COLONY — Crest High’s star-studded track and field team continues to grow in leaps and bounds.

This year’s squad of 29 is one of the largest in recent memory, giving plenty of young talent to a team that already excels in multiple events.

“I really like our numbers,” head coach Kaitlyn Cummings said.

Even better, the newcomers bring new skills. Several of the returnees — we’re looking at you, juniors Josie Walter, Peyton Schmidt and Aubrey Allen — have made a name for themselves in middle- and long-distance races.

“We’ve got some new throwers and sprinters as well,” Cummings said. “On the boys’ side, we’re adding distance runners and sprinters into the mix.”

Walter and Schmidt will aim to earn their third straight state medals in the 3200 meters. Walter narrowly missed a second straight medal last May in the 1600 as well. They’ll be joined by Allen, another middle distance wiz, on the 4×800-meter relay team.

Speaking of Schmidts, Hanna Schmidt — Peyton’s younger sister — will look for a sequel to her memorable 2024 state meet in the 100-meter hurdles. Hanna was blazing toward a top-three finish in the state meet when she clipped the last hurdle and fell to the turf. She still medaled, placing eighth, but left Wichita with a feeling of unfinished business. Oh, and she also qualified for state in both the 300-meter hurdles and the long jump.

On the boys’ side, Gentry McGhee enters his senior year looking to build on last year’s season in which he qualified for state in the 200 meters.

Gunner Ellington, too, will look to return in the 1600. He qualified for state as a sophomore, nabbing a 12th-place finish, but fell just short of returning last year as a junior, in both the 1600 and 3200 races.
“That was one of the toughest regionals in the state,” Cummings recalled. “We hope to see him make some gains this year.”

Jacob Zimmerman will once again run the hurdles.

As for the newcomers:

Freshmen Kole Walter and Daylan Nicholas have signed on as has junior Henry White. All three will split time between track and baseball as dual-sport athletes.

Another dual-sport athlete, freshman Summer Valentine, will suit up for the Lady Lancer softball squad.
“Summer has done a nice job already in throwing events,” Cummings said.

The healthy track numbers leaves Cummings optimistic Crest’s athletes will attain both team and individual accolades.

“We’ve got to rebuild our 4×100 relay teams, but we’ve got kids who can do it,” Cummings said. “Things are looking good.”