Lawrence and Free State high schools’ boy’s track and field teams have their share of top state performers, but their makeup is markedly different.

FSHS boasts power on the track; LHS is outstanding on the field.

The Lions are led by senior Scott Penny, who won the shot put and was second in the discuss at last year’s state meet.

After an all-state senior year in football, Penny began preparing to defend his title.

“I spent this offseason, in between football and track, doing a lot more weight-room-oriented (workouts). : I’ve worked on my strength more,” Penny said. “I feel stronger going into the season. I feel better and quicker in the ring. So, hopefully, that will improve what I had last year.”

Although LHS coach Scott Stidham said Penny had great leadership qualities, Penny said the best thing he could do was lead by example.

“Hopefully they can see that I’m working hard, and they can see that and see what it got me last year with a state championship and a runner-up,” Penny said. “Track is more of a non-vocal – where with other sports you have to be vocal to motivate people – and with track it’s more of the example, showing them you’ve been lifting.”

Fellow all-state football player Brandon Lassiter will look to improve on his second-place finish in the long jump last year.

“There’s a lot of expectations for our boys team, at least within our own team,” Stidham said. “We didn’t score one point on the track, so obviously we need to find someone that can find a way to score points on the track. I don’t know who it is, or who it’s going to be, but we’ve got a lot of kids with the potential to do some good things.”

Relay teams will anchor the Firebirds.

Juniors Austin Winn, Christian Ballard and Ryan and Brian Murphy will seek to claim the top prize in the 4×100 relay.

With the graduation of the first- and second-place relay teams at last year’s state competition, the young FSHS foursome is optimistic.

But FSHS coach Steve Heffernan said it wouldn’t be as easy a trip to the top of podium as the relay team may think.

“One of the things that is going to be an issue : is the team that was fourth, right behind them at state, has everybody coming back,” Heffernan said. “So if they aren’t focused and really train well this spring, they can end up being second or third. So they realize there is a team right on their heels, and there won’t be any time to relax or take it easy.”

FSHS will look for balance to improve on its sixth-place finish, which was four points behind the Lions squad.

“Traditionally, we’ve been stronger in the distances than we have been in other areas, but this year it’s going to be a lot more balanced,” Heffernan said. “We should be a very good team by the end of the season.”