Phil Katzenmeier doesn’t need flowery adjectives to describe how the Eudora High girls track and field team performed this spring.

A simple stopwatch tells the story just fine.

“They broke 12 out of the 18 school records this season,” Katzenmeier said. “Those numbers kind of speak for themselves.”

Along the way, the Cardinals won every meet they entered save the final one – the Class 4A state meet in Wichita. Once there, Eudora’s collection of quick hurdlers, long-distance specialists and powerful throwers combined to score 57 team points, nearly doubling their score from the previous spring and finishing as the runner-up to mighty Concordia.

Coach of the year ¢ Phil Katzenmeier ¢ Eudora

Due in large part to that

season-long dominance, the Cardinals now have another honor to go with their silver trophy – Katzenmeier’s selection as the All-Area Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year.

“In a word, satisfied,” Katzenmeier offered about his final impressions of the 2006 campaign. “They really did above and beyond many people’s expectations, including myself.”

Before heading to Wichita, he figured a 50-point effort – 20 more than the Cardinals’ tally in 2005 – was in the realm of possibility.

Instead, a second straight golden performance by Emily Ballock in the 300-meter hurdles, two relay golds, runner-up finishes by Brittney Graff in the 1,600 and 3,200 and two throwing medals by Carrie Lister helped shatter that barrier – a fitting final performance by what Katzenmeier labeled the best team he has tutored in his 21-year coaching career.

“These girls are great kids. They’re people you love to spend time with,” Katzenmeier said. “There’s three things: They’re talented, they’re motivated, and they’re good people. That’s a great combination to have.”