Twenty-five county individual high school track and field athletes and two county relay teams have qualified for this year’s state track and field tournament, which is set for Friday and Saturday at Cessna Stadium in Wichita.
The roster of county qualifiers includes defending 4A state high jump champs Briar Ploude and Brianna Ploude of Jefferson West and defending 3A 400-meter champ Abraham Noll of Jefferson County North, as all three will be back in Wichita to defend their titles.
The three county 3A schools of JCN, Oskaloosa and McLouth led the way with 12 individual competitors and two relay teams in a total of 19 events. The 4A schools of Jefferson West and Perry-Lecompton turned out 11 individual competitors in a total of 15 events while 2A school Valley Falls had two competitors in a total of two events.
Following is a list of state qualifiers from county schools.
4A girls – Taryn Brees, freshman, Jefferson West, 3,200-meter run and 1,600-meter run. Megan Elder, junior, Perry-Lecompton, 100-meter hurdles and pole vault. Katie Hirsch, sophomore, PL, 1,600-meter run and 800-meter run. Moriah Dowding, junior, JW, 300-meter hurdles and long jump. Mandy Bostwick, senior, JW, shot put and discus. Brianna Ploude, sophomore, JW, high jump. Andrea Phillips, junior, PL, triple jump.
4A boys – Garrett Stewart, junior, JW, 200-meter dash and long jump. Joel Gantz, junior, PL, shot put. Briar Ploude, junior, JW, high jump. Nick Briney, senior, JW, javelin.
3A girls – Anne Courtney, sophomore, McLouth, 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles. Lisa Weishaar, junior, JCN, 100-meter dash, 300-meter hurdles, and 200-meter dash. McLouth 4x100 relay team. Gage Funk, freshman, JCN, 400-meter dash. Amelia Noll, junior, JCN, 800-meter run. JCN 4x400 meter relay team. Nicole Rockhold, junior, Oskaloosa, triple jump and high jump.
3A boys – Abraham Noll, senior, JCN, 100-meter dash, 400-meter dash, and 200-meter dash. J.T. Thurston, junior, Osk., 100-meter dash, 300-meter hurdles, 200-meter dash, and long jump. Boone Heston, senior, Osk., discus. Luke Noll, senior, JCN, triple jump. Chase Tenpenny, junior, Osk., high jump. Ely Henry, senior, JCN, pole vault. Quentin McAfee, sophomore, JCN, pole vault.
2A girls – Abbey Kearney, freshman, Valley Falls, triple jump.
2A boys – Josh Kearney, junior, Valley Falls, triple jump.
