After the big high, there's always a letdown. I don't think I was the only one experiencing post-KU Relays fog. After so many fireworks, records, and crazy performances early in the season, we've been due for a quiet period.
For a 20-something that still loves high school sports, it was fitting that during this down period I would head back to my own small town for the Council Grove Invitational.
Working track meets is fun, especially when you have a microphone in your hand. Announcing is what I do for track meets (and a bunch of other stuff) in addition to my duties as a college student-athlete. Doing it for your alma mater as they beat down their 5 biggest rivals? A real treat.
The Thursday afternoon weather was perfect for track, and several athletes put on quite a show. Council Grove's Ethan Burton is a star, winning the 100, 200, and anchoring the winning 4x100 and 4x400 relays. The first three were school records and 3A-leading marks at 10.71, 21.75, and 43.08. Before the 4x1 baton got to Burton, it went through Jace Goodman, Loup Charlier, and Ahmed Mansaray. Joining them in winning sprints for Council Grove was Kiele Tyner, winning the 100, 200, 400, and 4x100.
Council Grove's 3A-leading 4x100 relay with Burton (left), Mansaray, Charlier, and Goodman
(Photo from C.G. Coach Derron Reddick)
Council Grove Results | 3A Boys Leaders
The distance events were no slouch either, with Osage City's Emory Speece winning all three in 2:28, 5:25, and 12:09, the first two being personal bests and top-5 marks in 3A. For the boys, Chase County's Cooper Schroer became the first 2A boy under 2:00 in the 800 this season.
Most of our 5A/6A meets have been covered here and here, so let's take some time to appreciate a little more of the excitement from Kansas' small town meets.
At Jackson Heights on Tuesday, Kanyon Olberding, senior for the home-team Cobras, won the 100, long jump, and triple jump. She boasted personal bests in the 100 and long jump, and her leap of 17-5.5 is the top mark in 2A.
Out in Osborne on Friday night, Thunder Ridge senior Toree Slavik unleashed a perfect discus throw, landing at 141 feet. That is the farthest in 1A this year, and 2nd in all classes.
1A Girls Leaders | Osborne Kaser Relays Results
Hanover's Anna Jueneman racked up the gold medals this week, winning the 200 and 400 at Belleville on Tuesday, and the 100, 200, and 400 at Frankfort on Friday.
Goodland's Lindsey Cure had maybe the busiest week in the entire state, competing in 10 races across the 200, 100 hurdles, and 300 hurdles, plus two javelin competitions across her trips to Scott City and Holcomb. She came away with 5 gold medals and finished no lower than 3rd in any of her events all week.
In other hurdle news, Inman's Madilyn Heflin is 6-0 in such events following a sweep at Elyria Christian. Her mark of 15.74 was a personal best in the 100-meter hurdle event.
Before we get too far from the topic of western-Kansas girls doing a lot of races, Chesney Peterson was also busy for Stanton County, winning four distance events and contributing to relays across two meets this week, including a 17-second PR in the 3200 at Holcomb.
One of the major small-school meets of the week was Halstead's Conrad Nightengale Invitational. Hutch-Trinity's Jonah Godina won the 1600 in school-record fashion, clocking 4:28. He followed that up with another PR and runner-up finish in the 3200. Smoky Valley's Breanne Peters also went off at that meet, claiming gold in the 100m (12.68), Triple Jump (35-7), and Pole Vault (11-8), and silver in the 200m (26.54). Her points led the Vikings to a close team victory over Cheney, 99-93 in what could be a sneak-peak at the 3A trophy race.
Conrad Nightengale Results | Abilene Results
In Clearwater's home meet, hurdler Madison Williams continued her winning ways, sweeping the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, and 200m dash. Easy as 1-2-3.
Wamego's school-record 4x400 relay
(Photo from Wamego Track & Field)
Lastly, the Abilene Invite saw a few speedy performances from Wamego's Brady Stegman. The Red Raider clocked 4:24 in the 1600, and followed it up with a 9:38 school record in the 3200. Moments later, the 4x400 team of Mason Herzog, Harry Cutting, Emery Wolfe, and Jonny Cutting blasted a 3:25 to set another school record. In a week with a lot of good relays, that was one of the best. It's just the latest in a flurry of records that have been rewritten in Wamego this season. An exceptional season for a school with storied running tradition.