LHS boys, FSHS girls win regional track titles

? When Lawrence High track and field coach Jerry Skakal learned his boys squad had won the Class 6A regional title Friday at Shawnee Mission North, there wasn’t a happier man in Kansas.

“Oh, man, you bet we’ll take that,” he said. “Now I’ll go home and look at the numbers and see if we have a shot to win it next week. If we have a shot, those wheels on that bus aren’t even going to touch the ground. Just give us a shot to win, man, that’s all I’m hoping for.”

Skakal’s elation was well earned.

The Lions’ 118 points placed Lawrence ahead of last year’s top three teams at state: Overland Park Aquinas, defending champ Shawnee Mission Northwest and Free State, which was fourth Friday.

LHS won four events and closed the meet with one of the state’s fastest times in the 4×400-meter relay, at 3:20.9. Drew Cummings, Johnny Rathbun and Brian Seymour built a 25-meter cushion for Chris Fulton, who held off a charge from Aquinas anchor Drew Morano, a two-time 400 state champ.

No wonder Skakal was excited.

FSHS coach Steve Heffernan could be just as pumped about his girls.

The Firebirds followed up last week’s Sunflower League title with a regional championship. FSHS won five events, outpacing Olathe East, 114-94. LHS was fifth with 67 points.

“Our kids did a tremendous job tonight,” Heffernan said. “We had a few letdowns and some tough races, but we ran well.”

FSHS girls winners were Alysha Valencia (1,600 and 3,200), Lauren Abney (javelin), Lacey Baxter (pole vault) and Sam Frisbie (high jump). The boys winners were Tyree Payne (discus), Adrian Ludwig (800) — who broke the school record — and the 4×800 relay team of Alex Rock, Dan Schneider, Joe Sicilian and Hiral Bhakta.

The LHS boys had winners in Dylan McClain (3,200), Derrick Newman (shot put), Brandon Womack (javelin) and the 4×400 relay.

  • So, so close: A little competition was just what Frisbie needed to win the girls high jump. Frisbie, the defending regional champ, was neck and neck with Leavenworth’s Kelsey Burke until Free State’s junior finally popped one, just when she needed to.

“That girl from Leavenworth, we both had the same number of misses, but I think she pushed me to make 5-4,” Frisbie said. “I like having that at a meet like this.”

  • On the bus: Rest assured, Newman is looking forward to his first trip to Wichita. The LHS senior, who threw at least 50 feet the previous two meets, won the boys shot put with a throw of 49-10, more than a foot better than Shawnee Mission Northwest’s Mike Riveria. It wasn’t the 53-foot heave he was looking for, but he’ll take it.

“I’m on the bus,” he said.

  • Nice kicks: FSHS junior Tyree Payne’s new shoes hardly could be called shoes. They’re more like oversized work boots.

Despite their size — the high tops are 14s — Payne isn’t about to stop wearing them. He has thrown at least 140 feet the last three meets, including a winning toss of 140-3 Friday.

“They help me grip the concrete so I can let one go,” Payne said.

The state meet is Friday and Saturday at Wichita State.