Slower week at the office🗄️
the cure to your Kansas Relays hangover was simply more track & field
Despite my efforts involving ibuprofen and pounding fluids, the Kansas Relays hangover got the best of me last week, as I continually looked back on what was a fantastic weekend to welcome back the state’s most historical meet. But as we all know, ‘nothing gold can stay,’ so I eventually had to look ahead at the meets that were directly following the action in Lawrence.
Historically, the week following the Kansas Relays is always a relatively slower week, meaning that there are a lot of meets going on around the state, but none that are significantly larger than the others. But if any of the meets could have taken that title, it was the Barrier Breakers Invitational, hosted by Lawrence Free State.
Barrier Breakers has always been a favorite of mine, dating back to my high school days where I broke the barrier(s) as a Junior Blue. In case you have no idea what I’m talking about, this meet has a ‘barrier’ for each event for both the boys and the girls, and if an athlete breaks the barrier for their event, they get a medal. I’ve always thought this is a cool twist on medals at a meet, and adds good change for participating athletes. They also ran the 3200m at the beginning of the meet, which was a blessing for those who didn’t want to double (me), leaving me to annoy and distract my teammates who had still yet to race.
But this isn’t about me!
Here is a list of some of the (many) standout performances from the meet
Three-time state champ Wyatt Haughton made his season debut in the 3200m, running the second fastest time in the state, nearly joining Clay Shively in under nine minutes, clocking 9:03.05. Haughton led thirteen other boys under the ten minute barrier, and five more under 9:30.
The boy’s 4x400m was the fastest race we’ve seen this season, as Topeka-Hayden led the way as eight of the eleven teams ran 3:30 or quicker. The Wildcats dominated the field, winning in 3:24.62, an all-class state lead. Shawnee Mission East and DeSoto were next up, running 3:25.83 and 3:27.23.
Topeka-Seaman senior and reigning 5A 800m state champion Bethany Druse held off Olathe West’s Bree Newport in the late stages of the 800m, winning 2:17.32 to 2:17.46. That’s the fastest time in 5A this year.
Damiya Richards of Olathe East swept the 100m & 200m, running 12.31 and 25.22, where she ranks second and third in 6A in the sprint pair.
Olathe West had four girls under 11:20, as Charis Robinson, Kate Miller, Paige Baker and Kalyn Willingham ran 11:02.91, 11:05.85, 11:20.48, and 11:21.26 to finish 1-2-4-5. The Owls now have five girls under 11:20, and I believe they’re the only school in Kansas in this position. I didn’t look that up, so don’t beat me up if I’m wrong.
There are a ton more great performances, and you can find them all located conveniently here.
Sunflower State Highlights🌻
Ellsworth freshman Kate Rathbun won the 3200m and placed 5th in the 1600m at the Sterling Relays. Rathbun races with a blade on her left leg, and has a story and journey that I would love to learn more about!
Chesney Peterson continues to do Chesney Peterson things, and this time it was in her fourth race four days. Peterson solo’d a 10:27.99 3200m, the fastest time in the state by fifteen seconds. Peterson currently has the fastest times in the state in the 800m 1600m and 3200m.
Olathe South senior Jordan Allen won the discus and shot put at the Mid-Season Invitational at Gardner-Edgerton, throwing 182-9 and 53-9 for the sweep. Allen sits atop 6A in both throwing events.
Lakewood (Salina Central) middle schooler Kaylie Shultz is name to familiarize yourself with, as the eighth grader ran 5:12.77 to win the 1600m at the Todd Thurston MS Invitational last Thursday. Shultz also owns PR’s of 2:25.36 in the 800m and 11:30.63 in the 3200m. This season, Shultz broke all three of the school records that three-time sophomore state champion Katelyn Rupe set just a few years ago.
This weekend, Clay Shively (Wichita-Trinity), Wyatt Haughton (SM East) and Caden Peters (SM East) will be racing in the Elite High School Mile at the Drake Relays. With every high school elite mile field, there is one goal in mind, and that’s to break four. The forecast is looking like typical Drake Relays weather, as cool rain and ideal temperatures are in store. Hopefully the conditions are perfect as our three guys take a stab at it.
You might be wondering why this isn’t the end of the newsletter, since I typically wrap everything up with the Sunflower State Highlights, but we’ve got something special this time around. Since I started The Lead Pack (formerly Kansas Running Weekly), I have been trying to grow and expand this as much as I possibly can. A big method of successful growth has come from bringing in notable guests that are relevant to Kansas and track and field/cross country. I’ve interviewed amazing high schoolers, collegians, coaches, etc., but never before someone of this caliber. Over the past few months, I’ve been in contact with the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program, checking off all of the necessary boxes that were needed to make this happen. Well, here we are.
NJCAA champion → 2x NAIA champion → 2x NCAA All-American → US Olympian & World Championship qualifier. Quite the resume for a distance runner, and quite the journey as well. The most impressive aspect of his accolades is the fact that he saw success, AND was winning at every collegiate level, something that cannot be said for a lot of college athletes. Since his days at Cloud County, Wayland Baptist and Texas Tech, he’s made an Olympic final, and made two American teams. Now, as an athlete and part of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program, SPC Benard Keter is one of the best steeplechasers in the country, and is looking to make his third U.S. team in as many years this summer.
How did you hear about Cloud County Community College? What was your reason for starting your collegiate career there instead of different junior colleges or universities?
I heard about Cloud County Community College (CCCC) from Texas Tech’s distance coach, Jon Murray back in 2013 when he was in Kenya recruiting over the summer. After an easy run one morning, one of my training partners mentioned he was going to do a time trial the following morning with a university coach from the United States. My brother then heard about it and suggested that I jump in too. The following morning, I ran and won the 3000m in 8:40. Coach Murray said ‘congratulations Benard, where are your SAT Scores? Looking around, everyone at the track had envelopes with their SAT scores. I looked at coach Murray and said, ‘I don’t have them and have never seen it nor done it.’ He then told me he would be interested in taking me to Texas Tech University (TTU) based on what I had run; but since I didn’t have an SAT score, which is a D1 requirement, I wouldn’t qualify to run in a D1 program. I then asked him, ‘if I remained in Kenya for one more year and took the SAT’s, could I go with you?’ He then told me there were some junior colleges that would take student athletes just based on their high school grades. CCCC coaches, Harry Kitchener and Drew Mahin contacted Coach Murray and said they were interested in me. They sent me all the information on how to apply for the school, secured me a scholarship and worked with me through the whole process. That’s how I ended up at CCCC.
You’re a member of the Army WCAP track & field team. Can you explain a little more how that works and how you became a part of it? How has your experience been in the WCAP, and do you think it has opened up the door for opportunities you may have not had access to before?
The World Class Athlete program (WCAP) offers military athletes an opportunity to train and compete in an Olympic sport while simultaneously serving their country. Upon meeting WCAP standards, and completing initial entry training, athletes can submit an application, and if approved start training full-time as a military athlete. It’s been a life changing experience being assigned in the U.S. Army and the World Class Athlete Program. After my collegiate career I didn’t know if I was going to continue running, since I hadn’t won any titles. The best finish I had in an NCAA competition was 6th place, which isn’t so competitive. I knew I needed a little support because I knew I could do something amazing and run better than I did in college, and when WCAP took me in, they were able to give me the support that I needed to continue running while serving my country.
In your opinion, what has been your best race of your career?
I’ve had a lot of memorable races and moments in my career, for example the time I was both a NJCAA, and NAIA champion in college. Of all the races I’ve ran, the most memorable was running at the Tokyo Olympic Games in the 3000m steeplechase final. This was a dream come true moment and I’ll forever be grateful for having been there to represent myself, my family, the U.S Army and the United States.
When you qualified for Tokyo, what was going through your mind when you crossed the line, and what was your mindset both going into and during the race?
Crossing the finish line and knowing that I had punched a ticket to the Olympics was a dream come true. Imagine watching the Olympic Games and telling yourself you can be an Olympian one day, and now you are realizing that childhood dream has come true. Of course going into the trials, a lot of people also want to make the team, so there’s lots of pressure. You have to have your emotions in check, staying calm and collected to be able perform at your best on that day. At the same time you have to look back at all the miles you’ve put your body through; the times you go to the gym; and all the traveling across the country, all to chase that qualifying standard.
What does it mean to you to have had the chance to represent the United States at the sport’s highest level, and in general, compete on the sport’s biggest stage
Representing the U.S.A, the Army, my family and myself at the Olympics was a great honor that I will never take for granted. Being able to participate and represent your country is an entire life changing experience. The Olympics are more than just a sport. There’s a cultural side of the Olympics, full of diversity and unity. All of us competing in our event have the same goal, and we’re all putting our own touch on the technique we use in getting to the finish line. Being in the moment in Tokyo and feeling that you accomplished your goals and dreams is a life changing reality. It’s also an honor to think that some people draw inspiration from Olympic athletes’ hard work.
You’ve obviously had a lot of success in the steeplechase, but have you ever thought of switching events or moving up to longer distances eventually?
Moving up in distance will probably come at a later time, but right now steeplechase is my bread and butter. I feel like I have done a lot towards lowering my PB, and in the near future, I’ll be chasing a sub-8 time and definitely trying to run for a medal at world championships.
You’ve had a stellar career with plenty of shining moments to celebrate and remember, but if you had to choose one, what is your favorite memory/accolade from your career?
I never thought I would be where I am today, let alone doing what I have done on the track. I never grew up seeing myself as a kid with enormous talent. My motivation has been my pure love for the sport, as well as seeing my brother (Tareq Mubarak Taher) compete at the World and Olympic level. This led me to start working harder and harder, hoping that one day I would also be able to run at the international level. My favorite memory in my career with no doubt would be getting to compete at the Olympics, as well as qualifying for the Olympic finals.
Before I go, I just wanted to say how incredibly grateful I am of Benard Keter, primarily because he took time out of his work, training, and his new role as a father to answer these questions for me. So Benard, thank you! I also want to thank both MAJ Nathaniel Garcia and SSG, because they helped make this possible!
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