Phil Katzenmeier has a simple but effective philosophy when it comes to coaching the Eudora High girls track and field team.

“My goal with every kid is to make them the very best they can be for that season at the end of May,” Katzenmeier said.

Last May, Eudora placed second with 57 team points in the Class 4A state meet in Wichita. It was actually the only meet the Cardinals didn’t win all season. Eudora was so good it broke 12 of 18 track and field school records last spring.

Katzenmeier’s memorable season earned him girls class 4A Kansas Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Assn. coach of the year honors for 2006. The group will present Katzenmeier his award Saturday at the Geary County Convention Center in Junction City.

“It’s great,” Katzenmeier said of the honor. “But all of those kids who worked out on the track every day did a great job. That’s what brought me this recognition. It wasn’t just me. I was a pretty small part in the whole deal.”

Dave Durkin, Eudora’s athletics director, has seen his fair share of track teams. He used to be a coach in the sport for 30 years.

“As far as quality, it has to be one of the best,” Durkin said of how last spring’s Eudora team stacked up. “I think his greatest asset is that he’s given his kids a chance to have success.”

Katzenmeier, in his fourth year as girls track and field coach at Eudora, coached football and track at Nickerson High, a Class 4A school near Hutchison, from 1984-1989. He coached football and track from 1989-1999 at Southeast of Saline High.

Katzenmeier’s unselfishness radiates, but his effect on Eudora runners is undeniable – particularly with Emily Ballock. The junior finished her sophomore campaign last season at the state meet with a gold medal in the 300-meter hurdles. Ballock won the gold as a freshman as well.

Interestingly enough, Ballock may not have participated in track and field if not for Katzenmeier.

“She came out of junior high and had never hurdled,” Katzenmeier said. “She had speed. I kind of talked her into running hurdles. She has a chance to be a four-year state champion.”

Katzenmeier also produced a 4×400 relay team that broke the Kansas Class 4A record in the prelims. The foursome of Emily Ballock, Megan Ballock, Brittney Graff and Alisha Wingebach won the relay with a time of 4 minutes, 00.09 seconds.

Eudora also took home the gold in the 4×800 relay with the team of the Ballock sisters, Graff and Lauren Coleman. The team’s winning time of 9:37.16 was the 10th best finish all-time at the state meet and set a Eudora school record.

Katzenmeier mentioned Megan Ballock and Carrie Lister as two pivotal seniors for the Cardinals last season. Katzenmeier said Lister, a thrower, averaged nearly 25 points a meet her senior year. According to Katzenmeier, that was an average of second place.

“People who used to work out with them used to say, ‘I’m not very good,'” Katzenmeier said of Megan Ballock and Lister. “But I said you have to realize who you’re working out with. They were some of the best runners in the state. If you have a good squad practicing in any high school sport, it just makes you better when you compete.”

Megan Ballock currently runs track and cross country for Pittsburg State. Lister plays basketball for Baker University.

Katzenmeier has already set the bar high for next spring.

“To repeat will be very hard,” Durkin said of last spring’s success. “But I know the kind of coach Phil is. He’ll keep them grounded. He’s very passionate about the sport, and I think his passion shows in the kids he has.”