photo by: Mike Yoder

Lawrence High sophomore Abigail Afful competes in the high jump during the Free State Invitational Friday, April 13, 2018 at Free State High School.

Warming up for Free State’s Barriers Breakers meet on Friday, Lawrence High junior Baylee Unruh was confident that her arm was ready for big throws in the javelin.

Then she was forced to wait through a 30-minute lightning delay.

But Mother Nature couldn’t stop her from making history. Unruh, in her third and final throw, broke Lawrence’s school record with a toss of 132 feet, 7 inches and claimed first place in the event.

When the javelin left Unruh’s hand, she knew that it was her best throw of the day. She just didn’t know if would be enough to eclipse the mark set by Laura Rhodes (129-3), which stood in the school’s record books since 1998.

“My first throw, it was decent,” Unruh said. “My second throw, I continuously got better. That’s what I try to do every time I go and throw. It was a good throw and the fact that everything felt good, I knew when it came out of my hand it was a good feeling.”

Unruh emerged as one of the top javelin throwers last season, reaching 126-11 at the Sunflower League meet and eventually placing sixth at the Class 6A state meet.

A year-round volleyball player, Unruh credits her technique from javelin coaches Victor Beckerman and Mike Treat. Her next goal is to reach 145 feet by the end of the year.

“It’s a great feeling because I know I have more time to get better,” Unruh said. “My goal is to get better each meet.”

Along with Unruh, Michaela Cordova placed third in the event Friday and Amaya Harris was 14th. Lawrence head coach Jack Hood believes all of three of them pushing each other in practice can only help Unruh.

“Any time you break a record at Lawrence High School it’s a special feat,” Hood said. “We’ve been doing track for a lot of years. You look at the record book, there’s a lot of records that are older than this one — we’ll take them any time we can get them. I’m proud of Baylee.”

Other event winners included Lawrence’s Hunter Krom (boys javelin), Krissy Howard (girls shot put) and Evann Seratte (girls 800). Seratte was runner-up in the 400 and Van Dave Jacob was second in the boys long jump.

Childress tops own record

Free State sophomore Auna Childress has fond memories of competing at the Barrier Breakers meet. In the same meet last year, she broke the school’s record in the triple jump.

One year later, she reached another level. In her third jump, Childress shattered her own school record by nearly two feet, taking second in the event at 38 feet.

“I was actually thinking it was probably a 35 because I didn’t feel like it was a good jump at all,” Childress said. “My coach said it was a good jump and then they tracked the mark and I literally jumped. I was like, ‘Oh my God. Wow.'”

Last season, Childress spent most of her time in practice working on jumping as close to the board as possible. She thought she could’ve done a better job of that Friday, but it didn’t stop her from the best jump of her life.

“I have this book and I have my goals set and everything, and my goal for this year was only a 37-3,” Childress said. “Then I’m just like, ‘Wow.’ I don’t even know. I’m just so mind blown from it.”

Lawrence’s Josie Hickerson placed fifth in the triple jump at 34-2.

Starr building off of last season

After qualifying for the 6A state meet in three events last season, Free State junior sprinter Malachi Starr is confident that he’s improved as a runner.

Starr won his heat in the boys 400-meters, tying for fifth overall in 52.40. Despite waiting through a pair of lightning delays — the second one included rain — he felt prepared when he stepped into the starting blocks.

“I was too hyped because the lights were on,” Starr said. “Just been practicing so I can do this for me and my family.”

Barrier Breakers Invitational

Friday and Saturday at FSHS

LHS, FSHS results

GIRLS

100 — 4. Ashley Wildeman, L, 12.85; 18. Courtney Fritzler, L, 13.26; 26. Bella Kirkwood, L, 13.60; 28. Ozi Ajekwu, L, 13.70; 37. Marlee Coleman, L, 13.79; 41. Ana Holladay, FS, 13.97; 45. Destiny Downing, FS, 14.14; 47. Jessica Wilson, L, 14.28.

200 — 3. Asjah Harris, L, 25.60; 9. Ashley Wildeman, L, 27.50; 9. Bella Kirkwood, L, 27.50; 37. Claire Kearney, FS, 29.90.

400 — 2. Evann Seratte, L, 58.84; 3. Katie Moore, FS, 59.94; 8. Hannah Stewart, L, 1:02.30; 23. Ana Holladay, FS, 1:06.92; 31. Haylee Kern, FS, 1:09.09; 36. Miah Cheatham, FS, 1:10.57; 37. Cassidy Johnson, L, 1:10.71; 38. Auna Childress, FS, 1:12.26.

800 — 1. Evann Seratte, L, 2:20.40; 4. Hannah Stewart, L, 2:23.80; 8. Emma Hertig, FS, 2:26.70; 20. Julia Larkin, FS, 2:36.30; 29. Jayden Wilson, L, 2:39.90; 30. Sophie DeWitt, L, 2:40.00; 33. Anna Riley, FS, 2:42.40; 35. Erin Fagan, FS, 2:43.50.

1600 — 8. Julia Larkin, FS, 5:37.90; 8. Emma Hertig, FS, 5:37.90; 11. Erin Fagan, FS, 5:47.80; 19. Layne Prescott, L, 5:58.60; 24. Leslie Ostronic, L, 6:04.80; 25. Sophie DeWitt, 6:05.30; 26. Bella Stull, FS, 6:06.40; 28. Maddie Day, FS, 6:06.80; 35. Erin Liston, FS, 6:20.10.

3200 — 5. Julia Larkin, FS, 12:08.10; 9. Erin Fagan, FS, 12:26.49; 16. Maddie Day, FS, 13:19.60; 20. Anna Riley, FS, 13:31.45; 23. Layne Prescott, L, 13:37.14; 25. Morgan Goeser, FS, 13:45.94; 27. Bella Stull, FS, 13:52.95; 28. Corinne Scales, FS, 13:56.30; 31. Noel White, FS, 13:57.69; 33. Lacey Greenfield, L, 14:18.47; 34. Anna DeWitt, L, 14:21.84.

100 hurdles — 5. Cameryn Thomas, FS, 16.77; 14. Liliana King-Wilson, FS, 17.73; 18. Caitlin McAndrew Beckman, FS, 18.13; 20. Tyrin Cosey, L, 18.25; 30. Katelin Hollinshed, FS, 18.93.

300 hurdles — 4. Cameryn Thomas, FS, 49.40; 10. Talima Harjo, L, 51.60; 13. Caitlin McAndrew-Beckman, FS, 52.20; 18. Liliana King-Wilson, FS, 53.10; 24. Katelin Hollinshed, FS, 55.20.

4×100 relay — 11. Free State, 54.30.

4×400 relay — 10. Free State, 4:37.50.

High jump — 6. Abbigail Afful, L, 5-0; 9. Mariah Reed, L, 4-10; 9. Cassidy Johnson, L, 4-10; 9. Asjah Harris, L, 4-10; 9. Liliana King-Wilson, FS, 4-10; 14. Bella Crawford-Parker, FS, 4-6.

Long jump — 3. Auna Childress, FS, 16-4.5; 4. Cassidy Johnson, L, 16-2; 8. Bella Kirkwood, L, 15-8; 12. Marlee Coleman, L, 15-3; 24. Ashley Wildeman, L, 14-4.

Triple jump — 2. Auna Childress, FS, 38-0; 5. Josie Hickerson, L, 34-2.

Shot put — 1. Krissy Howard, L, 37-1.5; 7. Abby LaTessa, L, 32-1.5; 7. Chisom Ajekwu, L, 32-1.5; 9. Baylee Unruh, L, 32-1; 15. Katelin Hollinshed, FS, 28-5.5; 17. Sydnie Martins, FS, 25-4.5; 19. Destiny Duffet, FS, 24-0.

Discus — 5. Ella Stewart, L, 96-0.5; 9. Kala Ewing, FS, 92-7; 13. Hope Wheeler, FS, 86-8; 19. Tracy Allen, L, 80-11; 25. Katelin Hollinshed, FS, 75-8; 28. Jessica Vasser, L, 73-8; 30. Abby LaTessa, L, 71-6.5; 35. Olivia Fergison, FS, 63-7; 36. Paiden Bell, L, 56-0.

Javelin — 1. Baylee Unruh, L, 132-7; 3. Michaela Cordova, L, 117-0; 4. Erin Cushing, FS, 116-4; 14. Amaya Harris, L, 101-4; 29. Kenzie Mason, L, 82-7; 30. Megan Cushing, 81-0; 31. Courtney Hanna, L, 80-10; 37. McKenna White, L, 75-4; 38. Lauren Hoppe, FS, 74-2; 42. Olivia Fergison, FS, 66-5.

Pole vault — 3. Liliana King-Wilson, FS, 9-0; 14. Brooke Wright, FS, 7-0.

BOYS

100 — 8. Tanner Cobb, FS, 11.18; 8. JD Douglas, FS, 11.18; 10. Graham Hough, L, 11.19; 12. Tyler Bowden, FS, 11.24; 16. Dre Bridges, L, 11.35; 19. Shane Evans, L, 11.49; 25. Zach Wilson, FS, 11.54; 26. Reggie Clemons, L, 11.55.

200 — 3. Tyler Bowden, 23.10; 15. Shane Evans, L, 23.80; 24. Reggie Clemons, L, 24.10; 29. Gabe Del Valle, FS, 24.20.

400 — 5. Malachi Starr, FS, 52.40; 20. Aiden Johns, FS, 54.13; 21. Gabe Del Valle, FS, 54.40; 33. Tyler Bowden, FS, 55.23; 43. Aiden Goertz, FS, 56.51; 44. Joe Hess, L, 56.55; 58. Jakoby Masters, L, 58.60; 60. Colby Otting, L, 58.97.

800 — 34. Brock Cordova, FS, 2:12.10; 41. John Loos, FS, 2:14.00; 42. Ethan Sharp, FS, 2:14.70; 43. Landon Sloan, FS, 2:14.80; 46. Carson Jumping Eagle, L, 2:17.40; 47. Pierce Saturday, L, 2:17.90; 50. Aaron Reed, L, 2:19.20.

1600 — 22. Aiden Goertz, FS, 4:48.80; 28. Charlie Johnson, FS, 4:51.80; 37. Brock Cordova, FS, 4:54.80; 46. Ethan Sharp, FS, 4:57.50; 53. Dash Spears, FS, 5:00.50; 54. Christopher Stone, FS, 5:00.60; 60. Ethan Goldstein, FS, 5:02.90; 65. Abdalla Eltom, L, 5:08.50; 73. Aaron Reed, L, 5:17.00; 76. Pierce Saturday, L, 5:22.00.

3200 — 6. Charlie Johnson, FS, 10:09.93; 8. John Loos, FS, 10:30.63; 9. Landon Sloan, FS, 10:31.70; 10. Ethan Sharp, FS, 10:37.22; 15. Brock Cordova, FS, 10:51.81; 20. Abdalla Eltom, L, 11:11.20; 21. Dash Spears, FS, 11:11.32; 30. Kiefer Smith, L, 11:46.25; 36. Bryce Hadl, L, 12:48.29.

110 hurdles — 9. Cole Wenger, FS, 16.26; 13. Kaiy King-Wilson, FS, 17.11; 17. Bryce Crough, FS, 17.99; 29. Kalib Wilson, FS, 18.93.

300 hurdles — 9. Kaiy King-Wilson, FS, 43.70; 11. Bryce Crough, FS, 44.10; 33. Kalib Wilson, FS, 49.70.

4×100 relay — 4. Free State, 44.00.

4×400 relay — 4. Free State, 3:33.70.

Pole vault — 4. Declan Oberzan, L, 11-6; 17. Relle Dye, L, 9-6.

Long jump — 2. Van Dave Jacob, L, 21-1; 5. Chris Mumford, L, 20-5.5; 10. Jaxon Malone, FS, 20-2.5; 19. Tanner Cobb, FS, 19-6; 21. Kendrick Hobson, L, 19-4; 28. Graham Hough, L, 18-9.5; 41. Reggie Clemons, L, 17-9.

Triple jump — 6. Van Dave Jacob, L, 39-5.5; 8. Kendrick Hobson, L, 39-0.5; 19. Chris Mumford, L, 37-7; 22. Reggie Clemons, L, 37-4.

Shot put — 4. Gabe Clark, FS, 45-10; 7. Bryce Tibke, L, 44-10; 13. Spencer Roe, FS, 42-10; 29. Adonis Stanwix, L, 38-7; 39. Matt Georgie, FS, 36-6.5; 49. Caden Johnson, FS, 32-6.5.

Discus — 8. Adam Roecker, FS, 107-9; 13. Matt Georgie, FS, 98-3.

Javelin — 1. Hunter Krom, L, 191-1; 2. Harrison King, L, 175-3; 3. Nathan Spain, 170-3; 7. Bo Miller, FS, 161-3; 8. Gabe Del Valle, 154-1; 15. Jack Theisen, FS, 141-3; 22. AJ Powell, L, 130-4; 27. Jacob Mills, L, 127-7; 29. Zach Pitts, FS, 126-1; 34. Caden Johnson, FS, 122-4; 41. Will Easter, FS, 112-2.