Wichita ? It was a day of mixed emotions for Free State High’s boys and girls track and field teams.

The Firebirds boys entered the last event of the day in a tie for first with Manhattan, but neither squad had a team in the 4×400 relay finals.

Olathe East, which trailed FSHS and Manhattan by five points going into the 4×4, did have a team entered and went on to claim the Class 6A state title.

“We had a chance potentially to be there, but I think we’re all really pleased,” FSHS coach Jordan Rose said. “This is the best combined team effort that we’ve ever had.”

FSHS got a standout individual and team effort from sophomore Avin Lane. The Firebird sprinter beat out Lawrence High’s JD Woods with a personal-best time of 10.75 seconds in the 100 and then anchored the 4×100 relay team with Nathan Thomas, Tyler Odell and Ronald White for another first-place finish.

“I was able to get myself there, but it’s even better when I’m able to get my teammates there,” Lane said. “It’s a great experience to get two state championships.”

While Lane sparked the Firebirds in the shorter distances, junior Ethan Donley fueled Free State to a state title in the 800 with a time of 1:56.59.

“Honestly to me, times mean nothing,” Donley said. “I went out there and got in a good first lap and got into the perfect position to give myself a chance.”

Zack Sanders scored in two events for the Firebirds, placing sixth in the 300 hurdles and seventh in the 100 hurdles.

Rose had a smile on her face Saturday after the Firebirds’ total team effort culminated in a runner-up finish.

“We had a lot of points coming from different areas, which is kind of what our goal was,” Rose said. “Our big thing was just trying to get up there on the podium, so we’re very pleased.

FSHS girls

After winning back-to-back team state championships, the FSHS girls squad knew it would have its work cut out for a third.

The Firebirds fell just short, trailing champion Lawrence High by seven points at day’s end.

Although FSHS did not win the team title, senior Gabbi Dabney still came away with individual accolades after winning the 100 hurdles with a personal-record time of 14.64 seconds.

Dabney got some words of wisdom from former teammate and 100 hurdles champion Alexa Harmon-Thomas to put her in the right frame of mind to win the race.

“She was giving me a pep talk last night about going out and just executing the race,” Dabney said. “I knew that’s all I really had to do because I had a good seed coming in.”

Kiara Clark followed Dabney with a fourth-place finish and then bounced back to be the runner-up in the 300 hurdles. Sophomore Emily Venters rounded out the top-three finishers for the Firebirds on Saturday, placing third in the 800.

Venters is one of several Firebirds returning next season, giving Rose plenty of optimism for FSHS returning to the top of the podium next year.

“We just keep affirming that we’ve got a great core,” Rose said. “We’ve got a great group of kids that work all year to just try and improve and get better.”

CLASS 6A

Boys team scores — Olathe East 62, Free State 57, Manhattan 57, Olathe South 41, Blue Valley 39, Shawnee Mission South 38, Lawrence 31, Maize 31, Wichita South 30, Olathe Northwest 24, Gardner-Edgerton 22.5, Garden City 20.5, Blue Valley Northwest 20, Topeka High 19, Wichita Southeast 17, Shawnee Mission West 17, Wichita North 15, Derby 15, Hutchinson 13, Shawnee Mission Northwest 13, Shawnee Mission East 12, Haysville-Campus 12, Wichita East 11, Blue Valley orth 9, Junction City 9, Washburn Rural 8, Wichita West 8, Dodge City 3.

Free State results

100 – 1. Avin Lane, 10.75.

110 hurdles – 7. Zack Sanders, 15.39.

1600 – 4. Ryan Liston, 4:24.89; 10. Ethan Donley, 4:30.96.

4×100 relay – 1. Avin Lane, Tyler Odell, Ronald White, Nathan Thomas, 42.89.

300 hurdles – 6. Zack Sanders, 40.96.

800 – 1. Ethan Donley, 1:56.59.

200 – 7. Tyler Odell, 22.75.

Lawrence High results

Shot put – 7. Amani Bledsoe, 48-09.

100 – 2. JD Woods, 10.91; 11. J’Mony Bryant, 11.31.

110 hurdles – 5. Trey Moore, 15.22.

4×100 relay – 6. JD Woods, Tae Shorter, Trey Moore, J’Mony Bryant, 51.55.

200 – 5. JD Woods, 22.47.

Girls team scores — Lawrence 63, Free State 56, Maize 52.75, Olathe East 47, Blue Valley North 42, Olathe Northwest 37.75, Shawnee Mission North 37, Shawnee Mission Northwest 35, Olathe South 34.5, Dodge City 30, Wichita Southeast 27, Wichita East 26, Hutchinson 24, Olathe North 21, Garden City 17, Blue Valley Northwest 17, Manhattan 16, Gardner-Edgerton 15.5, Topeka High 15, Blue Valley 15, Shawnee Mission West 13.75, Shawnee Mission East 12.5, Junction City 12, Wichita Northwest 12, Haysville-Campus 8, Shawnee Mission South 7, Derby 5.5, Wichita South 2, Washburn Rural 0.75.

Free State results

Shot put – 12. Hannah Walter, 33-07.50.

100 hurdles – 1. Gabbi Dabney, 14.64; 4. Kiara Clark, 15.41.

1600 – 3. Emily Venters, 5:10.60.

4×100 relay – 8. Cameryn Thomas, Kiara Clark, Callie Hicks, Laura Kennard, 51.40.

300 hurdles – 2. Kiara Clark, 46.68.

800 – 12. Emily Venters, 2:24.57.

Lawrence High results

Shot put – 3. Matia Finley, 40-09; 4. Rebecca Finley, 40-08.25.

400 – 4. Jensen Edwards, 59.00; 6. Marissa Pope, 59.54.

800 – 2. Jensen Edwards, 2:17.53.

4×400 relay – 1. Leah Gabler, Marissa Pope, Kyleigh Severa, Jensen

Edwards, 3:55.55.