The spring high school sports season in northeast Kansas is much like spring itself in this part of the country.

It starts late and ends quickly, but sweet while it lasts.

While it’s difficult to fathom that we’re already entering the third week of baseball games and track meets, it’s even crazier to realize that, just over a month from now, the 2005-06 athletic year will be over and summer will be upon us.

It’s unfortunate that the third installment of the scholastic sports calendar is relegated to such strict time constraints. Given recent history, spring is the best time of the year for local high school sports fans, and not just because you can work on your tan while taking in a game.

The number of successful teams and individuals who have plied their trade at this time of the year is an impressive list, responsible for multiple state-tournament trips and medals. And, as luck would have it, many of the names and faces responsible for such accomplishments 12 months ago are back in the fold this year.

With that in mind, here are some of the storylines I’m making sure to keep an eye on between now and the end of May:

¢ Just how many events will Ashley Robinson win at this year’s state girls swimming and diving meet?

The Free State senior and Kansas University signee has already qualified for multiple events at next month’s meet at Topeka’s Hummer Sports Park, including the 500 freestyle, which she won as a junior. It appears as if Robinson’s goal to become a four-time state champion might not happen – she may just have to accept winning more than that.

l Will local athletes again show their dominance at the state track and field meet in Wichita?

In the city alone, three state champions are back, including Free State’s Alysha Valencia (3,200 meters), and Lawrence High’s Amy Magnuson (100 hurdles) and Scott Penny (shot put).

Add in the area schools, where the likes of Eudora’s Emily Ballock (300 hurdles) and Ottawa’s Jack Sachse (800) are seeking repeats, and there’s a good chance some serious bling will be heading north on the Kansas Turnpike once the final stopwatch quits ticking.

¢ Tonight marks the first of two final opportunities to see a pair of KU baseball recruits face off when LHS plays host to Free State at Ice Field. Chances are LHS center fielder Brian Heere and Free State shortstop Robby Price won’t actually go toe-to-toe, unless Price takes the mound in relief. Still, it will be fun to watch two city players practice their craft before teaming up on Mount Oread next spring.

¢ Finally, the next six weeks will help determine who wins the inaugural Journal-World Cup. While I’d like to take credit for this creation, it was actually my boss, sports editor Tom Keegan, who came up with the idea when he was hired a month before I joined the staff.

Since that fateful decision last August, each of us has handled a fair share of compliments and complaints about adding another layer to the heated LHS-Free State rivalry. But whichever side you fall on – regarding the cup or the rivalry – you can’t be disappointed by the current standings, which, with Free State’s victory in Monday’s tennis battle, created a 10-10 tie with just a handful of head-to-head meetings remaining.