By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
If the Concordia girls track team is going to win its fourth-straight Kansas 4A state track and field championship next weekend, Witney Sorell is well aware of the role she must play.
Team success, not individual acclaim, is what she’s after. Still, Sorell understands the importance of succeeding individually for the good of the team.
“We want another ring,” Sorell said. “We’ve been first the last three years and we want to do it again.”
“I want to do the best that I can to help the team do that,” Sorell said. “I’d like to be No. 1 or No. 2 in all four of my events. If I can do that, then I’d feel something major was accomplished.”
Sorell will more than likely compete in the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, triple jump and the 4x400 relay this weekend at the Colby 4A regional meet, with the hopes of moving on to the state track meet May 23-24.
Looking at the meet on paper, the Wichita State recruit appears to have a great opportunity to move on to Wichita in all four of her events.
Concordia coach Corey Isbell stacked it that way. After scouting the state track landscape, Isbell decided placing Sorell in the aforementioned events was probably the route to go.
“I could place her in six or seven events and she’d do very well in all of them,” Isbell said. “That’s a good problem for a coach to have.
“But at this point in the season, I want to utilize her talents in areas that would best benefit the team.”
As a freshman, Sorell and her teammates needed to finish ahead of 4A leader Buhler in the 4x400 relay, the meet’s final event, before they could secure and celebrate their first girls state track and field championship.
The future Shocker was able to breathe a little easier down the stretch her sophomore season, thanks to a 15-point cushion. A year ago, Concordia destroyed Eudora – and the rest of the 4A field – with an 82-44 margin over the Cardinals.
This season the Panthers are loaded again. In addition to Sorell, Isbell has plenty of athletes that can score for him in almost any event. Sorell’s events, however, could be the starting point for a flood of Panther points.
She ranks first in the 4A triple Jump (37-0 1/2), 100-meter hurdles (14.6) and as a member of the 4x400 relay team (4:01.1). Sorell is ranked second in the 300-meter hurdles (45.00) behind Eudora’s Emily Ballock( 44.1).
Although she spends much of her day going from event to event during track meets – sometimes even competing in multiple events simultaneously – she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Sometimes I envy some of my teammates that compete in two events and then they’re done for the day,” Sorell said. “But I’ve always done four events. I couldn’t sit around. I like being part of a track meet from the beginning all the way through to the end.”
As a freshman, Sorell learned a tough but valuable lesson. Going into the regional meet, the hurdler/jumper was leading 4A in her specialty 100-meter hurdles. But a false start ended that event for her for the remainder of the season.
Now she realizes she can’t afford to be a one-event athlete.
“I try to stay equal in all of my events,” she said. “I strive to do well in all of them. I try to make all four of my events ‘my event.’ "
Here is a look at the rest of the Kansas track and field leaderboard:
Kansas Boys Track and Field Leaders
100 Meters
Jeremy Walker, Bonner Springs, 10.30
Evan Pierson, Olathe South, 10.50
Dominique Banks, Kansas City Turner, 10.50
Grant Loescher, Newton, 10.50
Terrance Thomas, Shawnee Mission East, 10.57
Kelvin Tiller, Topeka Highland Park, 10.60
Aaron Babbidge, Valley Center, 10.60
Bubbie Nixon, Augusta, 10.66
200 Meters
Terrance Thomas, Shawnee Mission East, 21.90
Aaron Babbidge, Valley Center, 21.96
Logan Cares, Parsons, 22.00
Dylan Hartnett, Dodge City, 22.00
Dominique Banks, Kansas City Turner, 22.10
Grant Loescher, Newton, 22.10
Nathaniel Martins, Newton, 22.2
Evan Pierson, Olathe South, 22.25
Joe Zinn, Augusta, 22.30
Mike Flores, Maize, 22.30
Field, Riley County, 22.30
Dylan Hartnett, Dodge City, 22.30
Dante Adams, Great Bend, 22.30
400 Meters
Mike Flores, Maize, 48.79
Dylan Hartnett, Dodge City, 48.98
Clarence Anderson, Wichita Southeast, 49.30
Sonny Lee, West Elk, 49.70
Alex Reynolds, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 49.86
Steven Frankhauser, Sterling, 49.9
Miles Ukaoma, Maize, 50.1
Jacob Davies, Emporia, 50.19
800 Meters
Jacob Davies, Emporia, 1:55.60
Ben Schmitz, Olathe East, 1:56.60
Tyrell Everett, Wichita Heights, 1:56.60
Scott Gillespie, Shawnee Mission South, 1:56.70
Jeremy Carlisle, Tonganoxie, 1:57.98
Sky Chapman, Wichita Southeast, 1:58.00
Josh Munsch, Hays, 1:58.01
Colin Hagan, Kapaun Mount Carmel, 1:58.60
1,600 Meters
Scott Gillespie, Shawnee Mission South, 4:19.92
Josh Munsch, Hays, 4:21.99
Kaleb Humphreys, Sterling, 4:24.00
Trace Kendrick, Scott City, 4:24.09
Andrew Wagner, El Dorado, 4:24.36
Tom O’Connell, Andover, 4:25.21
Zachary Zarda, Kansas City Maranatha, 4:25.67
Jacob Davies, Emporia, 4:26.00
3,200 Meters
Trace Kendrick, Scott City, 9:38.34
Kaleb Humphreys, Sterling, 9:40.71
Bryce Volz, Bishop Carroll, 9:44.30
Kyle Schlicht, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 9:45.28
Dylan Hedges, Lawrence, 9:46.87
Peter Friedel, Shawnee Mission South, 9:47.68
Zach Zarda, Maranatha Academy, 9:47.9
Aaron Thornburg, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 9:48.30
Tim O’Connell, Andover, 9:48.30
110 Hurdles
Keith Hayes, Wichita Southeast, 13.87
Aaron Sawyer, Shawnee Mission North, 13.98
Jonathan Walker, Bonner Springs, 14.10
Lawson Montgomery, Bennington, 14.20
Ryan Haswell, Andover, 14.45
Andrew Pennington, Shawnee Mission East, 14.54
Todd McKown, Valley Center, 14.54
Zach Roberts, Newton, 14.60
Brian Snyder, Jayhawk Linn, 14.60
Meshach Kennedy, Derby, 14.60
300 Hurdles
Keith Hayes, Wichita Southeast, 38.10
Lawson Montgomery, Bennington, 38.90
Andrew Pennington, Shawnee Mission East, 38.99
Ryan Haswell, Andover, 39.10
Tom McKown, Valley Center, 39.30
Tanner Hagerman, Cheney, 39.37
RJ Saunders, Louisburg, 39.37
Zach Roberts, Newton, 39.50
4x100 Relay
Wichita Heights, 42.40
Wichita Southeast, 42.40
Newton, 42.50
Hutchinson, 42.70
Bonner Springs, 42.77
Olathe South, 43.01
Great Bend, 43.09
Dodge City, 43.10
4x400 Relay
Shawnee Mission East, 3:21.69
Wichita Southeast, 3:22.50
Wichita Heights, 3:23.10
Maize, 3:24.00
Hutchinson, 3:24.60
Garden City, 3:25.10
Chapman, 3:25.50
Newton, 3:25.90
4x800 Relay
St. Thomas Aquinas, 8:13.10
Wichita Southeast, 8:14.90
Olathe East, 8:15.09
Garden City, 8:16.60
Derby, 8:18.00
Wichita Campus, 8:18.90
Shawnee Mission West, 8:19.70
Salina Central, 8:20.20
Shot Put
John Talbert, Kansas City East Christian, 57-7
Zach Puetz, Garden Plain, 56-11 3/4
Tracy Ford, Cunningham, 56-2
Sam Belcha, Ottawa, 55-7 1/2
Jeremy Postin, Andover, 55-2
John Binning, Rawlins County, 54-3 1/2
Walt Woolwine, Ashland, 54-1 3/4
Bryan Moten, Sumner Academy, 54-1
Zach Bahr, Topeka Seaman, 54-1
Discus
John Talbert, Kansas City East, 213-1
Joe Bach, Liberal, 186-10
Zach Puetz, Garden Plain, 176-6
Jordan Voelker, Newton, 174-10
Josh Dauer, Smoky Valley, 168-5
Jeff Woods, Louisburg, 168-4
Reidel, Andover, 166-10
Justin Holmes, Shawnee Mission South, 164-10
Javelin
Johannes Swanepool, Shawnee Mission South, 216-8
Matt Byers, Wichita East, 206-10
Jesse Vaughn, Shawnee Heights, 199-4
Chris Ronen, Newton, 196-8
Dustin Weissbeck, Topeka Hayden, 191-10
Calvin Hughes, Scott City, 190-8
Jordan Broxterman, Frankfort, 187-11
Mark Kolmer, Emporia, 185-5
Long Jump
Richard McCoy, Blue Valley West, 24-7 1/2
Andre Linzy, De Soto, 24-0
Matt Sittenauer, Mill Valley, 22-11
Reggie Harris, Olathe South, 22-9
Jawanza Poland, Wichita East, 22-7
Cameron Taylor, Bishop Miege, 22-5
Hayden Groves, Olathe East, 22-4
Mikel Bethea, Chase, 22-3
Triple Jump
Floyd Ross, Leavenworth, 46-7 1/4
Mikel Bethea, Chase, 46-6
Romaine Green, Wichita Southeast, 46-6
Austin Bahner, Wichita Heights, 45-4
Mike Flores, Maize, 45-1 1/2
Kansas Mumford, Quivira Heights, 45-0
Harris, Olathe South, 44-10
Richard McCoy, Blue Valley West, 44-9
Andre Linzy, De Soto, 44-8
Cameron Taylor, Bishop Miege, 44-6 1/2
High Jump
Jordan Bicknell, Pittsburg, 6-9
Mike Bethea, Chase, 6-8
Nick Canton, Fowler, 6-8
Chase Keyser, Galena, 6-7
Cameron Taylor, Bishop Miege, 6-6
Brandon Childs, Emporia, 6-6
Marcus Calleja, Liberal, 6-6
Johnny Webb, Girard, 6-6
Curran Darling, Shawnee Mission East, 6-6
Chelemedoa, Scott City, 6-6
Caraway, Topeka Highland Park, 6-6
Buck, Medicine Lodge, 6-6
Pole Vault
Isaac Mallory, Gardner-Edgerton, 15-6 1/2
Will Wright, Augusta, 14-6
Scott Duesing, Garden City, 14-6
Kyle Horsch, Andale, 14-4
Nate Arnold, Bishop Carroll, 14-3
Casey Bowen, Gardner-Edgerton, 14-1
Justin Hickey, Cheney, 14-1
Caydrick Bloomquist, Emporia, 14-0
Trenton Oborny, Hays, 14-0
Michael Baalmann, Andale, 14-0
Cade Hewitt, Beloit, 14-0
Nico Yoch, Shawnee Mission North, 14-0
Toby Boese, Dodge City, 14-0
Kansas Girls Track and Field Leaders
100 Meters
Audacia Moore, Wichita Heights, 11.87
Qashanda Boyles, Topeka High, 11.90
Whitney Taylor, Ellis, 11.90
Kim Haberman, Thomas More Prep, 12.00
Breeana Coleman, Olathe East, 12.09
Ashley Smith, Paola, 12.20
Kirsten Reichardt, Topeka Seaman, 12.28
Lenia Goff, Kansas City Piper, 12.30
Morgan Armbruster, Buhler, 12.30
Ashli Dryden, Hays, 12.30
Sylvia Alexander, Wichita Southeast, 12.30
Shamoya Pruitt, Wichita South, 12.30
200 Meters
Audacia Moore, Wichita Heights, 24.80
Kim Haberman, Thomas More Prep, 25.28
Qashanda Boyles, Topeka High, 25.44
Jackie Jacobs, St. Thomas Aquinas, 25.52
Tiffany Bias, Andover Central, 25.52
LaShada Sims, Leavenworth, 25.63
Sylvia Alexander, Wichita Southeast, 25.70
Jodi Mundy, Santa Fe Trail, 25.80
Breanna Coleman, Olathe East, 25.80
Whitney Taylor, Ellis, 25.80
Sierra Gant, Wichita Independent, 25.80
Karina Expose, Leavenworth, 25.80
400 Meters
Micala Jamison, Hoisington, 58.20
Tamara Gagne, Wichita Southeast, 58.60
Kristina Taylor, Lawrence, 58.60
Tiffany Bias, Andover Central, 58.75
Karly Buer, Concordia, 58.80
Kristen Gillespie, Shawnee Mission South, 59.05
Kay Riedl, El Dorado, 59.30
Karina Expose, Leavenworth, 59.40
800 Meters
Laura Nightengale, El Dorado, 2:15.48
Kristin Gillespie, Shawnee Mission South, 2:16.67
Laura Roxberg, Blue Valley Northwest, 2:18.12
Annie Martin, Riley County, 2:18.90
Laura Lee Baird, Norton, 2:19.15
Kaley Temaat, Dodge City, 2:20.10
Emilee Morris, Hutchinson, 2:20.27
Jennifer Taylor, Lawrence, 2:20.40
1,600 Meters
Laura Roxberg, Blue Valley Northwest, 4:59.70
Heather Garcia, Baldwin, 5:03.40
Cali George, Gardner-Edgerton, 5:07.30
Laura Nightengale, El Dorado, 5:07.34
Marley Crusch, Manhattan, 5:09.20
Annie Martin, Riley County, 5:09.20
Emilee Morris, Hutchinson, 5:09.31
Cori Christensen, Medicine Lodge, 5:14.30
3,200 Meters
Marley Crusch, Manhattan, 11:01.59
Michaela Reynolds, Emporia, 11:12.54
Heather Garcia, Baldwin, 11:12.70
Laura Roxberg, Blue Valley Northwest, 11:13.90
Cali George, Gardner-Edgerton, 11:14.65
Katie Mona, Olathe Northwest, 11:14.67
Kyra Kilwien, Lawrence Free State, 11:18.20
BreAnna Briggs, Wamego, 11:22.70
100 Hurdles
Witney Sorell, Concordia, 14.60
Kasha McDougald, Junction City, 14.70
Breeana Coleman, Olathe East, 14.75
Kristen Fleharty, Hays, 14.81
Brittany Harding, Olathe South, 14.99
Alex Muff, Concordia, 15.00
Ashley Schwemmer, Augusta, 15.10
LeTristan Pledger, Kansas City Washington, 15.10
300 Hurdles
Emily Ballock, Eudora, 44.10
Clarissa Johnson, Gardner-Edgerton, 44.80
Witney Sorell, Concordia, 45.00
Sydnee Crimmins, Clay Center, 45.70
Jill Kurtz, Chapman, 45.70
Alex Muff, Concordia, 45.82
Cara Barnes, Douglass, 46.30
Hannah Tjaden, Clearwater, 46.60
4x100 Relay
Wichita Southeast, 48.00
Leavenworth, 49.06
Wichita Heights, 49.10
Topeka High, 49.15
Olathe East, 49.64
Concordia, 50.20
Andover Central, 50.25
Salina Central, 50.50
4x400 Relay
Leavenworth, 3:59.83
Concordia, 4:01.04
Wichita Southeast, 4:03.50
Washburn Rural, 4:05.15
Shawnee Mission South, 4:07.33
Hutchinson, 4:07.63
Maize, 4:08.70
Kansas City Piper, 4:08.90
4x800 Relay
Shawnee Mission South, 9:51.98
Shawnee Mission East, 9:52.61
St. Thomas Aquinas, 9:52.83
Manhattan, 9:54.54
Lawrence, 9:58.50
Wamego, 10:01.90
Wellsville, 10:05.00
Riley County, 10:05.60
Shot Put
Kearsten Peoples, Ottawa, 47-3 3/4
Jacquelyne Leffler, Northern Heights, 46-3
Alex Hartig, Great Bend, 45-3 3/4
Hayli Bozarth, Norton, 45-3 1/2
Micah Wesley, Topeka High, 45-3
Jacquelyne Leffler, Northern Heights, 45-0
Roni Grizzle, Tonganoxie, 43-5 3/4
Jenna Koch, Smoky Valley, 41-5
Discus
Jacquelyne Leffler, Northern Heights, 162-4
Jenna Koch, Smoky Valley, 151-9
Alex Hartig, Great Bend, 151-6
Hayli Bozarth, Norton, 143-4
Kara McFarland, Ottawa, 141-1
Cheyenne Rhoads, Nemaha Valley, 138-2
Sara Miller, Rawlins County, 137-4
Lissa Mazanec, Colby, 135-8
Javelin
Heather Bergmann, Concordia, 165-6
Roxi Grizzle, Tonganoxie, 163-11
Katelyn Penner, Labette County, 147-3
Hailey Twietmeyer, Cheney, 144-2
Allison Mayfield, St. Thomas Aquinas, 138-10
Andrea Markel, Pretty Prairie, 138-8
Alex Hartig, Great Bend, 136-6
Andrea Hoke, Lyndon, 133-4
Long Jump
Kim Haberman, Thomas More Prep, 18-8
Tanya Friesen, Buhler, 18-4 3/4
Sarah Buschmann, Blue Valley West, 18-1
Bohling, Halstead, 17-10 1/4
Taylor Dawson, Jayhawk Linn, 17-9 3/4
Abreanna Parker, Shawnee Heights, 17-9 3/4
Kattie Porter, Goddard, 17-8 1/2
Kelsey Cranford, Flint Hills, 17-7 1/2
Triple Jump
Kim Haberman, Thomas More Prep, 38-8 1/2
Ashley Reid, Olathe East, 38-0
Sarah Buschmann, Blue Valley West, 37-5 1/4
Witney Sorell, Concordia, 37-0 1/2
Courtney Reinke, Olathe East, 37-0 1/2
Tanya Friesen, Buhler, 36-11 1/2
Dakota Kaufman, Hillsboro, 36-8
Katelyn Schmidtberger, Sacred Heart, 36-3 1/2
Macy Migchelbrink, Atwood Rawlins County, 36-3
Arien Cox, Salina Central, 36-3
High Jump
Colleen O’Brien, Louisburg, 5-8
J’Lynn Ledesma, Wellington, 5-8
Allison Mayfield, St. Thomas Aquinas, 5-7
Ashley Reid, Olathe East, 5-6
Amanda LeWallen, Quivira Heights, 5-5
Shanise Rice, Medicine Lodge, 5-5
Paige Peltzer, Atchison, 5-4
Whitney Taylor, Ellis, 5-4
Jasa Dumontelle, Mill Valley, 5-4
Shelby Doehling, Manhattan, 5-4
Emily Lucas, Sublette, 5-4
Tahlia Pope, Wichita Heights, 5-4
Melissa Hartsel, Concordia, 5-4
Pole Vault
Jamie House, El Dorado, 11-7
Christine Botteron, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 11-6
Cara Detmer, Bishop Carroll, 11-00
Abby Rowland, Andale, 11-0
Emmy Lehman, Gardner-Edgerton, 10-11 3/4
Haley Bowers, Concordia, 10-9
Shalee Ratliff, Chanute, 10-8
Katie Gillmore, 10-8