3A Recap: Ashley Lehman Shines For Hesston, Holcomb 3-Peats

Photo: Maxx Bradley/MileSplit Kansas

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Superstars, including Ashley Lehman and Timmy Ritchie, were reasons why 3A was one of the most competitive classifications of the 2026 KSHSAA State Championships. 

An influx of meet records paired with some of the best racing we've seen all year made for a fantastic two days of 3A competition. 

The future Nebraska Cornhusker didn't go quietly, leaving with the 3A meet records for 100m, 200m, 400m, and pole vault, with the 200m, 400m, and pole vault marks coming last weekend.

Lehman clocked 12.01, 24.10, and 54.02 and cleared 12-8.25, putting up over half of Hesston's total points.

Josie Heinrichs, Reese Quinn, and Avery Larson did their part in the distance events, with 29 points coming from the 800m, 1600m, 3200m, and 4x800m.

Freshman Tessa Martin added a runner-up finish in the discus, helping the team keep Beloit at arm's length.

The defending champions kept it close but ultimately had to settle for second this time around.

On the oval, Dakota Gray was the top performer for the Trojans, with the senior finishing runner-up and seventh in the 100mH and 300mH, running 15.03 and 46.66.

She also played a key role in Beloit's runner-up finish in the 4x100m, clocking 49.68.

As they usually are, Beloit was heavily reliant on their throws, and the lights were nowhere near too bright.

The discus saw Samantha Thompson (127-6) finish third, while Autumn Lorenz and Bently Pruitt won the javelin and shot put titles with throws of 138-11 and 41-0.75.

Pruitt also finished runner-up in the pole vault, clearing 10-6, and was followed by teammates Zayda Purvis (10-0) and Taelynn Bockover (9-6), with the trio finishing 2-3-8.

Brecken Boudreaux also finished third in the long jump at 17-4.5.

Ellie Strain and Wellsville were the final team on the podium, with Strain's 36 points combining with Alana Green's long jump (17-8) state title to total 46 points, seven ahead of Southeast of Saline (39).

Fans of distance racing were treated to a trio of all-time races, with Holcomb, Southeast of Saline, Caney Valley, and West Franklin leading the way.

The weekend's first distance final was an eight-lap dogfight that ended with Holcomb's Brody Deniston outkicking Southeast of Saline's Brayden Walker and Caney Valley's Simeon Sanchez.

Deniston won in 9:17.26, with Walker and Sanchez crossing in 9:20.89 and 9:24.12.

The Pittsburg State signee did it again in the 1600m the next day, running 4:11.52 as Sanchez and Walker rounded out the top three in 4:14.40 and 4:16.68.

Deniston's only head-to-head loss came at the hands of Southeast of Saline's Jacob Bircher, who ran 1:52.02 to knock off the defending champ.

Still, Deniston's 28 points were more than enough to help Holcomb take care of business, as the Longhorns dominated Southeast of Saline and Wichita Collegiate.

Southeast of Saline put up 45 points across both days, including their title-winning 4x800m.

In addition to Deniston's dominance, Cooper Cranston finished first and second in the 100mH and 300mH, while Avery McVey took third and fourth in the 100m and 200m.

The Longhorns also added gold in the 4x100m, with Cranston, McVey, and company combining for 42.78.

One point out of second and 19 points ahead of third, Timmy Ritchie and Wichita Collegiate got a lot done with a short roster.

Ritchie swept the 100m (10.68), 200m (21.45), and 400m (47.49), while freshman Jai Johnson and junior Logan Clay won the long jump (22-4.25) and discus (177-1) to combine for five titles on the weekend.

-- Tylee Coleman added two more titles to her resume, winning the 1600m (5:13.06) and 3200m (11:20.39). The Trinity Academy star now has three total titles from her freshman campaign after winning the 3A cross country title in November.

-- In her first trip to the state championships, Jefferson West's Brynlee Koontz won the 800m title over a strong field, running 2:14.92. The freshman won by over six seconds, announcing herself as one of the top half-milers in the state regardless of class.