South boys track, East girls get primed for state

Falcons place second, Hawks win regional title

Forty-four Olathe high school athletes and 10 relays qualified for the Class 6A state tournament Friday with fourth-place finishes or better during the regional meet, which Olathe North hosted at the Olathe District Activity Center.

Two teams, the East girls and South boys, set themselves up well to place near the top of the standings next weekend at Wichita State University's Cessna Stadium.

The Falcons boys qualified 11 individuals in 13 events and also pushed a relay through to state, finishing second behind Shawnee Mission Northwest.

"When I roughly looked at how I thought things would turn out, I had Shawnee Mission Northwest and us in a tie," South coach Tim Quinn said. "I knew it would be that close. It could have gone either way, but we did what we expected to do."

South lost the team title by less than six points.

Without senior Evan Pierson anchoring the 400-meter relay, the Falcons won the regional nonetheless.

Pierson, who has been sidelined a few weeks with a sore hamstring, did qualify for state in the 100 and 200, but obviously wasn't fully healthy.

"He needs another week at least and he may not be exactly at 100 percent, but the idea is to get out of here (the regional) and get to state," said Quinn, who believes Pierson has more in the tank for state and ought to be able to run the relay as well.

Junior Reggie Harris won both the long jump and triple jump, while three other Falcons won regional championships.

Sophomore Logan Ponder claimed the high jump title and senior Tom Colwell took first in the javelin.

Senior Tyler Lira picked up South's other title, edging Pierson in the 200 final.

Lira has split his time in high school between Wellington and Olathe South. but returned to the Falcons for his senior season.

"We were real excited when we got him back, because as a sophomore he showed a lot of promise," Quinn said. "He was a nice commodity to add to the team, and he has really come on."

Two other high jumpers, freshman Kendal Harland and junior Donte Bernard, and another javelin thrower, senior Jake Aronson, also qualified for state.

That will trio will be joined by seniors Kyson Ginavan in the 400, Ben Blankenship in the discus and Scott Tietjen in the 110 hurdles in Wichita.

"It would be nice to take a top-three finish," Quinn said. "That might be hard to do. Obviously, Shawnee Mission South is the favorite to win, but Shawnee Mission East and Shawnee Mission Northwest also have nice teams. It all comes down to who cuts up who in what events."

The Falcons' lack of distance runners might prevent a serious challenge for the team title.

For East's girls, the pieces might be in place for a championship run, similar to the Hawks boys' championship last season.

"We got everybody through we needed to," said East coach Mike Wallace, who believes this year's young, talented squad is his best in program history.

The Hawks finished second in 2004, but no Olathe girls track team has won state this decade.

Asked how he thought the Hawks would do running the same times next week at state, Wallace said, "We have a good shot. Our jump kids have done a great job all year long. If they can continue that, we legitimately have a decent chance. But so does Leavenworth, Shawnee Mission South and Wichita Southeast. We have a shot, though, and it'll be fun."

Five Hawks claimed regional championships, including one two-time winner.

Sophomore Breeana Coleman won the 100 hurdles and the 100. She also finished second in the 200 and anchored the 400 relay to a runner-up finish.

The jumpers Wallace referred to sparkled again.

Junior Ashley Reid, the reigning 6A high jump champ, cruised to another regional title in the event.

She finished second to fellow junior Courtney Reinke in the triple jump, while Reinke also collected a runner-up finish in the long jump.

Coming off a disappointing Sunflower League meet, sophomore Jessica Medlin popped a personal record — by 17 feet, no less — to win the javelin. She improved by around 25 feet from the previous week.

"Jessica Medlin in the javelin was a great surprise," Wallace said. "She had thrown 103 (feet) earlier this season, but I didn't see 120 coming. That was a great throw, and she's got a good arm, a live arm. She's only been throwing the javelin for two and a half months."

Finally, senior Nayshona Jones won the 300 hurdles and also qualified for state in the 110 hurdles.

East's other state qualifiers were junior Jaimie Gurley in the 400, sophomore Chelsey Borders in the 100 and sophomore Kara Bartels in the 800. The Hawks' 3200 and 1600 relays also will compete at state.

"This is the best team we've had (going to state)," Wallace said, "by far."

East's Schmitz takes title hopes to state

East's boys also will be well represented.

The 2007 state champions aren't in a position to defend that title, but junior Ben Schmitz could be in a position to win the 800.

Schmitz has the top time in 6A this season and edged SM Northwest's Jared Ellsworth by a second for the regional title. SM South's Scott Gillespie, who beat Schmitz at league, also will provide stiff competition.

Schmitz also runs a leg on the 3200 relay, which also qualified for state.

Senior teammate Cody Frazier runs on the same relay and also will run at state in the open 800.

Freshman Austin Fulson announced his presence, qualifying for state in the 100 and long jump.

"He doesn't lack for confidence, and for him to qualify in two events as a freshman is pretty good," Hawks coach Mike Wallace said.

Pole vaulter Grant Fergerson, a senior, and the 1600 relay, which won a regional title, also qualified for state.

Falcons freshman Smith makes splash

She's only been competing with South's varsity squad a few weeks, but freshman Megan Smith now will compete at state in two events, the shot put and discus.

Smith is the regional runner-up in the shot put.

Three other Falcons girls and the 400 relay also qualified for state.

Senior Brittany Harding returns to state in the 100 hurdles, while junior Keli Russell qualified in the 1600 and freshman Dani Burleson will compete in the high jump.

ONW's Mona blitzes 3200 field

Senior Katie Mona continued her late-season surge with a first-place finish in the 3200.

Mona, who also qualified for state in the 1600, won the two-mile race by eight seconds for the Olathe Northwest girls' only title.

Junior Kylie Seurer shrugged off an inconsistent season and placed third in the 100 and 300 hurdles, while sophomore Krista Bromley finished second in the high jump.

Seniors Morrisa Rumage and Rebeka Stowe will compete at state in the discus and 3200, respectively, while freshman Mackenzie Yost also qualified in the 300 hurdles.

Ravens boys nab two titles

Senior Brian Woods was expected to win the 110 hurdles by many. Few anticipated sophomore Shawn Smith claiming first in the 100.

Both will head to state as regional champions, though.

Senior Jeff Thomas, a discus thrower, and junior Jordan Ashley, a 300 hurdler, also qualified for state as did the Ravens' 400 relay.

North's Martin wins girls long jump

Shaleah Martin saved her best for last or at least the regional.

The Olathe North sophomore topped her season-best mark in the long jump and won the regional title by leaping 16 feet, 10 1/4 inches.

Three other Eagles field competitors also qualified for state.

Junior Sarah Wiesner and sophomore Mary Riley both reached state in the javelin, while senior Denise Banda will return to state in the shot put.

North's Catloth qualifies in three events

Senior Jake Catloth won't be returning to state in the javelin, but he will compete for North's boys in three events.

Catloth qualified in the 110 and 300 hurdles and also anchored the 1600 relay, which finished fourth.

The Eagles 400 relay also made the state field, while senior Jon Chmiel qualified in the triple jump and junior Jamal Allen qualified in the high jump.

Senior Devin Wilson, who transferred from Olathe Northwest earlier in the year, will compete at state in the 400.