4A highlights

4A Girls 3200:  The first event of Saturday's marathon session began with a bang, as Mallory Champa, a Clearwater senior, cemented her place as one of the top distance runners in state history.  Champa left a deep field at mid-race, and proceeded to cruise to a 4A state record 10:47.02 win.  Heather Garcia, a Baldwin freshman, challenged Champa throughout the first half of the race, and finished second in a creditable 11:15.53.  Brittney Graff (Eudora 11:31.06), Jessie Stephens (Colby 11:36.92) and Gus Newmeyer (Clay Center 11:38.12) led a deep chase pack.

 

4A Boys 3200:  The question of whether DeSoto's Casey Johnson (KU Relays 1600 champ) could pull off a big quad (he was entered in the 400, 800, 1600, and 3200) got a clear answer in the first boys race of the day.  State X-C champ Jay Lindal (Clearwater) ran the perfect race to counter Johnson's feared kick, lighting up the field with a 64 second sixth lap, and holding on for 9:37.55 victory.  Johnson kicked home second in 9:46.55 ahead of Miles Acinger (Spring Hill 9:47.11).

 

4A Girls 100H:  Brittany Thomas (Sumner, Kansas City) pulled away mid-race to win in 15.61, with the freshman duo of Sarah Jeannne Mitchell (Wellington 15.83) and Brooke Langdon (Abilene 15.91) following in second and third.

 

4A Boys 110H:  Tyler Antwine (Osawatomie senior) had been 4A's leading hurdler this year, and and smoothly moved away to a 14.61 win, with Kyle Parsons (Clearwater) second at 14.96. Third went to Phillip Horn (Coffeyville) in 15.11 with Brice Vignery (Concordia) close at 15.15.

 

4A Girls 4 x 800:  Clay Center has established itself as one of the top middle distance programs in the state over the last decade, with even WNBA star Nichole Oldhe taking her turn as a sub 2:20 800 runner.  But this year the Tigers outdid even the past stars as Amy Pierson, Annie Martin, Gus Newmeyer and Jordan Unruh blizted the field and ran to a 4A state record 9:29.61.  Clearwater held with Clay Center, but dropped the baton on the second exchange.  Clearwater still finished second in a fast 9:46.17, with Wamego (9:51.05), Eudora (9:56.54) and  Iola (9:57.57) finishing in a fast pack.

 

4A Boys 4 x 800:  Like the Clay Center girls, Baldwin has also established a fine distance tradition, and capped it this year with a dominating 4 x 800 win.  Badwin led from the gun and ran 8:01.91 to win.  Clearwater (8:11.91), Andover Central 8:13.27 and Tonganoxie (8:15.34) followed in tight pack.

 

4A Girls 100:  Bridgette Kendricks (a Parsons sophomore) began her day with an absoultely dominating 100 win, running 12.16.  Rosalyn Nelson (Ft. Scott) was a clear second at 12.41 with Shante Williams (Sumner, Kansas City) third at 12.74.

 

4A Boys 100:  Eric Mosely (Parsons 10.93) edged Brigham Diederich (Wamego 10.96) for the 100 crown, with John Houlik (11.02) leading a Collegiate, Wichita 3-4-5 finish.

 

4A Girls 1600:  Mallory Champa (Clearwater) won her second title of the day running 5:10.10.  Champa pulled away from Heather Garcia (Baldwin 5:12.06), while Amy Pierson (Clay Center 5:17.35) and Gus Newmeyer (Clay Center 5:19.70) moved past early leader Melissa Roberts (DeSoto 5:20.44) in the homestretch.

 

4A Boys 1600:  DeSoto's Casey Johnson dominated this race, even though he didn't take the lead till late.  Always near the front, Johnson moved late and kicked to a controlled 4:24.10 win over Bobby Morton (El Dorado 4:24.93).  3200 champ Jay Lindal (Clearwater) was third at 4:28.26.

 

4A Girls 4 x 100:  Buhler and Sumner Academy waged a back and forth tussle, with Buhler moving away to a 49.90 to 50.22 win.  Parsons took third in 50.81 over El Dorado (50.97).

 

4A Boys 4 x 100:  In another close, crowd-standing finish, Collegiate, Wichita edged Wamego by .03, winning in 42.50.  Atchison was third at 43.09.

 

4A Girls 400:  Buhler's Brooke Cameron showed great homestretch strength, running 57.78 to win.  Blaire Vignery (Concordia) ran 58.21 for second with 100 champ Bridgette Kendricks (Parsons) a close third at 58.62.

 

4A Boys 400:  Brigham Diedrich (Wamego 49.34) and James Hensley (Rose Hill 49.46) waged a tight battle for first with the Wamego soph prevailing.  Greg Simon (Mulvane 50.39) and Aric Cherry (50.41)  waged an equally stirring battle for the bronze.  In his third of four finals, Casey Johnson (DeSoto) was seventh (50.90).

 

4A Girls 300H:  Emily Ballock (Eudora) pulled away to win in 46.30, with fellow frosh Brooke Langdon (Abilene 46.68) edging Shawna Downing (Coffeyville 46.75) for second.

 

4A Boys 300H: In a thrilling race, Marc Ramsey (Scott City) ran 39.25 to edge Phillip Horn (Coffeyville 39.26) in a photo-finish.  Kyle Parsons (Clearwater) was a close third at 39.50. 

 

4A Girls 800:  Hali Mobley (Andale) ran to a commanding 2:17.36 win with Annie Martin (Clay Center) second at 2:19.63.  Amy Pierson (Clay Center 2:21.68) edged Jenna Mellen (Clearwater 2:21.69) for third.

 

4A Boys 800:  Casey Johnson (DeSoto) and Aric Cherry (JeffCo West) ran a stirring homestretch, with Johnson narrowly prevailing in 1:56.65 to Cherry's 1:56.88.  Bobby Morton (El Dorado) was third 1:59.54.

 

4A Girls 200:  Bridgette Kendricks (Parsons) completed her sprint-double with an against the wind 26.19 and a clear victory.  Libby Connell (El Dorado) was second in 26.64 and Rosalyn Nelson (Ft. Scott) third at 26.74.

 

4A Boys 200:  Eric Mosely (Parsons) also completed a sprint double, winning 23.02 to narrowly edge Scott Buess (Collegiate, Wichita 23.05).  Jamie Jackson (Ft. Scott) was third in 23.22.

 

4A Girls 4 x 400:  In a very tight race, El Dorado pulled away to win in 4:05.21, with Sumner, Kansas City second at 4:06.0 with a very tight pack of Concordia (4:06.21), Eudora (4:06.67) and Clay Center (4:06.97) right behind.

 

4A Boys 4 x 400:  In another nail-biting finish, Clearwater (3:24.56) edged Baldwin (3:24.95).  Wamego (3:26.20), Abilene (3:26.35) and Ulysses (3:26.41) finished under a blanket in the race for third.

 

4A Boys Long Jump: Milton Henry (Sumner, Kansas City) lept 22-6.5 on his first attempt to hold off the last jump 22-3.5 from Aaron Mills (Baldwin).  Vic Johnson (Collegiate, Wichita) was third at 22-0.5.

 

4A Girls Discus:  Kate Schaake (Collegiate, Wichita) dominated the competiton with all six throws over 130 feet.  Schaake threw 144-0 to win, and also had a backup of 143-4.  Lissa Mazanec (Colby) threw 122-4 to edge Jenna Highley (Ft. Scott 122-2) for second.

 

4A Girls Triple Jump:  Stepanie Beardslee (Buhler) popped a clutch 35-11.75 on her last jump to edge Ashley Bell (Collegiate, Wichita 35-11.25) for the title.  Whitney Becker (Mulvane 35-8.25) and Elizabeth Rawson (Smokey Valley, Lindsborg 35-3.5) were also over 35 feet in third and fourth.

 

4A Boys High Jump:  Jesse Deal cleared 6-6 on his first leap to win the 4A high jump, with Milton Henry (Sumner, Kansas City) and Alex Pyle (Towanda-Circle) placing second and third at the same height. Mike Sherman (Buhler) and Eddie McClain (Bonner Springs) cleared

 

4A Girls Pole Vault:  Leah Eck (Andale) and Abby James (Concordia) cleared 10-6 to place first and second in  deep competion.  Abby Rowland (Andale) and Allyson Slupianek (Marysville) cleared 10-0 to tie for third, with Shalee Ratliff (Chanute) also over 10-0 in fifth.

 

4A Girls Shot Put: Kayla Smith (Concordia) used a third round 42-8 to win and had two other throws over 41 feet.  Kate Schaake (Collegiate, Wichita) threw 42-7.25 to just fall short of winning, and had five throws over 40 feet.  Amber Dunham (Independence) threw 40-4.25 on her last toss for third, and Autumn Weaver (JeffCo West) threw 40-1.25 in fourth.

 

4A Boys Discus:  Andrew Jones (Hiawatha) dominated 4A disc all year, and ended any suspense by popping 178-0 on his first attempt and putting all six throws over 160 feet.  Luke Bryant (Clearwater) threw 161-3 for second and Wes Myers (Augusta) 158-10 for third.