Star power fills regional track meet lineups

Spectators who turn out to watch Friday’s Class 4A Regional Track Meet are in for a treat.
The meet will feature some of the finest high school athletes in the state, including a handful of defending state champions, Iola track coach Marvin Smith said.
The regional meet begins at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Iola’s Riverside Park. Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for students. Preliminary races begin at 5 o’clock. Finals for running events begin at 6 p.m.
Iola will have its work cut out for it to advance to the state meet May 24 and 25 in Wichita.
Among the teams competing Friday is Paola High, which returns its state champion girls team from last year.
“They will be challenged by Pittsburg and Chanute,” Smith said. “It’s not as clear cut on the boys side. Coffeyville’s boys won the Southeast Kansas League meet with Pittsburg and Labette County close to their score.”
Frontier League champion Paola and CNC League champ Girard also bring strong boys squads.
“There are defending state champions in several events, and several potential state champions competing,” Smith said.
Individually, the top three pole vaulters in the state will be in Iola, including Prairie View’s Jayce Phelps, the defending state champion.
“Coffeyville has some dominating sprinters,” Smith said, including James Newton of Field Kindley. He is the defending state 100-meter dash champion.
The girls distance runners also have the top two state cross country runners, Smith said. “The girls distance races have nine of the 16 runners in the state, all in our regional.”
A similar theme is evident in the girls high jump, which has five of the top 12 jumpers in the state descending upon Riverside Park.

TO HELP RUN the meet, Smith has a crew of dedicated volunteer workers in place for field events. More still are needed for “organizational jobs,” Smith said, such as sorting through medals, giving numbers to runners and posting results.
Those wishing to help should call Smith at 363-4343.

OTHER AREA athletes will be in their respective regional meets Friday as well.
Humboldt High’s squad, including defending Class 3A 800-meter champion Tanner McNutt, will be in Wellsville.
Marmaton Valley, Crest and Southern Coffey County, meanwhile, will be in Burlington for the Class 1A regionals.
Yates Center is hosting the Class 2A regional meet.