Tonganoxie High girls track and field coach Chris Weller made history this spring, guiding his team to fourth place at the Class 4A state meet in Wichita, the highest finish ever for the Chieftains.

The girls improved upon last year’s 11th-place finish despite missing skilled jumper Tracie Hileman, the team’s biggest point producer who suffered from a tonsil infection the week of the regional meet and couldn’t compete at state.

The ability to still coax the most from his team despite that shortfall demonstrates why Weller earned recognition as the All-Area Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year.

“We’ve been blessed with a lot of talent and a lot of hardworking girls,” Weller said.

Those noteworthy hard workers included Roxi Grizzle, the state winner in the javelin, and Roni Grizzle, who placed second in the shot put. Ali Pistora finished second in the javelin and will throw at Kansas State University next year. Christy Weller, the coach’s daughter, placed third in the 800-meter run.

Although coach and daughter have a strong relationship, he did not directly instruct Christy, a junior.

“She’s very easy to coach,” he said. “The beauty of it is I’m the jump coach. We all kind of specialize. I pawn her off on the other coaches.”

It is appropriate that the elder Weller, who also teaches industrial arts, led the Chieftains to a record-breaking season. Since graduating from Fort Hays State University, he has coached 26 years at Tonganoxie, with 13 of them coming previously at the junior high.

“It’s an enjoyable place to teach,” he said. “I can come to Lawrence any time I want, and no matter how I old I am, this place is always young. You can go to Kansas City easy.”

Weller cited the enjoyment of building a rapport with kids and watching them improve as his reasons for coaching. He leads his team in an enthusiastic manner.

“He’s laid back, but he’s energetic about it at the same time,” Christy Weller said. “He gets real excited and wants everyone to do real well, but he doesn’t get too mad if you don’t.”

Despite several top-three finishes at state, Weller said his most memorable moment occurred when one of his relay teams greatly exceeded expectations.

“Everyone did extremely well, but when that 4×800 placed seventh,” Weller said, “I just knew it was going to be a special day.”