A football combine forced the Free State High boys 4×200-meter relay team to split up last season.

The hiatus didn’t last too long.

Brian Murphy and Christian Ballard, free of football-related activities Saturday, reunited with fellow seniors Austin Winn and Keron Toussaint to give the Firebirds their third Kansas Relays victory in school history. The victory also marked the first time a Lawrence-based high school won a relay at the Memorial Stadium event since Free State opened 10 years ago.

Murphy, who anchored the relay, crossed the finish line at 1 minute, 28.03 seconds, two seconds better than Lee’s Summit (Mo.) North and just .14 seconds off the meet record.

As the foursome stepped on the podium to accept the first-place medal, Ballard raised his pointer finger in the air. Toussaint hoisted the trophy in an obvious state of jubilation.

“I might give it another kiss or something,” Toussaint said of the trophy. “We came here sophomore year and got third place. Ever since, we wanted it bad. This year, we did it. We won first place.”

Free State placed fifth last season without Murphy and Ballard.

The importance of Ballard in the relay might be deceiving due to his 6-foot-4, 275-pound frame. The Iowa football commit is anything but slow, as evidenced by his 4.75-second 40-yard dash time.

“Any time you watch other people’s reactions when they see him on the track, they talk about what an enormous person he is and ask, ‘Oh, what’s he going to do? What’s a thrower doing running in the sprints?'” Free State coach Steve Heffernan said. “Then, they do a double-take when they see how fast he truly is. He brings a little show of his own to track and field.”

The Firebirds also had an impressive showing in the boys 1,600-meter relay, which finished in third place with a time of 3:26.50. The time was the best in the state of Kansas this season – and it likely could have been even better.

“A young man went to cut in front of Andy (Neighbors), tripped and fell down in front of him,” Heffernan said. “Andy went over the top of him, looked around and started taking off running again. It cost us a couple of seconds, at least. But what was great was how he fought right back to keep us close in the race.”

The 1,600-meter relay team, which has competed together for two years, consisted of Neighbors, Toussaint, Winn and Shaun James.

“We definitely expected to come out here and do better than last year,” Winn said. “Last year, we made the Showdown, but we wanted to make the finals this year. That was our goal.”

The 1,600-meter relay Sunflower Showdown took place before the 1,600-meter finals and only included teams from Kansas.

Toussaint had a successful day individually as well, placing third in the boys 400-meter dash with a time of 49.99 seconds.

Lawrence High had its most impressive showing in the girls two-mile relay, which placed third with a time of 9:55.58. The scary part for the competition is the team consisted of all juniors – Jennifer and Kristina Taylor, Kelly Renfro and Kaela Severa, all of whom likely will return next season.

“I’m very satisfied,” Jennifer Taylor said. “We were just aiming to get a medal, so top 8. But we’re aiming for first next year.”

The foursome was seeded only 11th entering the event. LHS coach Jack Hood wasn’t the least bit surprised with the result.

“I’m surprised they didn’t win,” Hood said. “Some people are wired to accept defeat, and they’re not. When those girls get passed, they go get them and beat them in the end. I love seeing them in competitive situations.”

In the Lions’ next best showing, their girls 1600-meter relay team finished fourth with a time of 4:01.54.