Baker University’s Aaron Hannon checks out his Kansas Relays trophy. Hannon became the first Baker athlete to win a Relays event when he claimed the decathlon Thursday at Memorial Stadium.

Baker University junior Aaron Hannon on Thursday became the first Wildcat in school history to win an event at the Kansas Relays.

Kansas’ Alena Krechyk throws the hammer during the Kansas Relays. Krechyk placed third in the event Thursday.

The former Baldwin High three-sport standout finished the grueling 10-event decathlon with a career-best 6,948 points, outdistancing Nebraska’s Teran Walford (6,785) and Arkansas State’s Taylor Short (6,413).

“It means a lot to have a little school like Baker come in here and compete well, because we are trying to build up our track program the last few years,” said Hannon, who won the 100, 400 and javelin and was second in the 110 hurdles, shot put and long jump.

Hannon figured he had a great chance at earning BU’s first Relays victory in 83 years when first-day leader Skyler Reising dropped out of the 14-person event because of injury.

“He said it was something with his neck. I was kind of surprised. He’s a pretty big competitor. I enjoyed competing the first day with him,” Hannon said of the unattached competitor out of the University of Nebraska. “When he went out, I was like, ‘Maybe I can keep it going.’ I stayed in the lead the entire time.”

Hannon’s performance should not surprise area sports fans.

He was an all-state football wide receiver, all-state honorable mention basketball guard and state hurdles champion at BHS.

“It is really fun to win at the KU Relays because my family was able to get out here, and just being so close to Lawrence my whole life, it’s really exciting to win it,” Hannon said.

Nebraska junior Megan Wheatley won the heptathlon, clipping first-day leader Anna Kay Campbell of Lincoln University 5,323 points to 5,245.

Future University of Wisconsin runner Emily Sisson, who is a senior at Parkway (Mo.) Central High School, won the 5,000 in 16:20.44. KU’s Lauren Bonds was second in 16:56.49.

KU junior Amanda Miller won the 3,000 in 9:47.91. KU freshmen Tessa Turcotte and Kyra Kilwein were second and third in 10:16.43 and 10:28.3 respectively.

KU graduate Paul Hefferon, racing for Kansas City Smoke, won the 5,000 in 14:17.36. KU’s Nick Caprario was third in a career-best 14:40.13.

“This is my ninth year in a row (at Relays) from high school through college,” Blue Valley West grad Hefferon said. “I went to Kansas, so I love this meet. I love the stadium atmosphere and the people here.”

The Relays continue from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. today and again from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium.