean Academy may make finals in all 3 once again. Sacred Heart returns a solid core for the 4x400 and 4x800. If Garden Plain can find a solid replacement for Brooke Hammond, they'll be a contender in the 4x100, along with Plainville.