MHS track and field sweeps regionals, heads to state

Staff reports

The Manhattan High track and field squads are headed back to state with a regional title sweep in hand.

Both the girls’ and boys’ track and field teams claimed championships at the Class 6A regional meet Thursday at Wichita Northwest, securing their spots in next week’s KSHSAA state championships at Wichita State’s Cessna Stadium.

The girls were led by Texas Tech signee Harli Omli, who captured three individual titles — winning the 100-meter dash in 11.68 seconds, the 200 in 23.83 and the 400 in 58.91. Ole Miss signee Hanna Pellant added a pair of runner-up finishes in the 100 (11.71) and 200 (24.32), while Michelle Jeje placed sixth in the 100.

The Indians’ girls relay teams continued their dominance, winning the 4x100 at 47.15. The quartet of Sarah Oberreuter, Pellant, Jeje and Omli set the state record of 46.84 seconds in the 4x100 in Salina two weeks ago.

Manhattan also won the 4x400 (4:06.68) while taking second in the 4x800 (9:50.87). Lauren Perry claimed the 800 title in 2:20.56, and Sophia Peabody won the high jump at 5-2.

In the throws, junior Jorryn Hall took first in shot put (39-6), second in javelin (116-5) and fourth in discus (109-9), while her sister, freshman Joss Hall, added a third-place discus finish (111-5) and fourth in shot put (33-9.5).

On the boys’ side, Washburn signee Crayton Rauch fueled the team title with top-three finishes in four events — placing second in the 100 (10.65) and 400 (49.80), third in the 200 (21.99) and second in long jump (21-11).

Brady Durtschi won the triple jump (45-10.25), while teammates Michael Jeje and Derrick Amos followed in second and third. Amos also cleared 6-0 to take third in the high jump.

Wilson Wesch added a win in the 800 (1:58.66), and the 4x800 relay team took third in 8:13.08. Tayden Manwarren placed third in the 300-meter hurdles and fourth in the 110 hurdles, just behind Talon Huff in third.

Tucker Anderson took gold in the discus (158-9) and placed sixth in shot put, while Evan Middleton was third in shot (50-11) and seventh in discus. Jerrell Weston added a fifth-place finish in both events.

The Indians will return to action at the 6A state championships May 24-25 at Cessna Stadium, where they’ll be among the largest and deepest contingents in the field.

Starting this year, KSHSAA changed its state qualification rule, as only the top three finishers in each event at regionals earn automatic qualification for the state meet, while the next four best performances in an event, regardless of region, will also make it to state.

Manhattan saw 29 automatic qualifiers this year, with 16 from the girls and 13 from the boys. Not all regional meets were complete as of press time, so here is a list of the Manhattan’s automatic qualifiers.

Manhattan automatic qualifiers

Girls

100 Meter Dash — 1. Harli Omli 11.68; 2. Hanna Pellant 11.71

100 Meter Hurdles — 3. Macie Manwarren 17.37

200 Meter Dash — 1. Harli Omli 23.83; 2. Hanna Pellant 24.32

400 Meter Dash — 1. Harli Omli 58.91

4x100 Meter Relay — 1. Relay Team 47.15

4x400 Meter Relay — 1. Relay Team 4:06.68

4x800 Meter Relay — 2. Relay Team 9:50.87

800 Meter Run — 1. Lauren Perry 2:20.56

Discus — 3. Joss Hall 111-5

High Jump — 1. Sophia Peabody 5-2