Members of this spring’s Lawrence High boys track team already know how high the Lions set the bar last season.

“They don’t hang league championship banners at our school,” LHS track coach Jack Hood said. “They only hang state titles. Our goal has always been to win a state title.”

Last season, Hood captured the first state track title at LHS since 1997. Hood, in his first season as head coach, said a repeat wasn’t out of the question.

“It takes a little bit of luck, hard work, and you have to have the right kids,” Hood said. “But that’s what you work for.”

Lawrence High has five returning athletes who qualified for state last year in Wichita. You might want to keep an eye on senior Kevin Logan, who has zenith-like expectations for the spring.

“He wants to set the school record in the high jump at Lawrence High,” Hood said of Logan. “I’m trying to help him go get what he wants.”

Howard Harris set the Lawrence High record for the high jump with his mark of seven feet in 1989.

Logan, who also played for coach Chris Davis on the basketball team, nearly achieved Harris’ feat. Logan lept 6 feet, 8 inches at state last season and finished third. He won the high jump at the Kansas relays last season with the same mark. Hood said Logan had jumped as high as 6 feet, 10 inches.

“He attacks every practice,” Hood said of Logan. “He warms up hard. I think he wants to be a leader on this team.”

Senior Brian Houle likely will be the Lions best javelin thrower this season. He placed third last year at state with a throw of 180 feet, 10 inches.

“I describe myself as a history nerd,” said Hood, also a U.S. History teacher at LHS. “Brian describes himself as a javelin nerd. He even talks about the tip weight of the javelin.”

Expect senior Andrew Grover and junior Dylan Hedges to lead the distance runners for LHS. Both ran cross country in the fall.

Lawrence also had a state-caliber 4×800-relay team of Hedges, senior Steven Glasker and junior David Long at state. The team didn’t place.

Track athletes Brian Houle, left, of Lawrence High and Keron Toussaint of Free State High are expected to lead their track and field teams this season.

Lawrence will open its season Thursday in the Mid-Winter Classic at Hummer Sports Park in Topeka.

Across town at Free State, Steve Heffernan might have a state-caliber 4×100-relay team with seniors Christian Ballard, Ryan Murphy, Brian Murphy and Austin Winn. Heffernan said it was questionable whether Ryan Murphy would participate this spring. The Kansas University football recruit had shoulder surgery earlier in the winter.

As a team, Free State finished sixth at state last season.

Winn will be an intriguing name to remember. Heffernan said Winn already had gained interest from Division I schools for his performance in the 100 and 200 meter races. Winn had heat victories in the 100 and 200 in Wichita. He also ran a leg in the 4×400 relay team that included Ryan Murphy, senior Keron Toussaint and junior Shaun James.

Toussaint might be the most gifted athlete the Firebirds have in track. He came to Lawrence from Junction City and lived in New York before that. Toussaint won the 400 and placed second in the 200 at state.

Heffernan said Kansas and Kansas State already had showed interest in Toussaint for next season.

As for Ballard, Heffernan said he remembered watching him run track in fourth grade when he weighed 60-70 pounds. Ballard’s about 275 right now – but Heffernan said the Iowa football recruit hasn’t lost any speed.

“He didn’t come out to track just to get faster,” Heffernan said. “He was fast when he initially came over. I’m hoping his desire from basketball season will carry over into track.”

Senior Richard Flaig is expected to be a force for Heffernan in throwing events.

Free State will open its season Friday at Nebraska Wesleyan.