Warriors regional champs for 1st time in 15 years
Staff writers
The last time Marion’s girls won a regional track and field championship was 15 years ago. The girls scored 91.50 points Thursday at a regional meet at home, edging out Inman, which finished with 88 points.
“We just want to thank our athletes for letting us work with them,” coach Grant Thierolf said. “They have made this a very special season.”
Dylan Kraus will be competing at state this week in pole vault and the 800- and 1600-meter runs.
Caileigh Johnson also will be competing in pole vault. Kenna Wesner will compete in triple jump along with Erin Regnier. Brylee Smith will represent discus. Sophia Dye will be throwing javelin. And Taryn Kraus will be competing in the 300- and 100-meter hurdles. Both girls relay teams will be at state as well.
On the boys’ side, the 4x100, 4x400, and 4x800 boys relay teams will be competing. Luke Wessel will compete in the 800 and 1600 while Wyatt Soyez will race in the 200. Brian Nguyen will throw discus, and Kellen Waner will pole vault.
The state meet will be Friday and Saturday in Wichita.
Hillsboro
The Trojans will take quite a few athletes to state competition after a strong showing at regionals Thursday in Marion.
“Heading to state is a huge accomplishment, and I couldn’t be prouder,” coach Demetrius Cox said. “It’s the result of months of hard work, discipline, and heart.
“As a coach, it means everything to see them reach this level — not just because of the wins, but because of the growth, resilience, and teamwork they’ve shown along the way.”
The boys 4x100-meter relay team will be making a trip.
Anders Weisbeck will compete in discus. Seth Driggers will compete in the 200 and 100. Jesiah Gooch will be running in the 200.
“What I hope to see most at state isn’t just medals — though those are always nice — but confidence, joy, and athletes stepping into their full potential,” Cox said. “No matter the outcome, getting there is already a victory.”
On the girls side, the 400 and 800 relay teams will compete. Quinlyn Funk will run the 1600 and 3200. Riley Richert will join her in the 1600. Addison Jost will race in the 800. Abbigail Willaims will be throwing shot put, and Emily Gilke will be doing high jump.
“To the athletes, I’d say, compete with heart, represent with pride, and leave it all out there,” Cox said. “You’ve earned this.”
Goessel
Eli Gaeddert paced the Bluebirds to a ninth-place finish out of 29 schools invited at a 1A regional meet at Iola. He won both the 1600- and 3200-meter races.
Levi Olson finished in fifth in the 1600. Evan Walker was sixth in discus and seventh in shot put. The 4x800 relay team of Olson, Koy Smith, Brayton Base, and Aiden Impson finished in fourth.
Gaeddert will be the only Goessel representative for the boys team at the state meet Friday and Saturday.
The girls team picked up the runner-up plaque at regionals.
Freshman Delaney Duerksen earned points by placing first in the 300 hurdles, third in the 100 hurdles, and third in triple jump.
Brooklyn Wuest was second place in long jump and sixth in high jump. Logan Bryant placed fifth in the 400-meter dash. The 100-meter dash saw Aimee Funk, Athena Funk ,and Abbigail Funk finish fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.
Aimee Funk finished fifth in long jump and sixth in the 200-meter dash. Abbigail Funk was fifth in the 200. Goessel’s 4x100 relay team of Aimee Funk, Abbigail. Funk, Bryant and Wuest grabbed first place, and the 4x400 relay of Abbigail Funk, Duerksen, Bryant, and Wuest secured second place.
The Goessel girls will be represented in six events at the state.
Centre
Kaitlynn Bina will be the only athlete from Center competing at state Friday. She will be competing in the 3200 at 7:45 a.m.
It will be her third consecutive trip to the state meet. In 2023, she qualified for the 800 and 1600. In 2024, she only ran the 1600, but earned her first state medal by finishing eighth.