Finally some good weather ❌💨
Tanner Newkirk is the king of triples and the SM North Relays were historic
Tanner Newkirk: The Triple Threat🏆🏆🏆
During his freshman season, Hayden senior Tanner Newkirk only broke 17 twice, setting a PR of 16:44.00 in his first ever season, where he finished 12th at state. That spring, Newkirk would run 9:51.07 for the 3200m, and 4:32.44 for the 1600m, taking 2nd and 4th in each one at state. Since then, Newkirk has never run in the 17’s, and has broken 16 in fourteen different races. He’s also lowered his PR’s to 1:55.69, 4:10.88 and 9:09.76 for the 800m, 1600m and 3200m this outdoor season. He dropped an 8:32.33 3k and a 9:06.12 2 mile during the indoor season, and the University of Kansas commit has not missed a step. He has won 12/14 races, and has helped the 4x400m shine as well. After I saw the triple that he ran last Friday, I knew I had to talk to the fastest guy in the state.
The following interview with Newkirk was conducted over Instagram DM’s, and was left in it’s entirety.
1. During your freshman year you ran 16:44 in cross country, and then this past fall you ran a blazing 15:16.67. Did you ever see yourself getting this fast? What do you contribute to such a progression throughout high school?
As a freshman, I knew I wanted to be really good, but I didn’t know what it would take to get there until I did it. I would say being consistent with training and building mileage throughout my career is the biggest contribution to my success.
2. You’ve won a lot of races in a Hayden uniform, which of them has been the toughest? Was there one where you were in a lot of pain and had to fight through, or one where you mentally had to push through?
I’ve had a lot of tough races that I can’t even name them all, almost every race I run is tough and painful, especially the ones with competition.
3. Which race during your high school career means the most to you?
I don’t think I could pin down a single race as the most meaningful, but my whole junior season was awesome as a whole as that is when I really broke out in my running.
4. Right now, you own the. 6th fastest 800m time, 2nd fastest 1600m, and fastest 3200m in the entire state, an extremely impressive range. I ask this to a lot of my interviewees, but what is your favorite distance to race?
My favorite distance is for sure the 3200, I think its what I’m best at and I’ve just had a lot of success with it the past couple months.
5. What played the biggest role in your decision to stay close to home and become a Jayhawk?
I would say the teammates and coaches are the main reasons I chose KU, I just felt like they were the people I wanted to surround myself with to continue my running career.
6. This past Friday you ran one of the most impressive triples that I have ever seen. A 4:10.88 1600m (PR), a 1:55.69 800m (PR), and a 9:18.89 3200m. Did you expect to see such fast times with such an exhausting triple?
Although I was aiming for 4:10 and was aiming to go that fast, I didn’t expect to go that fast in the 800 and 32, but I guess it was my day, and the weather didn’t hurt either.
7. How did the ending of last spring’s track season affect your mindset for the fall cross country season, and your current track season?
It definitely sucked, I just really couldn’t get anything going last year with injuries, but it was a learning experience and it definitely made me hungry to race fast in xc and this track season.
Since this interview, Newkirk won both the 1600m and 800m at the Centennial League championships, helping his team to a 2nd place team finish. Up next, Newkirk has the regional meet in Eudora next Friday, where he’ll look to punch his ticket to state in honestly any distance he wants. Good luck Tanner!
SM North Relays Top 10
After the performances at the Shawnee Mission North Relays last Friday, I think we’ve finally figured out what helps athletes perform so well. The answer: No 30 MPH winds. Argue if you want, but I think I may have broke the case wide open. Before I even get into why the meet was so historic, I want to give a shout out to Spectrum Sports KC for broadcasting the meet at such a professional level! The camera quality was superb and viewers actually knew what they were watching and what was happening!
With so many great performances, I thought we would tackle the meet in a SportsCenter style, counting down the top ten performances of the meet. My rankings may be different than yours, but I would love to know your rankings if yours differ from mine, so don’t hesitate to let me know! Additionally, don’t take my rankings personally, cause every single person/relay that I’ll talk about had an incredible performance.
#10 — Piper boys and Olathe North girls notch state leads in 4x100m
In one of the quickest relays on the track, both the Eagles and the Pirates threw down the fastest times in the state. The defending 6A girls champion Olathe North, ran 48.60, edging out Olathe West by .14 seconds. The squad consisted of Saniya Simmons, KaLiyah McGinnis, Ashlyn Alloway and Tynee Leggett. After not sending a 4x100m relay to state a year ago, Piper’s quartet of Dominique Herrig-Brittian, Grant Lockwood, LaMar Lynch and Divante Herrig-Brittian continue to be the only relay to go under the 42 second barrier. The four beat runner-up Shawnee Mission North handily, 41.87-43.31, almost one and a half seconds ahead.
#9 — Quincy Hubert dips under 45 in 300mH
Mill Valley senior Quincy Hubert has ran the 300mH on twenty-three separate occasions and has won the last 16 times, which includes a 2021 state title. Since she started racing the event, she has lowered her first ever time from 50.95, down to 44.94, her first time going under 45. As of now, she is still the only girl to run under the barrier, and roughly half of a second ahead of her 5A competition.
#8 — KaLiyah McGinnis runs 24.38 for 200m
Yes, I’m wondering the same thing! How does she keep getting so dang fast? Olathe North junior KaLiyah McGinnis is in a world of her own, as the only high schooler to run under 25 seconds. McGinnis opened the year with a 25.43 and has taken it down by over a second since, chipping away week after week. After finishing runner-up last year, McGinnis has done well and has made the state fully aware of her 2022 speed. The Olathe North star has over six-tenths of a seconds ahead of the next 6A competitor, and remains undefeated in the event this spring
#7 — Bret Beard runs a 1:53.23 800m, 13 more under 2:00
This was simply insane, I don’t know how else to describe it. Bret Beard (Olathe Northwest), Grant Lockwood (Piper) and Jordan Kilonzo (Gardner-Edgerton) all went for a ride last Friday in the 800m, all going under the 1:55 mark, with Beard running 1:53.23, one of the top fifty times in the nation. It was over a two-second PR for Beard, and his sixth win in as many races this year. It was also a two-second PR for Lockwood, and his second time running sub-2 in 2022. It was a huge day for Kilonzo too, as it was his first time ever under 1:57. All three boys are set to compete in college next year, with Beard heading to UMKC, Lockwood to Kansas, and Kilonzo to Pittsburg State. Before that though, each will look to add a state championship to their résumé.
#6 — 22 boys under 10, 20 girls under 11, 12 in 3200m
This one is another great example of pure insanity. It’s crazy what good racing conditions will do for athletes who are in shape. Sawyer Schmidt of Augusta, Micah Blomker of Shawnee Mission North, and Tyler Atkins of Junction City led an army of boys to impressive times. All three finished right around each other, crossing the line in 9:12.26, 9:12.58 and 9:12.65. Blomker was the only one of the three, not running with fresh legs, after he ran 4:20.55 in the 1600m earlier. In addition to three under 9:20, the field also saw nine under 9:30, and twenty-two under 10:00.
The girl’s edition saw four girls run sub-11 for the first time this year, as Tori Wingrove, Cecilia Fisher, Hannah Gibson, and Kaylee Tobaben ran 10:52.54, 10:53.66, 10:54.73, and 10:54.84. Both Tobaben and Wingrove were coming off of a strong 1600m (5:05.52 and 5:08.11), while Gibson and Fisher were just focusing on the 3200m. The 6A quartet all solidified themselves as contenders for the state title, and with how they finished this time, I can’t imagine how much fun it will be at Cessna.
#5 — 18 boys sub 4:30, Entire girl’s field sub-6:00 in 1600m
Ladies and gentlemen, Wichita Trinity Academy’s Clay Shively. One of the top twenty-five times in the nation, the sophomore’s 4:10.08 was a meet record and state lead. In what I was told was a kick-to-win race (I didn’t have the chance to watch the meet), Shively and six others broke 4:20, while another eleven broke 4:30. Shawnee Mission East junior and Lawrence Free State senior Wyatt Haughton and Ben Shryock ran 4:12.78 and 4:14.49 to take 2nd and 3rd.
On the girl’s side, Blue Valley West standout Olivia Bakker ran 4:56.82, finally breaking the coveted five-minute barrier. Joining her was Shawnee Mission East’s Grace Meyer in 4:58.45. Paige Mullen of Shawnee Mission Northwest was oh-so-close, running a 5:01.54. Behind this trio, two more athletes broke 5:10, seven more broke 5:30, and the twenty remaining all went under 6:00. Not too shabby, huh?
#4 — Alex Waldie splits 1:50 in crazy fast 4x800m
First off, wow. Purely off of time alone, Alex Waldie is the 10th fastest 800m runner in the country. I can’t tell you how much I wish I could have watched this race live, cause I can only imagine the electric atmosphere. I’m not sure when Waldie plans on running an open 800m, but someone should let me know so I don’t miss it. Just barely, though, Waldie’s 1:50 was out of reach, with Olathe Northwest winning in 7:53.24 and St. Thomas Aquinas in 7:53.25. DeSoto also broke eight minutes, running 7:56.80. Aquinas and DeSoto sit 1-2 in 5A, with Olathe Northwest six seconds ahead of the next 6A relay, Olathe East (7:59.72)
#3 — Brett Schwartz → #2 discus mark in nation
Every time Casey Helm blows us away with his throws, Brett Schwartz must say “Welp, looks like it’s time to shine”. Two of the greatest throwers in state history, they both continue their historic seasons by throwing even farther as the weeks progress. This time, it was Santa Fe Trail senior Brett Schwartz and Nebraska commit that stole the show, throwing 210-7, a new PR and meet record. In fact, it was a new PR by over six feet, and the second farthest throw in the nation. With his win last week, that makes him 6-1 on the year (now 7-1), as he builds momentum heading into championship season.
#2 — Olathe West 4x400m and 4x800m state record combo
I mean we all knew this was bound to happen. The Olathe West mid-distance unit is just so insanely loaded, and they were finally able to reap the rewards after facing tough weather conditions up to now. Kate Miller, Bree Newport, Paige Baker and Charis Robinson all did exactly what they needed to do, ending with a state record time of 9:17.40. I don’ think I’m crazy when saying this, but I think that this is not even close to the last time that these ladies break this record. Both Robinson and Baker are only juniors, and Miller and Newport are sophomores, so they’ll be racing together for the rest of the year AND next spring. Stay tuned, because we may be in the midst of dynasty that is the Olathe West program.
Also, in their 4x400m, they ran 3:58.36, as Miller and Robinson joined Destiny Lassiter and Kennedi Cline to take down Blue Valley North and the field. Both relays are 6A state leads and overall state leads, and neither group show any signs of slowing down.
#1 — William Jones 46.29 400m state record
First off I want to apologize to William, because I did not give him even close to the amount of hype he deserved this indoor season. He ran 46.76 and I somehow completely missed it. I was shell-shocked when I saw the results. I had no thought that we were going to see anyone sub-48 this year, let alone a 46.29. If you haven’t watched the video, I recommend you click on this link and go see for yourself. By the way, this is the 4th fastest time ran in the nation this year. To show just how incredible this time is, here is where the Blue Valley senior would rank at the college level.
NCAA DI — 59th
NCAA DII — 2nd
NCAA DIII — 1st
NAIA — 3rd
NJCAA — 4th
KCAC/HOAC/MIAA Conference Championships🏆
The Kansas NAIA schools all had their respective conference championships last weekend, with Southwestern hosting the KCAC championships in Winfield, and the Heart of America traveling to William Penn in Oskaloosa, Iowa to compete. The five DII schools in the state also had their championship meet, as the MIAA competed at Emporia State, future host of the 2024 and 2026 outdoor national championship. Here’s the Kansas conference championship recap.
MIAA — Emporia State University📍
The 2022 edition of the MIAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships saw Pittsburg State sweep the team championships again, after doing the same at the indoor championships. The women won the title over Central Missouri and Lincoln, 145-117.5-93, and the men took down Missouri Southern and Lincoln 169-135-96. The women end their 2021-2022 conference campaign with 2/3 titles after finishing 3rd in the fall in cross country, while the men complete the coveted triple crown, winning all three conference titles. The Fort Hays State women took 4th with 82 points, while Washburn (62) and Emporia State (35) took 7th and 10th. The Fort Hays State men took 5th with 73 points, and Washburn (56.5) and Emporia State (43) finished 8th and 9th. Kansas teams had thirteen individual conference champions, with two relays snagging first as well.
🥇Connar Southard — Pittsburg State (1500m)
🥇Louis Rollins — Pittsburg State (60mH)
🥇Rollins, Kiner, Wright-Rose, Brewer — Pittsburg State (4x100m)
🥇Connor Last — Washburn (Long Jump)
🥇 L.J. Kiner — Pittsburg State (Triple Jump)
🥇 Konner Swenson — Pittsburg State (Shot Put)
🥇 Trey Mooney — Pittsburg State (Decathlon)
🥇 Lyric Holman — Fort Hays State (100m)
🥇 Christine Williams — Pittsburg State (200m)
🥇 Taylor Gonzales — Washburn (5000m)
🥇 Gretchen Kuffel — Fort Hays State (3000mS)
🥇 Hagan, Williams, Morgan, Winn — Pittsburg State (4x100m)
🥇 Alexandra Hart — Fort Hays State (High Jump)
🥇 Isabelle Peters — Pittsburg State (Pole Vault)
🥇 Trace Mosby — Pittsburg State (Heptathlon)
KCAC — Southwestern College📍
Just as Pittsburg State swept the MIAA, St. Mary handily took down the rest of the KCAC to win both team titles. The women put up a whopping 228 points, as Friends (154) and Southwestern (76) took 2nd and 3rd respectively. The men put up 215 points to win, as Friends and Tabor took 2nd and 3rd by scoring 118.5 and 105.5. After a seven point runner-up finish at the indoor championships, the Spire women did not hold back, avenging their loss to Friends in February. The men on the other hand completed the triple crown, winning their third conference championship of the school year. The women added to their cross country title from the fall, giving the program 5/6 conference championships for the year. Here’s how the remaining Kansas women’s programs finished in the team race, followed by the men’s finishes.
4th — Ottawa (67)
5th — Kansas Wesleyan (66)
7th — Sterling (51)
8th — Tabor (42)
9th — Bethel (33)
10th — McPherson (16)
11th — Bethany (14)
4th — McPherson (78)
4th — Southwestern (78)
6th — Ottawa (70)
7th — Kansas Wesleyan (54)
8th — Bethel (29)
11th — Bethany (18)
🥇 Tyke Owens — Tabor (100m)
🥇 Corey Lyons — St. Mary (200m, 400m)
🥇 Slavoski Wright — Southwestern (800m)
🥇 Luis Perez — St. Mary (1500m)
🥇 Johnathan Bowen — St. Mary (5000m)
🥇 Logan Horning — Friends (10,000m)
🥇 Marcquiece Cade — Friends (110mH, Pole Vault)
🥇 Toby Penner — Tabor (400mH)
🥇 Brendan Erwin — St. Mary (3000mS)
🥇 Noel, White, Brookins-Cornell, Lyons — St. Mary (4x100m)
🥇 Mvundura, Wright, Webber, Moffett — Southwestern (4x400m)
🥇 Vazquez, Rojas-King, Neidig, Perez — St. Mary (4x800m)
🥇 Vance Shewey — Tabor (High Jump)
🥇 Eryk Kyser — Kansas Wesleyan (Long Jump)
🥇 Kalil Murphy — Kansas Wesleyan (Triple Jump)
🥇 Dylan Templeman — McPherson (Shot Put, Discus, Hammer)
🥇 Brady Blanka — McPherson (Javelin)
🥇 Rachel Booker — Southwestern (100m)
🥇 Corrssia Perry — Sterling (200m, 400m)
🥇 Aubry Donley — Friends (800m, 1500m)
🥇 Alyssa Armendariz — St. Mary (5000m, 10,000m, 3000mS)
🥇 Sydney Wilson — Sterling (100mH, High Jump)
🥇 Nina Barbeiro — Ottawa (400mH)
🥇 Nagel, Botella-Manich, Petty, Massey — Friends (4x100m)
🥇 Massey, Botella-Manich, Donley, Blaylock — Friends (4x400m)
🥇 Donley, Warren, Gurrola, Giles — Friends (4x800m)
🥇 Gabrielle Moore — St. Mary (Pole Vault)
🥇 Jayda Cooper — St. Mary (Long Jump)
🥇 Anya Walton — Friends (Triple Jump)
🥇 Kortney Schutt — Friends (Shot Put, Discus)
🥇 Makenzie Burns — Friends (Hammer)
🥇 Laurel Barber — Ottawa (Javelin)
Heart of America — William Penn University📍
Out in Iowa, Baker, Benedictine and MidAmerica Nazarene competed against a combination of teams from Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa. Grand View (Iowa) swept both team titles, and Central Methodist (Missouri) finished as runner-ups on both sides. The women of Benedictine (128) took 3rd, just ahead of MidAmerica Nazarene (121), with Baker (83) taking 5th. The MidAmerica Nazarene men took 3rd with 76 points, with Benedictine behind them with 76 points. Baker finished in 7th, just a point out of a tie for 5th. This was Grand View’s first conference title for the women on the year, as Benedictine won the cross country championship in the fall, and Central Methodist won the indoor championship. The men on the other hand completed the triple crown, winning all three conference championships.
🥇 Bolden, Ruiz, Moore, Strawn — Baker (4x400m)
🥇 De’Mario Hanson — MidAmerica Nazarene (Long Jump)
🥇 Ben Gutekunst — Baker (Javelin)
🥇 Kylar Brown — MidAmerica Nazarene (100m)
🥇 Elizabeth Ibidunni — Baker (200m)
🥇 Caroline Cobo — Benedictine (1500m)
🥇 Tajanique Bell — Baker (100mH)
🥇 Nicholson, Brown, Davis, Solir — MidAmerica Nazarene (4x100m)
🥇 Cobo, Smith, Zarybnicky, Wurtenberger — Benedictine (4x800m)
🥇 Carly Lindenmeyer — MidAmerica Nazarene (Heptathlon)
The KC Metro Mile Championship🥇
If you have plans on June 9th, cancel them. Thanks to KC Running Company and B and B Race KC, the best of the best in the KC metro and more will have the chance to go head to head in one of the most entertaining races in the sport. There are twelve different races, ranging from a Kid’s Mile (K-5th) to a Master’s 35+ Mile. Of course, in between are the middle school and high school races, with the main event being the High School Boys and High School Girls Elite Mile. I’m excited for an event like this to be happening so close to home, so spread the word and get the best athletes in the area to gut it out!
5:40 - Kids Mile (K-5th Grade)
6:00 - Middle School Open Mile Boys & Girls (6th - 8th Grade)
6:20 - Middle School Girls Elite Mile - (Under 7:00 to Qualify)
6:35 - Middle School Boys Elite Mile - (Under 5:45 to Qualify)
6:50 - High School Girls Open Mile - (9th - 12th Grade)
7:05 - High School Boys Open Mile - (9th - 12th Grade)
7:20 - High School Girls Elite Mile - (Under 6:15 to Qualify)
7:35 - High School Boys Elite Mile - (Under 5:10 to Qualify)
7:50 - Women’s Open Mile (Under 7:00 to Qualify)
8:05 - Mens Open Mile (Under 6:00 to Qualify)
8:20 - Women’s Masters 35+ Mile (Under 8:00 to Qualify)
8:35 - Mens Masters 35+ Mile (Under 6:30 to Qualify)
You can sign up here, and below is more info on the meet!
Date: June 9th, 2022
Location: Rockhurst High School Track
Address: 9301 State Line Rd. Kansas City, MO 64114
With this weekend being full of league championships, the post-season is finally here! I’ll keep this short so you don’t miss any of the action. Go find some track & field today and watch some for us!