Free State's Zack Sanders and Lawrence High's Trey Moore compete in the 110 hurdles during the Sunflower League Championships Friday at LHS.

Lawrence High’s top girls relay runners — Jensen Edwards, Leah Gabler, Marissa Pope, Kyleigh Severa and Myah Yoder — broke school records in two events last year. They weren’t going to pass up a chance for a third at the Sunflower League Championships on Friday at LHS.

After being approached by their coaches earlier in the week, the ultra-competitive group decided to give up their individual events to run in the sprint medley relay, which was in the middle of the meet.

Edwards, Gabler, Severa and Yoder added their names to another spot in the school record books, winning the sprint medley relay by more than nine seconds in 4:16.22. It helped the Lions finish fifth in the league.

“That was exciting,” Gabler said. “I really didn’t realize how well of a chance we had until a couple of days ago. I was nervous because my 800 has the most, like, control over what time we get. I was really trying to push myself so we could get that.”

The group, switching in Pope for Yoder, also won in the 4×400 relay in a season-best time of 3:59.23. It was their first race under four minutes this season.

“We’re not satisfied,” Pope said. “We’re going for a 3:53 at state so in order for that to happen we have to drop time fast. We just have more work to do and we’ll do it this week and the next week.”

Pope also helped the Lions shave 30 seconds off their best time in the 4×800 relay, running in the event for the first time in her high school career.

“This is one of those groups of kids that as coaches,” LHS coach Jack Hood said, “we need stop and enjoy all of the good things that they do because in a few years it’s not going to be quite like this.

“They’re special kids. They’re wired to win.”

For the past two years, LHS senior Rebecca Finley has finished runner-up at the league meet to her twin sister, Matia, in the discus. On Friday, Rebecca Finley finally got some revenge, winning a league title with the best toss of her career, 153 feet, 0 inches.

Rebecca Finley followed it up by taking second place in the shot put with her season-best throw of 41 feet, 0 inches. Matia Finley was runner-up in the discus (141-3) and fifth in the shot put.

“I guess I was just more focused,” Rebecca Finley said. “In practice, I was more technically correct, I guess. That helps … especially in shot, something just clicked in my head.”

Free State High senior Tye Carter decided to hang up the baseball cleats this spring, turning to the javelin.

A former pitcher and quarterback, he always had some confidence in his arm. But even he couldn’t predict his quick progress in his new sport. Carter won a Sunflower League championship on Friday, helping the FSHS boys track team finish third.

Carter set a school record in the event at the beginning of the month. Though he fell just shy of that mark on Friday, winning with a throw of 183 feet, 9 inches, he was just as happy with the win.

“It’s my first year so I wasn’t really expecting anything,” Carter said. “To get this far is pretty nice.”

Carter, who was throwing with sore ribs Friday, has heard from a number of colleges including Kansas University about possibly throwing javelin in college. He wishes he joined the sport a little earlier in his high school career, but is just happy with the results — even if his throws are a little unorthodox.

“I basically just hopped in and (throwing coach Darrell Andrew) taught me a few things, but I basically just do a baseball crow hop,” Carter said.

Free State distance runners Ryan Liston (1600), Ethan Donley (800) and Tanner Hockenbury (3200) also were league champions.

“I think they really push each other, too,” FSHS coach Jordan Rose said. “As soon as they see each other win, they all want to do it.”

Donley set a personal-record in the 800, winning in 1:56.57.

“I just felt really good going into the open 800,” Donley said. “I like to think of that as my best race. Running fast is the fun part.”

Free State’s girls track and field team also took third place at league. The Firebirds were led by their two league champions, seniors Gabbi Dabney (100 hurdles) and Laura Kennard (400 meters). Sophomore Emily Venters also finished second in the girls 3,200 meters.

Lawrence’s boys track team finished 11th in the league. Junior JD Woods won a league title in the 100-meter dash with a season-best time of 10.73. He also took second in the 200-meter dash (22.26).

Both schools will compete at regionals next week, which begin at 3 p.m. Friday at Free State.

Sunflower League Track and Field Championships Results

Friday at Lawrence High

Girls team standings: Olathe East 116.5; Olathe Northwest 87.5; Free State 74.5; SM North 66; Lawrence 65.5; Olathe North 61; Olathe South 60.5; SM Northwest 52; SM East 46; Leavenworth 37; SM West 36; SM South 35.5.

Boys team standings: Leavenworth 95; Olathe East 95; Free State 81; Olathe South 73; SM Northwest 63.5; Olathe North 61; Olathe Northwest 59; SM East 54; SM West 46.5; SM South 44; Lawrence 41; SM North 28.

League champions and city results

Girls

High jump — 1. Audrey Fischer, ON, 5-06; t-5. Gabbi Dabney, FS, 5-00; t-8. Nesreen Iskandrani, LHS, 4-10; t-10. Caroline Dykes, LHS, 4-08.

Pole vault — 1. Natalie Lanman, SMN, 10-06; 2. Callie Hicks, FS, 10-06; t-14. Avery Miller, FS, 7-06; t-14. Kaytlin Reidesel, LHS, 7-06; NH. Betsy Smoot, LHS.

Long jump — 1. Jazmin Williams, SMN, 18-00; 4. Cameryn Thomas, FS, 16-09.5; t-6. Myah Yoder, LHS, 16-00; t-6. Kyleigh Severa, LHS, 16-00.

Triple jump — 1. Audrey Fisher, ON, 38-05.

Discus — 1. Rebecca Finley, LHS, 153-00; 2. Matia Finley, LHS, 141-03; 3. Hannah Shoemaker, FS, 115-05; 11. Moneque Bean, LHS, 95-06; 14. Caylee Irving, FS, 88-01.

Javelin — 1. Dana Baker, ON, 123-07; 3. Kahler Wiebe, FS, 116-05; 5. Caroline Dykes, LHS, 115-00; t-10. Lexi Anglin, LHS, 100-05; 16. Jedzia Hicklin, LHS, 79-09; 18. Katelyn Hess, FS, 66-02.

Shot put — 1. Jasmine Swanagan, LV, 42-07; 2. Rebecca Finley, LHS, 41-00; 5. Matia Finley, LHS, 38-02; 6. Hannah Walter, FS, 37-03.5; 8. Jillian Schuler, FS, 35-03; 16. Caylee Irving, FS, 31-08.5; 18. Anatastica Ewart, LHS, 30-07.5.

4×800 relay — 1. Olathe East, 9:58.11; 3. Lawrence High, 10:07.44; 5. Free State, 10:20.18.

100 hurdles — 1. Gabbi Dabney, FS, 15.00.

100 — 1. Aarik Lister, LV, 11.85; t-14. Ja’Mya Dye, LHS, 13.25.

1600 — 1. Molly Born, SMNW, 5:10.15; 8. Claire Sanner, FS, 5:24.31; 13. Kiran Cordes, FS, 5:32.30; 26. Rachel Witt, FS, 6:11.92; 27. Shelby Ward, LHS, 6:17.99; 28. Mikayla Herschell, LHS, 6:32.54; 29. Shaye White, LHS, 7:01.73.

4×100 — 1. Olathe North, 48.90; 4. Free State, 50.27; DQ. Lawrence High.

400 — 1. Laura Kennard, FS, 59.59.

300 hurdles — 1. Jazmin Williams, SMN, 46.30.

800 — 1. Allison Vermillion, OE, 2:22.16; 9. Claire Sanner, FS, 2:32.15; 19. Abby Zenger, FS, 2:41.52; 20. Kiran Cordes, FS, 2:43.56.

1600 sprint medley relay — 1. Lawrence High, 4:16.22.

200 — 1. Aarik Lister, LV, 24.91; 6. Laura Kennard, FS, 26.56; 10. Cameryn Thomas, FS, 27.15; 12. Ja’Mya Dye, LHS, 27.36.

3200 — 1. Molly Born, SMNW, 11:08.99; 2. Emily Venters, FS, 11:10.64; 8. Marlee Yost-Wolff, FS, 12:24.95; 13. Dana Bequette, LHS, 13:25.22; 14. Isabelle Haake, FS, 13:59.83; 16. Aimee Nielsen, LHS, 15:46.68; 17. Shaye White, LHS 15:50.06.

4×400 — 1. Lawrence High, 3:59.23; 10. Free State, 4:27.20.

Boys

High jump — 1. Sam Howell, ON, 6-06; NH. Juwaun Johnson, FS; NH. Drew Tochtrop, FS; NH. June Brooks, FS.

Pole vault — 1. Sam Mosburg, SMNW, 13-06; NH. Morgan Sisson, LHS; NH. Tristan Dahozy, LHS.

Long jump — 1. Jared Belardo, LV, 23-07.5; 5. Tae Shorter, LHS, 21-04.75; 12. Jalen Dudley, LHS, 19-09.5; 13. Drew Tochtrop, FS, 19-08; 19. Travis Barfield, FS, 18-7.5; 23. Ekow Boye-Doe, LHS, 18-00.5.

Triple jump — 1. Jared Belardo, LV, 47-10; 4. Tae Shorter, LHS, 43-07.75.

Discus — 1. Willie Morrison, LV, 192-05; 5. Nick Hocking, FS, 152-10; t-14. Trey Georgie, LHS, 120-10; 17. Amani Bledsoe, LHS, 120-04; 18. Sam Hambleton, FS, 117-04; 22. Andrew Krejci, FS, 114-01; 25. Malik Davis, LHS, 105-04.

Javelin — 1. Tye Carter, FS, 183-09; 7. Connor Ballenger, FS, 149-11; 8. Simeon Windibiziri, FS, 148-08; 14. Dominic Leslie, LHS, 135-03; 23. Branden Jimenez, LHS, 123-02.

Shot put — 1. Willie Morrison, LV, 68-11; 8. Amani Bledsoe, LHS, 45-09; 12. Evan Bangalan, FS, 44-04.5; 13. Trey Georgie, LHS, 43-11; 18. Tanner Liba, FS, 41-02.5; t-19. Josh Thomas, LHS, 41-02.

4×800 relay — 1. Olathe South, 8:05.27; 6. Free State, 8:13.11; 10. Lawrence, 9:01.80.

110 hurdles — 1. AJ Stephens, OE, 14.32; 4. Zack Sanders, FS, 14.84; 5. Trey Moore, LHS, 15.50.

100 — 1. JD Woods, LHS, 10.73; 3. Ronald White, FS, 11.03; 15. J’Mony Bryant, LHS, 11.34; 16. Heath Milner, FS, 11.36; 23. Tyler O’Dell, FS, 11.61; 26. Jalen Dudley, LHS, 11.74.

1600 — 1. Ryan Liston, FS, 4:23.27; 25. Owen Heffernan, FS, 4:51.52; 26. Erik Shackelford, LHS, 4:52.10; 32. Carson Jumping Eagle, LHS, 5:11.84; 33. Ty Hartman, FS, 5:14.86; 34. Keegan Matheis, LHS, 5:25.96.

4×100 — 1. Olathe North, 42.32; 3. Lawrence High, 42.45; 8. Free State, 44.26.

400 — 1. Tanner Green, OS, 48.95; 17. Jawaun Johnson, FS, 54.76; 20. Oliver Woods, LHS, 55.96; 22. Heath Milner, 57.58.

300 hurdles — 1. Erik Harken, SME, 39.03; 3. Zack Sanders, FS, 40.73.

800 — 1. Ethan Donley, FS, 1:56.57; 8. Ryan Liston, FS, 2:02.25; 21. Owen Heffernan, FS, 2:07.11; 26. Jacob Bardwell, LHS, 2:12.55; 27. Carson Jumping Eagle, LHS, 2:21.67.

1600 sprint medley relay — 1. Olathe East, 3:44.45; 7. Free State, 3:51.28.

200 — 1. Tanner Green, OS, 21.58; 2. JD Woods, LHS, 22.26; 6. Ronald White, FS, 23.10; 7. Tyler O’Dell, FS, 23.13; 15. J’Mony Bryant, LHS, 23.36; 23. Ekow Boye-Doe, LHS, 24.40.

3200 — 1. Tanner Hockenbury, FS, 9:49.01; 4. Thomas Becker, FS, 9:54.33; 24. Garrett Prescott, LHS, 10:39.89.

4×400 — 1. Olathe South, 3:21.42; 6. Lawrence High, 3:31.43; 9. Free State, 3:35.24.