photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Emma Roman Nose passes the hurdle during the 2000-meter steeplechase on Friday at the Kansas Relays on April 14, 2023, at Rock Chalk Park.

Twenty-three members of the Free State and Lawrence High track and field teams set new personal records during day two of the Kansas Relays on Friday at Rock Chalk Park.

Free State and LHS competed in a combined 62 total events during a full day of competition that featured more than 400 high schools from seven states. The meet, which features both college and high school events, has not been held since 2019 because of the COVID pandemic, and it is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

“It’s fantastic for them to get to see the college athletes and to be able to see what this actually looks like when you’ve done this for a long, long time,” Free State coach Jordan Rose said.

Shortly before Friday’s action was halted by inclement weather, LHS senior Natalie Kennedy finished third in the 2,000-meter steeplechase (7:50.52) shattering her personal record. Not far behind were Kennedy’s teammates, junior Emma Roman Nose (seventh) and senior Lucy Hardy (12th).

“It’s a lot of nervous energy,” Roman Nose said. “I know, for me, I’m not usually nervous until the day of, but it’s also a lot of excitement because I know once the gun goes off, it all goes away.”

LHS junior Paige Platt made her mark early by placing eighth among 27 other schools in the girls javelin throw. Senior Tyrell Reed snapped his personal record, placing 11th out of 39 runners in the boys 100-meter dash.

Additionally, the LHS girls 4×100 medley relay team — junior RaiOnna Helm, sophomore Victoria Reed, senior Bre Jackson and sophomore Gabby Reed — placed 25th among 76 total schools (51.07). Individually, junior Destiny Savannah finished 26th among 40 total runners in the girls 800-meter run.

LHS coach Audrey Trowbridge said her group was as confident as ever on Friday at one of the biggest events of the year.

“It’s almost like they don’t know any different,” Trowbridge said. “To them, this is a big opportunity. We handled the pressure and the magnitude of the meet very well. They’re handling it like seasoned vets, even though it’s their first time, so I’m really proud of them.”

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State freshman Jonah Frye keeps up the pace during the 2000-meter steeplechase on Friday at the Kansas Relays on April 14, 2023, at Rock Chalk Park.

On the Free State squad, freshman Jonah Frye placed third in the boys 2,000-meter steeplechase. Junior Jake Loos also brought some attention to the Firebirds, placing 14th of 44 total runners in the boys 800-meter run and setting a new personal record (1:59.02).

Senior Reese Hulcher was the first Free State athlete to cement a new personal record at the meet, finishing 16th of 37 total runners in the girls 100-meter hurdles (15.74). Michael Romito, also a senior, set a new personal record of his own (51.58) with a 14th-place finish among 31 total runners in the boys 400-meter dash.

Senior Aubrey Duncan finished 16th in the girls javelin, and sophomore Elle Cormaney set a new personal record (2:43.25) with the 800-meter distance medley relay team.Free State’s boys and girls 4×100-meter medley relay teams broke their personal records on Friday, as well.

“We just went out there with a lot of competition,” Loos said. “There’s a lot of really good teams here. It was just going out there, competing and having fun at the end of the day.”

Lawrence High and Free State weren’t the only area teams to succeed at the relays; Eudora senior Conor Dunback placed 17th among 40 total runners in the boys 300-meter hurdles.

The Kansas Relays will resume on Saturday at 9 a.m.