Athlete of the Year

Kurt Loevenstein, Mill Valley

Loevenstein defended his Class 5A state championships in the 800 and 4×800 relay and added a state title in the 1,600. The Jaguars’ senior set school records in all three events, and his times in the 800 (1:53.97) and 1,600 (4:13.85) are the fastest recorded in the state this season. He will run for Kansas State next year.

Coach of the Year

Chris Dunback, Mill Valley

After leading the Jaguars to Kaw Valley League and regional championships, Dunback coached them to third place at the 5A state meet, the best finish in program history. Mill Valley scored its 68 points at state from Colton Bray, Cody Deas, Kurt Loevenstein, Derek Meeks, Tai Nguyen, Deric Stephenson and three relays.

The 2015 Journal-World All-Area Boys Track Team, top row, from left: Ethan Donley, Free State; Dakota Helm, Baldwin; Travis Hodge, De Soto; Avin Lane, Free State; and athlete of the year Kurt Loevenstein, Mill Valley; bottom row, from left: Derek Meeks, Mill Valley; Tae Shorter, Lawrence; JD Woods, Lawrence; and coach of the year Chris Dunback, Mill Valley. Not pictured: Tye Carter, Free State, and Christian Gaylord, Baldwin.

First team

Tye Carter, Free State

In his first season throwing javelin, Carter won a 6A state championship, winning on his last throw (191-9). The Firebirds’ senior added a Sunflower League title and set a school record with his best toss of 193 feet, 2 inches.

Ethan Donley, Free State

After taking sixth place at state in cross country, Donley improved throughout the season and finished with a state title in the 800 (1:56.59) and took 10th place in the 1,600. The FSHS junior added Sunflower League and regional titles in the 800.

Christian Gaylord, Baldwin

A future football player for the University of Nebraska, Gaylord took second at state in the discus and fifth in the shot put after winning regional titles in both events. His best throw in the discus (172-2) ranked seventh in the state this season.

Dakota Helm, Baldwin

Helm ran the anchor leg of Baldwin’s second straight state champion 4×800 relay (8:16.68), finished runner-up in the 800 and 4×400 relay. The Bulldogs’ junior won Frontier League and regional titles in the 800, helping his team to third at state.

Travis Hodge, De Soto

After three second-place finishes at regionals, Hodge won a 4A state title in the 800 (1:55.39) and finished third in the 1,600 and 4×800 relay. His season-best time in the 800 was the second-fastest in the state. The junior added a Frontier League title in the 1,600.

Avin Lane, Free State

Despite close races all season long, Lane blew the field away at the 6A state meet, winning a state title in the 100-meter dash (10.75) and the 4×100 relay (42.89). The FSHS sophomore finished runner-up at regionals in the 100 by a few thousandths of a second.

Derek Meeks, Mill Valley

Meeks won his second straight state championship in the 4×800 (8:06.53), finished runner-up to his teammate in the 800 and was fifth in the 1,600. His season-best times in the 800 (1:56.02) and 1,600 (4:24.85) are school records for a junior.

Tae Shorter, Lawrence

Down to the last jump of prep career, Shorter leapt a season-best 45 feet, 8 inches to win a 6A state title in the triple jump. The Midland University signee battled knee injuries all season, but won regional titles in the triple jump and 4×100 relay.

JD Woods, Lawrence

A star running back on the gridiron, Woods finished second at state in the 100-meter dash, fifth in the 200 and sixth in the 4×100 relay. The LHS junior won regional titles in all three events, and his best time in the 100 (10.73) was the third-fastest in the state this year.

Honorable mention

Joshua Bertoncino, Wellsville; Amani Bledsoe, Lawrence; Colton Bray, Mill Valley; Cody Deas, Mill Valley; Nick Hocking, Free State; Austin Kurtz, Perry-Lecompton; George Letner, Baldwin; Ryan Liston, Free State; Trey Moore, Lawrence; Tai Nguyen, Mill Valley; Jonathan Ortiz, Eudora; Zack Sanders, Free State; Devan Smith, Tonganoxie; Zach Strawn, Wellsville; Cody Williams, Perry-Lecompton.