In an absolutely loaded 400m race, Jack Guthridge of Kapaun Mt. Carmel High came out with the win and a new PR. Guthridge rose to the occasion,dipping under 48 seconds in both the prelims (47.64) and finals (47.57). This outstanding performance further solidifies his dominance in this event. Guthridge maintains his top rank in the 100m, 200m and 400m across State rankings.  

     To give an understanding of just how competitive the 400m was at Kansas relays, there were a total of 19 athletes that ran a sub 50 400m, but only eight were able to move on to the finals. Other notable performances from Kansans include Jensen Schrickel (49.17), Crayton Rauch (49.28), Luke Finzen (49.47), Dayton Richardson (49.47), Tucker Groh (49.56), and Noah Schowengerdt (49.57). 

800m 

     Dylan Plath electrified Kansas Relays with an impressive 800m time of 1:53.53, securing the win. Plath is currently on an undefeated streak in the 800m this outdoor season, and this latest performance only adds to his momentum. Continuing his remarkable weekend, Plath also raced in the 1600m the following day, finishing fourth with a time of 4:16.08. He now holds the top spot in the 800m and third in the 1600m (4:12.66-week 4) across the state leaderboard. 

     Coming in a close second was Palmer O'Connor from Desoto High School. O'Connor finished the race with an impressive time of 1:53.92, earning him the top spot in class 5A and third statewide. O'Connor's performances this season have been remarkable to witness, especially considering his progression from last year's season best of 2:00.73. Running a time of 1:53.92 in the 800m is no joke. Furthermore, O'Connor's nearness to the school record set by Travis Hodge adds to his achievement. Hodge, who went on to become a decorated athlete at Kansas State, provides insight into the caliber of athlete O'Connor is becoming. 

     Seven other Kansans ran sub-2 including Harrison Cutting (1:54.15), Jake Loos (1:55.20), Nathan Thengvall (1:55.42), Diego Barron (1:57.35), Francisco Juarez (1:58.42), Canyon Buehler (1:58.46), and Nick Johnson (1:58.89). 

1600m 

The 1600m field at Kansas Relays was highly competitive, featuring eleven Kansans who dipped below the 4:25 mark.  

     Fourth overall and top Kansan in the race was Dylan Plath, running a 4:16.08, just edging out Max Larson who finished with a time of 4:16.09!  

     Larson's impressive performance came on the heels of a remarkable Week 4 where he ran an outstanding 4:11.64 in the 1600m. Larson also showcased his strength in the 3200m, finishing sixth overall and ranking third among Kansans with a time of 9:23.91. 

     Following closely behind Larson was Columbia commit Ryan Son, who crossed the line in 4:17.13, securing sixth place overall and third among Kansans. This performance marks Son's return to PR territory, as he had previously achieved a time of 4:17.10 last season. Witnessing Son's quick time at this point in the season is particularly great, as he has a history of delivering his best performances towards the end of the season 

     The other Kansans sub 4:25 include Carter Cline (4:18.22), Jackson Esquibel (4:18.27), Diego Barron (4:19.69), Blake Logan (4:20.75), Andrew Schumacher (4:22.99), Will Meyer (4:23.31), Canyon Buehler (4:23.75), Gabe Onelio (4:23.83). 

3200m

Another impressive race was the 3200m which hosted nine Kansans sub 9:25! 

     Andrew Schumacher finished third overall and the top Kansan, crossing the line with an impressive time of 9:08.77. This represents a significant PR, improving 18 seconds from his Week 2 performance of 9:26.85. Currently, he holds the second fastest time across all classes and ranks first in 2A by a margin of 33 seconds! Additionally, Schumacher holds the number one spot in 2A in the 1600m, achieving a time of 4:22.99 at the Kansas Relays. Having recently won a State Championship in cross country, there is anticipation whether he will bring home more gold medals this outdoor season! 

     Jackson Esquibel continues to cut down his 3200m this season, marking his fourth straight week of improvement. He ran a PR of 9:13.85, securing a fifth-place finish at the Kansas Relays. This performance surpasses his previous PR of 9:18.67, set during last year's State Championship. With this remarkable achievement, Esquibel now holds the top rank in the Class 5A 3200m event, bringing a back-to-back state championship within reach. 

     The final Kansan to run sub 9:20 was Gunnar Hornung of Olathe West. He clocked in a pr of 9:16.95 which was good for a 9th place finish. What a race for Hornung, he is now his school record holder and ranked second in 6a. 

6 other Kansans ran sub 9:25 including Ryan Son (9:22.31), Will Meyer (9:22.77), Blake Logan (9:23.68), Max Larson (9:23.91), Blake Wohler (9:24.01), and Lucas Holdren (9:24.02). 

2k Steeple 

     Samuel Ferguson of Wichita Trinity Academy set a new state record in the 2000m steeplechase! He broke the nine-year-old record with an impressive time of 5:57.95. This remarkable achievement adds another notable performance to Ferguson's impressive resume that he'll be bringing into Ole Miss next semester. 

300mh 

Three Kansans dipped under 40 seconds in this event at Kansas Relays. 

     Tyson Wallace of Goddard High School finished 11th overall with an impressive time of 39.73. Wallace set a PR along with a new school record with this strong performance. 

     The second Kansan that dipped under 40 seconds was Braeden Gillam of Olathe West, finishing with a time of 39.79. Gillam, a talented athlete who placed ninth at last year's 300mh 6A State Championship, has shown significant improvement this year and still has room to grow. 

     Marcus White was the final Kansan to go sub-40, finishing 13th overall with a PR of 39.85. This was only his second 300m hurdles performance this season, indicating promising improvement and potential for further progress as the season continues. 

4x400m

     Washburn Rural finished as the top Kansas team with a third-place overall finish in the 4x400m relay. Their performance of 3:20.85 propels them to the second-fastest time in the state this season and the fastest in Class 6A. This outstanding race shaved five seconds off their previous season's best and also earned them a new school record! 

4x800m

The 4x8 at Kansas Relays was a good one! We saw a total of four Kansas based teams break 8:05 in this event.  

     Olathe West's squad finished sixth overall with a time of 8:01.55. This remarkable performance not only set a new school record but also stands as the fastest time in Class 6A this season! This is exciting news for Olathe West as we approach the championship season. Last year, they narrowly missed a state qualification by placing fifth at their regional meet. However, with their impressive performance at Kansas Relays, things may turn out differently. 

     The other three Kansas based teams sub 8:05 in this event include Desoto High School (8:02.99), Shawnee Mission South (8:04.18), St. James Academy (8:04.75). 

Discus 

     Notable discus throws at Kansas Relays came from Joey Goodenow, Colter Oldham, and Taveon Bell-Robinson. Prior to this competition, all three athletes were already highly ranked on the state leaderboards, and Kansas Relays further solidified their talents. 

     Joey Goodenow secured second place overall and first among Kansans with his throw of 186-2. While this wasn't quite a PR for Goodenow, his consistency throughout the season is evident. Goodenow maintains his position as the Class 5A leader with his 188-0 throw from Week 4. 

     Colter Oldham of Lakin High School finished fourth overall and second among Kansan athletes, achieving a significant PR throw of 180-9 at his first-ever Kansas Relays. Unlike the past two years of Oldham's high school career, where there weren't many significant improvements in his discus performances, this season has been different. Already, two out of his four performances this year have surpassed his previous PR.  

     State leader Taveon Bell-Robinson placed fifth overall and ranked as the third Kansan at Kansas Relays. His throw of 177-11, while not a PR, still marks another impressive performance for him. Bell-Robinson continues to hold the state lead by a significant margin, with his performance of 194-7 from Week 4. 

Pole vault 

     Bryce Barkdull continues his dominance with a remarkable 17-7 vault at his future school, the University of Kansas. Barkdull does best when faced with strong competition, among his 20 career pole vault victories hes won the Milrose Games, Nike Outdoor Nationals, and a State Championship. 

400m

12 girls dipped under 60 seconds in just the prelims! 

     In the prelims, Delia Gregory of Blue Valley North High School clocked in the 7th fastest time in Kansas history with an impressive 54.84. After her win in the prelims she followed up with a strong performance of 55.32 in the finals, earning her second place overall and the top spot among Kansans. Gregory's talent is undeniable; she has achieved sub-56-second times on three separate occasions this season alone. Following her historic performance at Kansas Relays, she holds the fastest time in the 400m dash state rankings by almost a second and a half. 

Among the other notable performers who finished under 60 seconds are Karynne David (56.56), Harli Omli (56.57), Ashley Lehman (56.69), Audrey Brown (56.74), Piper Hula (57.39), Raegan Foster (58.47), Phaelin Jones (58.82), Jazzmyne Means (58.95), Jaquelyn Perez-Vela (59.10), Joslyn Griffin (59.72), and Avery Dawson (59.76). 

 800m

The 800m race was incredibly fast, with a total of 22 girls breaking the 2:20 mark across four different heats, twelve of whom were from Kansas. 

     Claiming third place overall was Charlotte Caldwell from Mill Valley High School, a returning third-place finisher at the 6A State Championship 800m. Despite narrowly missing her PR, Caldwell delivered an impressive performance, clocking in a 2:14.79 to lead the Kansan runners. Caldwell already holds the 15th fastest 800m time in Kansas history (2:14.06) according to MileSplit rankings. She is an exciting athlete who has great potential to run even faster times this season.  

     Finishing fifth overall and the second Kansas runner was Bree Newport of Olathe West. Newport has been steadily improving her 800m times each week, most recently in her recent performance of 2:15.33 at this years Kansas Relays. With a personal best of 2:10.67, Newport is poised to be a top contender in the upcoming state championship as we approach championship season. Next year, she will be bringing her talents to Kansas State University. 

Other notable Kansas girls who ran sub-2:20 at the Kansas Relays include Brooke Bundt (2:16.64), Isabella Ross (2:17.36), Faith Ekart (2:17.48), Marisa January (2:17.74), Kate Miller (2:17.94), Ashley Lehman (2:18.12), Liz Browning (2:18.69), Emma Baum (2:19.72), Paige Faulkner (2:19.79), and Katelynn Blaesing (2:19.90).  

1600m 

The distance events in Kansas this year have been impressive, and the trend continued at Kansas Relays, especially in the 1600m. 9 girls ran times under 5:10. 

     Ryin Miller of Seaman High School came out with a dominant victory. After setting the seventh fastest time in Kansas history with a 4:53.37 in week three, she nearly matched that performance with a time of 4:53.74 at Kansas Relays. Miller's consistent display of elite times is remarkable. Additionally, her win in the 1600m came the day after she ran a 10:13 3200m, earning her the title of the third fastest girl in Kansas history. 

     Placing fourth overall and second among Kansas runners was Katelyn Rupe of Salina Central High School. The four-time state champion continues to demonstrate her talents, achieving a time of 4:58.83 at the Kansas Relays. Rupe's recent performances have been outstanding. She broke the five-minute barrier in the 1600m for the first time just the day after she ran a 10:17 3200m, placing her sixth all-time. This week, she committed to the University of North Carolina. 

     The seven other girls who ran sub-5:10 at the Kansas Relays include Kaylie Shultz (5:03.29), Marisa January (5:04.71), Ellei Mccrory (5:05.53), Bree Newport (5:05.56), Elyssa Frieze (5:07.90), Madelyn Wallace (5:08.61), and Lorna Rae Pierce (5:09.72). 

3200m 

Wow! Too many broken records to count in this 3200m race, read below about one of the greatest 3200m races in Kansas history!  

     Taking the win was none other than Ryin Miller, who finished with a time of 10:13. This not only made her the third fastest girl in Kansas history but also the fastest sophomore ever in the state's history. With this performance, Miller solidified her place in the record books and continued her undefeated season. 

     In second place was Katelyn Rupe, who set a PR of 10:17.40. This impressive performance places Rupe as the sixth fastest girl in Kansas history and currently ranks her 26th in the country this year. Rupe's senior season has been remarkable, with three total wins and her name now written across the record books. 

     Anjali Hocker-Singh became the eleventh fastest girl in Kansas history with her time of 10:31.92. This marks an improvement from her previous PR of 10:33.91, which she ran to win the 6A State Championship her freshman year. Now a senior, Singh is surely aiming for even faster times, and her significant improvement shows all she needed was the right race! 

     Freshman standout Kaylie Shultz exceeded all expectations with her performance of 10:32.69. Shultz became the fastest freshman in Kansas history, the thirteenth fastest of all time in the state, and currently ranks as the fourth fastest freshman in the country this year. Shultz's talent is evident, and she has a promising future ahead. 

     Another standout freshman is Ellei McCrory from Northern Heights High School , who placed 11th overall with her record-breaking time of 10:48.98. McCrory not only broke the 1A class record but also her school record! It's rare to see such talent in distance running from such a small school, yet McCrory is now the second fastest freshman in state history. 

     Last but not least among the Kansans who finished under 11 minutes was Lorna Rae Pierce of Junction City High School. Pierce ran a huge PR, shaving off 22 seconds with her time of 10:49.28! Her huge improvement at the Kansas Relays was great to see, and in addition to her 33rd fastest 3200m in Kansas history, she also ran a 5:09.72 1600m the next day! 

 Throws

     Mizzou commit Val Galligan showcased the quality athlete she is with impressive throws at the Kansas Relays. She achieved distances of 148-11 in discus, 43-5 in shot put, and 150-5 in javelin. In discus she secured second place overall and finished as the top Kansan. Her throw of 148-11 marked a PR for Galligan. Additionally, she displayed her versatility by her second place finish in shot put with a throw of 43-5, which broke her previous PR of 42-0.5 from around this time last season. Furthermore, she won the javelin with an outstanding throw of 150-5. Across state leaderboards, Galligan holds the top spot in discus, fifth in shot put, and first in javelin. 

Two other notable discus performances include Kendall Yarnell's PR throw of 147-3 and Margo Todd's school record throw of 140-10.  

Hurdles 

Adryana Shelby and Aurora Wessel light up the track with their speedy hurdle performances at Kansas Relays. 

   Starting with the 100mh, Aurora Wessel finished second place overall and first Kansasn with a time of 13.92. As she prepares to join Wichita State next year, Wessel's performances are worth keeping an eye on as we approach Championship season. Wessel traded off victories with Shelby In the 300mh hurdles,  finishing third overall and second among Kansans. She ran a PR in the 300mh hurdles with a time of 44.30. 

     Adryana Shelby also delivered an impressive performance, competing all the way to the line with Wessel in the 100mh and ultimately finishing as the second Kansan and third overall. She ran a PR of 13.98, breaking 14 seconds for the first time. Despite wind readings of 2.2 (2.0 being the legal maximum), these performances show the caliber of their exceptional talents. 

     In the 300mh, Shelby placed second overall with an outstanding time of 43.98. Shelby has established herself as a dominant figure in the 300mh, currently ranking as the 6th fastest girl in Kansas history based on her performance at this year's Maize South Invitational. 

 Relays 

     Blue Valley North showed off their exceptionally strong relay squad, finishing fifth-place in the 4x100m and first-place in the 4x400m. With a time of 48.68, Blue Valley North finished as the fastest Kansan team at the Kansas Relays. While this time falls short of their season's best of 48.06, ran at the Ken Peek Invitational, it further proves their strength in relays this year. 

     A more notable performance was their 4x400m relay, where they broke the state record with a time of 3:52.65. Blue Valley North's squad, comprising Audrey Brown, Alli Kneller, Emma Ramboldt, and Delia Gregory, surpassed Leavenworth High School's time of 3:54.61 set in 2007. Now, with a state record to their name, their next significant goal is securing a gold medal at the 6A State Championship. 

     Olathe East brought their A-game at Kansas Relays with a strong showing in the 4x100m relay, clocking in at 48.82. Their sixth-place finish in the prelims ranks them as the third-fastest 4x100m squad of the season.  

Jumps

     Michenainda Aritus placed sixth overall and finished the top Kansan with her long jump of 17-11. Aritus has been on fire this season, winning every meet leading up to Kansas Relays. Aritus is an established talent, winning the 6A State Championship last year with a jump of 17-10.25. This season she holds a PR of 18-7 at this year's Olathe Invitational, positioning her second in Class 6A. 

     Rosjai Curtis of Shawnee Mission North takes the win in the triple jump at Kansas Relays! With a PR jump of 38-3, she continues her undefeated outdoor season. This remarkable performance not only places her first in Class 6A but also sets a new school record. As the returning state champion in this event, it appears that another title is well within her reach. 

Pole Vault 

     Ava Fleetwood had an impressive performance, securing third place with with a vault of 11-5.75. Fleetwood has consistently demonstrated quality vaults throughout the season, with her best performance reaching 11-6, which currently ranks her second in Class 6A. As we approach the Championship season, Fleetwood is definitely an athlete to watch!