photo by: Matt Tait

From left to right, Free State's 4x400 relay team, Ta'Mya Douglas, Samantha Whittlesey, Reese Hulcher and Aubrey Duncan.

Free State and Lawrence High’s track and field teams will be sending 55 athletes down to Wichita State University on Friday and Saturday to compete in the annual state meet at Wichita State’s Cessna Stadium.

The Firebirds and Lions will be sending 20 seniors to this year’s meet, representing the Lawrence area in relays, hurdles, pole vault, discus, and more.

LHS is expected to leave around 1 p.m. on Thursday and will receive a police escort out of town. Because of its graduation ceremonies being rescheduled for Thursday, Free State will have to wait a little longer and is expected to leave for Wichita around 9 p.m. Thursday night.

Both teams feature good depth and a handful of athletes and teams that can challenge for state titles and prominent spots on the podium.

This year’s meet will begin on Friday, with sessions 1-7 running from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sessions 8-12, will take place on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Free State bolstered by regional success

The Firebirds are set to send 32 of their 45 varsity athletes to state. It’s one of the largest groups the program has ever sent to the state meet and it will be led by 15 senior qualifiers.

An exciting performance at regionals featured all six of Free State’s pole vaulters qualifying for state, a first for the program. Three senior vaulters, Ashley Mai, Isa Evans, and Logan Schwab are slated to lead the vaulters group.

Free State coach Jordan Rose said each of her vaulters worked hard all season and earned the opportunity to compete at the state level.

“I am so excited for them,” Rose said. “We’ve had really high expectations for them this year, and they’ve really kind of come back and met those expectations.”

In the javelin, junior Aubrey Duncan will be making her second state appearance with the Firebirds, and senior Brian Lane will compete in the event for the FSHS boys. Both Duncan and Lane took home first at regionals.

More Firebirds will be putting their talents to the test in individual events, including seniors Ben Shryock in the two-mile, Jack Keathley-Helms in the 800, and senior Maddie Base, who will be throwing the discus. Both Shryock and Keathley-Helms will also run relays for Free State.

Rose believes the wide range of talent has allowed her athletes to flourish this season, hitting their strides in time for the main event of the year.

“The feedback that I’m getting from them is just how much they’ve enjoyed just getting to reconnect with everybody and be part of a successful program this year,” Rose said. “They’ve enjoyed being able to be with each other, cheer on each other and be able to see each other competing as they go along.”

Five seniors to lead charge for LHS

Across town, Lawrence High will also be packing its bags for state after 23 of its athletes qualified for state at regionals. LHS will be featuring three different relay squads and six Lions competing in individual events.

Among them will be five seniors competing on relay squads and on the individual circuit — Zeric Avery in the 4×100 relay; Gianna Cooper in the triple jump; Avion Nelson in the 4×100 relay, long jump and triple jump; Noah Smith in the shot put; and Brenna Schwada in the 4×400 relay.

LHS coach Audrey Pope-Trowbridge wants her seniors to compete with everything they have while also embracing every moment of their final competitions as LHS athletes.

“I want my seniors to have a memorable experience,” Pope-Trowbridge said. “I want them to come home with some hardware. I think all of our seniors are in a good spot where if they show up and compete like the Chesty Lions they’ve been for the past four years, I think the sky’s the limit.”

LHS landed two girls relay teams in the top 4 at regionals, locking them in for state. The 4×800 team features junior Natalie Kennedy, sophomores Destiny Savannah and Emma Roman-Nose and freshman Olivia Monroe. The 4×400 team features Schwada, Savannah, sophomore Jaylie Hohman Savannah and freshman Harper Dye, with Gabrielle Reed as an alternate.

The LHS boys 4×100 relay team will feature seniors Avery and Nelson, along with junior Sam Sedo, sophomore Colin Sandefur and freshman Riley Howell.

After having little more than half of her team qualify for state at a stout regional, Pope-Trowbridge believes her group of Lions headed to Wichita will pack a pretty strong punch despite its smaller size.

“I think our regional was really tough,” Pope-Trowbridge said. “I don’t feel like our numbers are reflective of our ability and our talent as a program. I think it does speak to the competitive nature of our regional. But we’re excited to go down to Wichita and give it all we’ve got.”