BUHLER, Kan. — Buhler made the most of its home-track advantage Thursday, sweeping the team championships at a Class 4A regional track and field meet at Crusader Stadium.
The Buhler girls won the regional title with 183 points, finishing ahead of runner-up McPherson, which scored 95. The Buhler boys also won the regional championship, scoring 184 points. McPherson was second with 105.
The top three finishers in each event automatically qualified for the Class 4A state meet. Additional at-large qualifiers will be determined by the next six best performances statewide from regional competition.
Buhler’s girls had a strong day across the board, led by several regional championships. Jenna Lackey won the 200 meters in 25.81 seconds and the pole vault at 11 feet. Sofia Spies won the 100 in 12.35, while Jessa Losew won the high jump at 5-2.
Buhler also swept the top three spots in the girls 1,600. Corbin Starkweather won in 5:20.09, Isabella Friesen was second in 5:20.23 and Isabella Rivera was third in 5:20.38. Rivera added a regional title in the 800 in 2:24.22.
The Buhler girls also won the 4x800 relay in 9:47.84 and the 4x100 relay in 49.56. Other automatic qualifiers for Buhler included Bayleigh Miller, second in the 100 hurdles; Addysyn Keller, third in the long jump; Losew, second in the 400; Starkweather and Friesen, second and third in the 3,200; Sabella Regier, second in the pole vault; and Lauren Welch, third in the javelin.
McPherson’s girls were led by regional champions Andi Buschbom and Brynn Littlejohn. Buschbom won the long jump at 17-3, while Littlejohn won the shot put at 35-11 and placed third in the discus at 111-2.
The Bullpups also had Ellie Herrera take second in the high jump, Cayla Weimer place third in the triple jump, Elley Paulson finish third in the 100 hurdles, Adri McLeod finish third in the 200, Karsen Burris place second in the javelin, and the 4x100 and 4x400 relays finish third and second, respectively.
On the boys side, Buhler’s Garrett Gleason had one of the top individual performances of the meet. Gleason won four regional titles, taking the high jump at 6-4, the 100 in 10.78, the 200 in 22.03 and the long jump at 20-4.50.
Buhler also got regional titles from Max Harmony in the pole vault at 14-0, Zach Friesen in the 110 hurdles in 14.43 and 300 hurdles in 41.01, Gavin Lindahl in the 1,600 in 4:33.40 and 3,200 in 10:00.14, and the 4x800 relay in 8:26.64.
Other Buhler boys automatic qualifiers included Gabe Auxier, second in the discus; Myjian Lee-McGlynn and William Griffin, second and third in the shot put; Jacob Miller, third in the javelin; Kodie Applegate, third in the pole vault; Owen Kneisel, third in the 110 hurdles; Eli White, third in the 400; and the 4x100 relay, second in 43.89.
McPherson’s boys were led by Caden Wenderott, who won the discus with a throw of 156-11. Jayren Stutzman qualified in two events, placing second in the high jump at 6-2 and second in the 100 in 11.02.
The Bullpups also had Ashton Malm place third in the 100, Kinnick Anderson finish third in the triple jump, Tripp Pelzel and Caleb Muehler finish second and third in the 800, Muehler place third in both the 1,600 and 3,200, and the 4x800 and 4x400 relays each finish third.
The Class 4A state meet will be held next weekend at Wichita State’s remodeled Cessna Stadium.