photo by: Shane Jackson

Free State junior Ben Shryock runs the 3,200-meter run during the state track meet on Thursday at Cessna Stadium at Wichita State University in Wichita on May 27, 2021.

Athlete of the year: Ben Shryock, Free State

Shryock was the only male athlete in the Lawrence area to earn an individual state crown this season — the Class 6A 3,200-meter run, which he won with a school-record time of 9:15.01. He was also on Free State’s 4×800-meter relay team, which won a state title in 7:54.11, and he added another state medal with a seventh-place finish in the 1,600-meter run.

Coach of the year: Kasi Packard, Perry-Lecompton

Packard’s Kaws finished third in the Class 3A boys division at the state meet and scored 50 points as a team, the highest mark in school history. The team won the Big Seven League meet and the regional meet in 2018, 2019 and 2021.

First team

photo by: Contributed

Jackson Barnett, Free State

Jackson Barnett, Free State — In his final season, Barnett qualified for state in four events. He was the anchor of the 4×400-meter relay team, which placed sixth at state with a time of 3:29.93. He also competed in the 100-meter run, 200-meter run and 4×100-meter relay.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World photo

Eudora senior Kale Breedlove clears the bar in the high jump at the Baldwin Invitational on April 1, 2021. Breedlove finished second in the event.

Kale Breedlove, Eudora — Breedlove concluded his senior season with a runner-up finish in Class 4A boys high jump, clearing 6-02.00. He also finished second at both the regional meet and the Frontier League meet.

photo by: Shane Jackson

Perry-Lecompton’s Caden Dean begins the 4×100-meter relay during the state track meet on Friday at Cessna Stadium at Wichita State University in Wichita on May 28, 2021.

Caden Dean, Perry-Lecompton — Dean finished his high school career with three trips to the podium at state. He was the first leg of the winning 4×100-meter relay team, and he also finished fourth in Class 3A boys long jump and was on the 4×400-meter relay squad that took fourth.

photo by: Contributed

Harrison Hartzler, Bishop Seabury

Harrison Hartzler, Bishop Seabury — Hartzler, who plays multiple sports, demonstrated his skill as a sprinter this past spring. He improved his 100-meter by 0.41 seconds over the course of the season and once finished that race in 11.32. He also had a time of 23.83 in the 200-meter during a meet at Lawrence High.

photo by: Shane Jackson

Perry-Lecompton’s Hunter Hess fires out of the block in the 400-meter run during the state track meet on Friday at Cessna Stadium at Wichita State University in Wichita on May 28, 2021.

Hunter Hess, Perry-Lecompton — Hess earned four state medals in his final track meet. He was the second leg on the 4×100-meter relay team and also competed in the 4×400-meter, and he finished second in both the 200-meter and the 400-meter after winning three titles in those two events at the league and regional meets.

photo by: Shane Jackson

Lawrence High senior Graham Hough receiving a handoff in the 4×100-meter relay during the LHS quadrangular Friday afternoon on April 2, 2021.

Graham Hough, Lawrence — After a tough regional meet, Hough competed in the 200-meter run at state. He has been a strong sprinter for the Lions throughout his career, and he placed at the state meet in 2019. This fall, Hough will play football at Pittsburg State University.

photo by: Brittanie Rooney/Eudora High School

Matthew Karten, Eudora

Matthew Karten, Eudora — Karten placed third at the state meet in discus and also competed in shot put. He was a regional champion in discus and took third in shot put at regionals, as well.

photo by: Courtesy photo

2020 fall sports all-area photo: Grady McCune, Baldwin

Grady McCune, Baldwin — In his senior season, McCune placed fifth in the Class 4A 800-meter run at state. He finished fourth at regionals in the same race. His best time in the 800 was 2:02.65.

photo by: Shane Jackson

Lawrence High junior Avion Nelson competes in the boys long jump competition during the LHS quadrangular Friday afternoon on April 2, 2021.

Avion Nelson, Lawrence — Nelson won several medals throughout his junior campaign in both long jump and triple jump. He ended his season with an eighth-place finish in the Class 6A boys triple jump, posting a mark of 41-03.25.

photo by: Contributed

Blake Poje, Tonganoxie

Blake Poje, Tonganoxie — Poje qualified for the state meet in high jump, long jump and triple jump. He was a regional champion and a league champion in high jump, and he finished fifth in that event at the state meet. He placed eighth in the long jump at state after winning a league crown in that event.

photo by: Shane Jackson

Perry-Lecompton’s Caidon Quinlan raises his fist up in celebration after closing out a win in the 4×100-meter relay during the state track meet on Friday at Cessna Stadium at Wichita State University in Wichita on May 28, 2021.

Caidon Quinlan, Perry-Lecompton — As the final leg of the Kaws’ 4×100-meter relay team, Quinlan had the honor of crossing the finish line to win a state crown. The senior sprinter also took seventh as an individual in the 100-meter run.

Honorable mention

James Bartlett, Perry-Lecompton; Dallas Bond, Tonganoxie; Caleb Carr, Baldwin; Kaden Doleman, Perry-Lecompton; Eli Gilmore, Tonganoxie; Thad Metcalfe, Perry-Lecompton; Logan Schmidt, Eudora; Drew Schoendaller, Baldwin; Cole Wenger, Free State.