INMAN, Kan. — Area schools turned in several state-qualifying performances Friday at a Class 2A regional track and field meet in Inman.
The Hutchinson-Trinity Catholic boys finished second in the team standings with 109.33 points, trailing only Smith Center, which won the regional title with 127. Inman finished third with 66, Moundridge was fourth with 63 and Sterling was seventh with 34.
On the girls side, Inman finished second with 68.5 points, behind regional champion Hoxie, which scored 94. Moundridge tied for fourth with 50 points, while Sterling was 12th with 24.5.
The top three finishers in each event automatically qualified for the Class 2A state meet. Additional at-large qualifiers will be determined by the next six best performances statewide from regional competition.
Trinity Catholic had a strong day on the boys side, led by Kaid McElgunn, who won the 100 meters in 10.84 seconds and finished second in the 200 in 22.39. Alex Guajardo added two top-six finishes, placing third in the 400 in 51.49 and sixth in the 200 in 23.20.
The Celtics also won the 4x800 relay in 8:24.49 and the 4x100 relay in 43.38. Trinity Catholic closed the meet by winning the 4x400 relay in 3:28.43.
Trinity Catholic’s distance group also produced multiple state qualifiers. Ambrose Pennycuff placed second in the 800 in 2:02.44, with teammate Cameron Kiser third in 2:02.69. Jacob Lindstrom placed second in the 3,200 in 10:12.24, while John Lindstrom was fourth in the 1,600 in 4:35.59 and fourth in the 3,200 in 10:18.81.
Isaac Hammersmith qualified in the boys long jump, placing third at 20 feet, 8 inches. He also finished fourth in the high jump at 6-0 and fourth in the triple jump at 43-8.
Inman’s boys were led by Tyler Martisko, who swept the 800 and 1,600. Martisko won the 800 in 1:59.31 and the 1,600 in 4:31.46. The Teutons also qualified in the boys 4x800 relay, placing second in 8:27.11.
Samuel Brensing placed third in the 110 hurdles in 15.18, and Bo O’Neill finished second in the discus with a throw of 161-9. Malachi Brunk was second in the javelin at 178-7 and fifth in the 300 hurdles in 41.94.
On the girls side, Inman got regional titles from Olivia Brunk and its relay teams. Brunk won the 100 in 12.43, while the Teutons won the 4x100 relay in 49.99 and the 4x400 relay in 4:06.12.
Lily Heflin added a runner-up finish for Inman in the 800 in 2:18.02. Brooklyn Black placed second in the 300 hurdles in 47.40 and fourth in the 100 hurdles in 15.59. Inman’s throwing group was led by Morgan Froese, who placed fourth in the discus at 113-9 and fifth in the shot put at 35-7.75, and Taylor Froese, who was fifth in the discus and fourth in the shot put.
Moundridge’s boys were led by Heath Churchill, who won the high jump at 6-8, placed second in the 110 hurdles in 15.02 and finished third in the 300 hurdles in 40.19. Brayden Elmore won the pole vault at 12-0 and was sixth in the high jump.
Kaizer Kanitz also qualified automatically for Moundridge, placing second in the long jump at 21-3 and third in the triple jump at 44-4.50.
The Moundridge girls were led by Cammi Unruh, who placed second in the triple jump at 35-1, fifth in the 100 in 12.73 and sixth in the 200 in 27.01. Annah Schrag placed third in the 400 in 1:01.31, while the Wildcats’ 4x800 relay finished second in 10:07.90 and the 4x400 relay finished second in 4:11.63. Aspyn Stos also qualified in the shot put, placing third at 35-9.25.
Sterling had two regional champions. Julia Kilgore won the girls 200 in 25.37 and the 400 in 57.94. Zane Farney won the boys 110 hurdles in 14.83 and placed second in the 300 hurdles in 39.54.
Sterling’s Jacob Lewis placed third in the high jump at 6-2 and seventh in the 300 hurdles. Wyatt Little finished second in the pole vault at 12-0.