SW Kansas schools fare well in 1A regional track meet

    Although neither team title went to an area school Friday at the Class 1A Montezuma regional, there were plenty of champions from southwest Kansas who claimed regional titles and more who finished in the top four and qualified for the state meet at Wichita State University's Cessna Stadium.
    Bucklin's Caitlin Long and Jetmore's Isaac Bradshaw dominated the hurdles for the day. Long claimed the girls' 100 hurdles in a time of 15.35 seconds, and the 300 hurdles in 47.63. Bradshaw won the 110 high hurdles at 15.25, and the 300 intermediate hurdles in 41.54.
    Kacey Fulton of Greensburg was the only area runner to win two events. Fulton claimed the girls 200 dash in a time of 26.48, and the long jump with a leap of 16 feet, 2 inches. She also finished second in the 100 (12.84) to qualify for the state in that event.
    South Gray finished second in the boys team standings with 65 points, second to Cunningham's 83.
    Defending 800-meter runner state champion Clyde Redger won his event with a time of 2:00.85 seconds and finished second in the 400 (51.62). Redger's teammate Weston Koehn won the 1,600 in a time of 4:42.83 and was second in the 3,200 (10:23.37).
    The Rebels also won the 4x400 and 4x800 relays (3:32.10, 8:31.05, respectively). Andy Skinner (fourth, 400, 52.27) also qualified for the state meet with his fourth place in the 400 (52.27).
    Bucklin placed third in the team standings with 46 points, followed by Fowler (35) with Ashland and Jetmore tied for fifth (33). Other area team scores included Haviland (24) in 11th, Greensburg and Pawnee Heights tied for 12th with 22, South Central 20th with five, and Ingalls was 21st with one point.
    Cody Davis claimed a regional title for Bucklin with his win in the pole vault, clearing the bar at 13 feet, while Fowler's Nick Canton won a title with a leap of 6-8 in the high jump. Canton also qualified for the state meet in the triple jump with a third-place finish after a distance of 41-8 1/4.
    Other boys who qualified for state in two or more individual events included Ashland's Walt Woolwine (second, shot put, 52-0 1/2; third, discus, 143-6 1/2); Bucklin's Steven Pena (fourth, 110 hurdles, 16.59; fourth, 300 hurdles, 43.08); Greensburg's David Cesmat (second, 110 hurdles, 15.86; third, 300 hurdles, 42.80); Haviland's Conner Drendel (second, 800, 2:04.42; second, 1,600, 4:48.96); Pawnee Heights' Nolan Dreiling (third, javelin, 158-7; fourth, long jump, 20-5).
    South Barber won the girls team regional title with 83 points, followed by Minneola (69) and South Gray (46). Greensburg and Little River tied for fourth with 42.
    Minneola won only one event — the 4x100 relay (51.05) — and finished second in the 4x400 (4:17.48). The Wildcats were led individually by Jessie Eaton's second-place finish in 800 (2:30.43). Kara Minor qualified for the state in two events (100, third, 12.97; 200, fourth, 26.95), as did Erin Sughroue (third, long jump, 16-0 1/4; fourth, high jump, 4-10).
    South Gray had two individual wins with Gretchen Blattner winning the high jump (5-0), and Kayla Thomas claiming the 1,600 (5:49.56). Blattner also qualified in the pole vault (fourth, 9-0).
    Other area event winners include Pawnee Heights' Serenity Seiler (400, 1:01.99) and Betsy Smith (javelin, 126-2); Ashland's Joanna Reimer in the 800 (2:29.57); and South Central's Victoria Brass in the 3,200 (12:50.35).
    Those who qualified for state in more than one event from the area include Haviland teammates Katelin Holland (second, 1,600, 2:30.54; second, 3,200, 12:58.44) and Tina Emmersberger (third, 1,600, 5:56.72; third, 3,200, 12:59.55), and Pawnee Heights' Kileigh Cure (fourth, 1,600, 5:58.57; fourth, 3,200, 13:22.14).