Calling the high school version of the Kansas Relays a preview of the state track meet might be a stretch.

After all, the competition at the Relays dwarfs the state meet.

“It’s much better,” Free State High coach Steve Heffernan said. “Texas, Oklahoma, and I guess they even have schools coming in from Wisconsin — these aren’t just good state programs. They’re superstate-type teams. It’s an eyeful.”

At this point of the season, Kansas track and field athletes haven’t begun to hit their stride. With the state meet more than a month away, May 30-31, Free State, Lawrence and any other Kansas prep athlete won’t be peaking right now.

The best thing the Relays offers is a chance to win a prestigious event or glean racing experience.

“It’s a first step in learning to compete,” LHS coach Jerry Skakal said. “It doesn’t make a difference how fast you run, because you’re not running against the clock, you’re running against somebody else. I don’t care who you are, you’re not the top dog in something like this.”

That applies to every LHS athlete and FSHS athlete who qualified according to specified times.

The Lions have 26 athletes entered in 31 events; FSHS has 20 athletes in 18 events. Those numbers are comparable to what both teams had last year, and could be a preview of who qualifies for the state meet.

“Surprisingly, it is close,” Heffernan said. “And a lot of them will be in the athletes that have qualified in these events.”

¢ 6Sports video: Day 2 of the Kansas Relays was dry

The highest city placer last year was Lawrence High’s Richard Mumford, who was second in the long jump. Seven other city athletes and relay teams placed in the top 10, though that number could increase this year.

In 40 events, Lawrence athletes have 10 of the top times and field marks, the highest coming from LHS junior Sylvester Birdsong in the long jump, at 22-feet-9 3/4.

Other athletes to watch include LHS seniors Chris Fulton (sprints); Dylan McClain (3,200 meters); Audrey Pope (300 hurdles); FSHS senior Adrian Ludwig (800) and FSHS junior Lauren Abney (javelin); along with several LHS and FSHS relay teams.

“We have a little bit more inexperience than we did last year,” Heffernan said. “But it’d be exciting to see one of them make a big breakthrough.”

That’s if the Relays aren’t washed out again.

Heavy rains and lightning canceled nearly all of Saturday’s finals last year. More thunderstorms are slated for today and Saturday.

If that happens, both teams miss out on perhaps the best aspect of the Relays — a chance to awe at world-class athletes like milers Alan Webb and former Kansas University runner Charlie Gruber.

“It’s also a chance to see some of the premier athletes in the country compete,” Skakal said. “For two days, you’re gonna see some of the best in the world, and how they compete. You don’t get many chances to see something like that.”