photo by: Journal-World Sports Staff

The Journal-World All-Area Teams.

All-Area selections are made by the Journal-World sports staff.

• Coach of the Year: Joe Pickett, Eudora

Eudora track and field coach Joe Pickett

Joe Pickett’s team took third (girls) and sixth (boys) in Class 4A events in Wichita, leading multiple Cardinals to Frontier League and regional titles.

• Player of the Year: Eli Gilmore, Tonganoxie

Eli Gilmore

Eli Gilmore had a milestone finish to his high school career, becoming the first male in Kansas history to win the 400-meter, 800-meter, 1600-meter and 3200-meter runs at state. Gilmore also set the Frontier League record in the 400-meter dash.

• Jake Loos, Free State

photo by: Matt Tait

From left to right, Free State’s 4×800 relay team of Jack Keathley-Helms, Jake Loos, Jake Hedges and Ben Shryock took second place at the state track meet in Wichita on Saturday, May 28, 2022.

Jake Loos, a junior, was a member of the boys’ fifth-place 4×800-meter relay team at state. He competed in distance and relay events all season long, qualifying for four events at state — 4×800 relay, 4×400 relay and the 800-meter and 1,600-meter runs.

• Reese Hulcher, Free State

photo by: Matt Tait

Free State’s Reese Hulcher.

Reese Hulcher, a senior, placed third in the high jump, fourth in the 100-meter hurdles and fifth in the long jump at state. She competed in hurdles, long jump, high jump and relays all season long.

• Tyrell Reed, Lawrence High

Tyrell Reed, a senior, placed third at state in the 100-meter dash. He ran anchor leg in the 4×100 relay team that placed fourth at state. Reed also smashed the school record in the 100-meter dash with a first-place finish at Seaman, setting a new record (00:10.47) in May.

• Paige Platt, Lawrence High

Paige Platt, a junior, placed second in the high jump and third in the javelin at state. Platt took second in the high jump and third in the javelin at regionals.

• Conor Dunback, Eudora

Conor Dunback

Conor Dunback, a senior, placed fifth in the javelin, seventh in the triple jump, fifth in the 400-meter dash and second in the 300-meter hurdles at state. He won the triple jump and the 300-meter hurdles at the Frontier League championship.

• Hanna Keltner, Eudora

Hanna Keltner

Hanna Keltner, a sophomore, placed third in the 3,200-meter, fifth in the 1,600-meter and fourth in the 800-meter runs. She was a member of the first-place 4×800-meter relay team at state and won the 800-meter, 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs at the Frontier League championship and regionals.

• Noah Luke, Veritas

Noah Luke

Noah Luke, a senior, ended his high school career as the most accomplished distance runner in school history. He holds the program records in the 1,600- and 3200-meter runs.

• Chae Park, Veritas

Chae Park

Chae Park, a junior, posted another strong season winning the team’s women’s MVP award for a third consecutive year. She owns the school record in the triple jump and ended the year ranked first in the event across the Kansas Christian Athletic Association. She finished the year placing first in the triple jump and second in the long jump at nationals.

• Drake Spurlock, Seabury

Drake Spurlock

Drake Spurlock, a junior, now holds three school records for the Seahawks, including the discus, shot put and the spring medley relay. He picked up All-Kaw Valley Conference honors in the discus and shot put.

• Nick Johnson, Baldwin

Nick Johnson, a sophomore, placed fifth in the 800-meter run at state while setting a new personal record. He placed fourth at regionals in the 800-meter to qualify for Wichita.

• Chaney Barth, Baldwin

Chaney Barth, a senior, placed fourth in the high jump at state after winning the regional championship for the same event. Barth also ran on the state-qualifying 4×100 relay team.

• Kael Gorski, Perry-Lecompton

Kael Gorski

Kael Gorski, a senior, placed first in the 100-meter hurdles at state after finishing as the regional runner-up in the same event. He won the 100-meter hurdles event at the Big 7 League championships.

• Taylor Damme, Perry-Lecompton

Taylor Damme

Taylor Damme, a junior, placed fifth in the javelin at state, winning the same event at the regional meet and Big 7 League championships.

Honorable Mention: Addy Hemphill (Eudora); Sydney Owens (Eudora); Lance Bassett (Lawrence); Austin Drewry (Veritas); Adelynn Mast (Veritas); Caden West (Baldwin); Fisayo Afonja (Baldwin); Harper Schoendaller (Baldwin); Kamryn Kaniper (Perry-Lecompton); Gunnar Ball (Perry-Lecompton); Danielle Bonham (Perry-Lecompton; Owen Deiderich (Bishop Seabury); Roman Ardery (Bishop Seabury); Ruby Newell (Bishop Seabury); Mikinzi Smoots (Tonganoxie).