March isn't a month known for track & field, and for good reason. Championship basketball and unreliable weather make a lot of March meets forgettable, and many schools don't even bother with week-one action. They'd prefer to save their budget for a double-meet week in April or May. Some athletes, however, are itching to get back out there, and this season was no different, with plenty of week-one highlights to cover.
Tyrell Reed, now at Lawrence High after spending stints at Perry-Lecompton, Topeka West, & Highland Park, blew away the 100-meter field at the Mid-Winter Relays in Topeka. His 10.9 is the fastest opener of any sprinter so far. His journey is certainly an interesting one as he looks to improve on his 3rd place finish at state a year ago.
Speaking of sprinters, Wyatt Haughton isn't exactly the first name that comes to mind for the 400. However, the Shawnee Mission East senior is sitting atop the event in Kansas with a 50.41 to open at his home quad. As he elected to pass on his usual distance events, Henry Born of Shawnee Mission Northwest showed off his improved ability in the 1600, clocking in at 4:18.
Olathe North's Parrish brothers showed off in the hurdles at the Olathe Preseason Spectacular. Josh Parrish won the 110 high hurdles while Jason Parrish handled the 300s.
Highland Park stud Tre Richardson unleashed his jumping ability on the world this week, leaping just half an inch shy of 23 feet in the long. His 43-2.5 triple was impressive, too. However, he finished third in a remarkable early-season field. The winner there was Alesecio Batson, a sophomore who tried his hand at 7 different events last year, and is finding his footing in the jumps.
Lillian Harris, already a star for Kapaun Mt. Carmel, won the 100 and 200 at Wichita Southeast. Her 25.06 is a 200m PR and will likely stay in the top-10 for several weeks.
Annalisa Cullens, newly minted Hutchinson athlete, is continuing where she left off in Wellington with a pair of wins in the hurdles at the Newton Invitational.
In the 800m, Olathe West's Charis Robinson is already in midseason form, running 2:17 at one of the best-named meets in the state: Four Birds & a Horse.
This Week's Varsity Results