Kansas: Clifton Strives For More

After sweeping 6A individual state titles in tennis and cross country last fall, Topeka Washburn Rural’s Avery Clifton appears to be headed down that same road again this spring. The Blues senior is the odds on favorite to sweep the distance events at this month’s state track and field meet in Wichita.

Clifton, whose season best 2:22.40 time over 800 meters is about a second too slow to make Kansas’ top 7 in that event, leads the state’s track and field leader board in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs so far this season.

The 2008 Kansas Gatorade runner of the year, following the cross country season last fall, has turned in a 5-minute, 4.77-second clocking so far this season in the 1,600-meter run, and has run a 10:40.09 3200-meters in 2009. Clifton has consistently turned in sub-11 minute times in the longer of the two races.

She has also run lead off and anchor legs on the Blues’ third ranked 4x800 relay team that has turned in a season best 10:00.96.



Wichita Kapaun Mount Carmel’s Mackenzie Maki stands second behind Clifton in both events, and trails Maize’s Danielle Walker in the 800 meters. Blue Valley North’s Erin Beck rounds out the top three runners in the 1,600 meters, while Wamego stand out BreAnna Briggs ranks third in the 3,200 meters.

Here is a look at the latest Kansas boys and girls state track and field leader boards;

Kansas Girls Track and Field Leaders

100 Meters- 1. Breanna Coleman, Olathe East, 11.50; 2.Chelsey Borders, Olathe East, 11.90; 2. Danyelle Cole, Kansas City-Piper, 11.90; 4. Abreanna Parker, Shawnee Heights, 12.10; 5. Marqueita Marisette, Topeka High, 12.13; 6. Shamoya Pruitt, Wichita South, 12.14; 7. Megan Ingwerson, Newton, 12.20; 7. Jodi Young, Shawnee Mission North, 12.20.

200 Meters- 1. Breanna Coleman, Olathe East, 24.75; 2. Karina Expose, Leavenworth, 25.06; 3. Bayzell Davis, Leavenworth, 25.20; 4. Storm Simmons, Shawnee Mission North, 25.31; 5. Marqueita Marisette, Topeka High, 25.54; 6. Alenia Zavesky, Ellsworth, 25.60; 7. Chelsey Borders, Olathe East, 25.70; 7. Clare Bingaman, Shawnee Mission South, 25.70; 7. Toni Aguair, Shawnee Mission East, 25.70; 7. Laura Pickens, Peabody-Burns, 25.70.

400 Meters- 1. Lauren Pickens, Peabody Burns, 57.59; 2. Tiffany Bias, Andover Central, 58.43; 3. Allison Walter, Bishop Miege, 58.65; 4. Jodi Mundy, Santa Fe Trail, 59.34; 5. Karina Expose, Leavenworth, 59.43; 6. Kailea Hayes, Council Grove, 59.70; 7. Haley Allen, Gardner-Edgerton, 59.80; 7. Hailie Kuhlman, Wallace County, 59.80.

800 Meters- 1. Danielle Walker, Maize, 2:20.27; 2. Mackenzie Maki, Kapaun Mount Carmel, 2:20.67; 3. Katie Hirsch, Perry-Lecompton, 2:21.31; 3. Amanda Callaway, Belle Plaine, 2:21.31; 5. BreAnna Briggs, Wamego, 2:21.72; 6. Laura Lee Baird, Norton, 2:21.74; 7. Mallory Kirby, Shawnee Mission East, 2:21.83.



1600 Meters- 1. Avery Clifton, Topeka Washburn Rural, 5:04.78; 2. Mackenzie Maki, Kapaun Mount Carmel, 5:06.02; 3. Erin Beck, Blue Valley North, 5:10.65; 4. Amanda Callaway, Belle Plaine, 5:11.83; 5. Molly Milbourn, El Dorado, 5:13.00; 6. BreAnna Briggs, Wamego, 5:14.80; 7. Lisa Imgrund, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 5:15.60.

3200 Meters- 1. Avery Clifton, Topeka Washburn Rural, 10:40.09; 2. Mackenzie Maki, Kapaun Mount Carmel, 10:54.69; 3. BreAnna Briggs, Wamego, 11:13.14; 4. Lisa Imgrund, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 11:17.61; 5. Kyra Kilwien, Lawrence Free State, 11:24.19; 6. Marley Crusch, Manhattan, 11:24.80; 7. Molly Milbourn, El Dorado, 11:29.20.

100 Meter Hurdles- 1. Breanna Coleman, Olathe East, 14.10; 2. LeTristan Pledger, Kansas City-Washington, 14.59; 3. Alex Muff, Concordia, 14.80; 4. Erin Merklein, South Barber, 15.02; 5. Cara Barnes, Douglass, 15.15; 6. Rebecca Schmitt-Hartmann, Olathe North, 15.30; 6. Caitlyn Murray, Great Bend, 15.30.

300 Meter Hurdles- 1. Alex Muff, Concordia, 44.69; 2. Natalie Morerod, Gardner-Edgerton, 45.50; 3. Hannah Tjaden, Clearwater, 45.62; 4. Storm Simons, Shawnee Mission North, 45.65; 5. Chelsea Kiefer, Shawnee Mission North, 45.85; 6. Clarissa Johnson, Gardner-Edgerton, 46.10; 6. Tyler Sloan, Sumner Academy, 46.10.

4X100 Meter Relay- 1. Leavenworth, 48.38; 2. Olathe East, 48.58; 3. Wichita Southeast, 49.38; 4. Shawnee Heights, 49.40; 5. Salina Central, 49.95; 6. Kansas City-Piper, 50.00; 7. Wichita Heights, 50.10.

4X400 Meter Relay- 1. Gardner-Edgerton, 4:03.83; 2. Shawnee Mission East, 4:03.85; 3. Wichita Southeast, 4:03.96; 4. Shawnee Heights, 4:05.77; 5. Kansas City-Piper, 4:09.53; 6. Washburn Rural, 4:10.70; 7. Shawnee Mission North, 4:11.00; 7. Maize, 4:11.00.



4X800 Meter Relay- 1. Shawnee Mission East, 9:43.11; 2. Manhattan, 9:47.85; 3. Washburn Rural, 10:00.96; 4. Leavenworth, 10:05.38; 5. Blue Valley West, 10:05.80; 6. Bishop Carroll, 10:07.79; 7. Olathe East, 10:09.80.

Pole Vault- 1. Jamie House, El Dorado, 11-6; 1. Cara Detmer, Bishop Carroll, 11-6; 3. Ashley Bowman, Mill Valley, 11-0; 3. Hannah Rubin, Blue Valley Northwest, 11-0; 3. Linda Kuenzi, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 11-0; 6. Page Stuhlsatz, Garden Plain, 10-10; 7. Emmy Lehman, Gardner-Edgerton, 10-8.

High Jump- 1. J'Lynn Ledesma, Wellington, 5-8; 2. Sydney Crimmins, Clay Center, 5-5; 2. Ashley Reid, Olathe East, 5-5; 4. Erin Sughroue, Dodge City, 5-4; 4. Chinwe Ekwenriri, Garden City, 5-4; 4. Katie Loescher, Newton, 5-4; 4. Tanya Friesen, Buhler, 5-4; 4. Morgan Boore, Girard, 5-4; 4. Colleen O'Brien, Louisburg, 5-4; 4. Tahlia Pope, Wichita Heights, 5-4; 4. Taylor Goodness, Salina South, 5-4; 4. Julie Dumontelle, Mill Valley, 5-4; 4. Amanda Lewallen, Quivira Heights, 5-4; 4. Gabby Lovelace, Blue Valley North, 5-4; 4. Megan Leech, Blue Valley North, 5-4; 4. Kayla Hannam, Olathe East, 5-4; 4. Naya Owusu, Blue Valley Northwest, 5-4; 4. Jasa DuMontelle, Mill Valley, 5-4.

Long Jump- 1. LeTristan Pledger, KC-Washington, 19-4; 2. Julia Zeiner, Marion, 18-6 1/4; 3. Sarah Buschmann, Blue Valley West, 18-5; 4. Abreanna Parker, Shawnee Heights, 18-3 3/4; 5. Alyssa Kelly, Blue Valley West, 18-1 1/2; 6. Peyton Weiss, Russell, 17-8 3/4; 7. Tanya Friesen, Buhler, 17-7 1/2.

Triple Jump- 1. Courtney Reinke, Olathe East, 39-3; 2. Jamillah Bonner, Wichita Southeast, 38-10 3/4; 3. Julia Zeiner, Marion, 38-0 1/4; 4. Dakota Kaufman, Hillsboro, 38-0; 5. Ashley Reid, Olathe East, 37-10 3/4; 6. Sarah Buschmann, Blue Valley West, 37-9 1/2; 7. Edin VanAnne, Chanute, 37-7 1/2.

Shot Put- 1. Kearsten Peoples, Ottawa, 46-7 1/2; 2. Hayli Bozarth, Norton, 44-4 1/4; 3. Emily Cook, Kapaun Mount Carmel, 44-2; 4. Roni Grizzle, Tonganoxie, 43-9; 5. Alex Hartig, Great Bend, 42-10; 6. Chey Harper, Leavenworth, 42-8; 7. Erica Brand, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 42-3.



Discus- 1. Erica Brand, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 142-8; 2. Heather Bergmann, Concordia, 140-0; 3. Alix Richards, Shawnee Mission South, 138-3; 4. Alex Hartig, Great Bend, 137-11; 5. Sadie Sunram, Salina Central, 136-9; 6. Chey Harper, Leavenworth, 136-3; 7. Ruelynn Pearson, Emporia, 134-10.

Javelin- 1. Heather Bergmann, Concordia, 148-5; 2. Amber Kloster, Pittsburg, 143-7; 3. Roni Grizzle, Tonganoxie, 140-0; 4. Lindsey Curtis, Manhattan, 139-0; 5. Hailey Twietmeyer, Cheney, 138-10; 6. Whitney St. Clair, Smith Center, 131-5; 7. Barb Wellner, Girard, 130-8; 7. Chelsey Rottinghaus, Baileyville B&B, 130-8.

Kansas Boys Track and Field Leaders

100 Meters- 1. Morgan Burns, Wichita Trinity Academy, 10.42; 2. Duone Maxwell, Kansas City-Washington, 10.50; 3. Mpoyo Mulongo, Olathe East, 10.60; 3. Grant Loescher, Newton, 10.60; 3. Chris Clarke, Shawnee Mission East, 10.60; 3. Adonis Saunders, Olathe North, 10.60; 7. Oliver Bradwell, Wichita East, 10.62.

200 Meters- 1. Morgan Burns, Wichita Trinity Academy, 21.67; 2. Justin Moore, Wichita Heights, 21.80; 3. Grant Loescher, Newton, 21.90; 3. Nathaniel Martens, Newton, 21.90; 3. Oliver Bradwell, Wichita East, 21.90; 3. Antonio Smith, Paola, 21.90; 7. Shawn Smith, Olathe Northwest, 21.97.

400 Meters- 1. Nate Southard, Pratt, 49.10; 2. Kurt Pauly, Garden Plain, 49.47; 3. Austin Riggs, Pittsburg-Colgan, 49.60; 4. Mike Flores, Maize, 49.76; 5. Miles Ukaoma, Maize, 49.80; 5. Sonny Lee, West Elk, 49.80; 5. Morgan Burns, Wichita Trinity, 49.80; 5. Tyler Bartee, Osage City, 49.80.

800 Meters- 1. Adam Porter, McPherson, 1:54.60; 2. Derrick Perry, Topeka West, 1:56.73; 3. Scott Nelson, Manhattan, 1:57.35; 4. Brendan Soucie, Osawatomie, 1:57.57; 5. Connor Wright, Baldwin, 1:57.85; 6. Robert Segura, Topeka West, 1:58.10; 7. JD Wiebe, Lawrence Free State, 1:58.40.



1600 Meters- 1. Adam Porter, McPherson, 4:18.54; 2. PJ Greer, St. Thomas Aquinas, 4:23.65; 3. Kyle Hanson, St. Thomas Aquinas, 4:23.90; 4. Travis Boyett, Shawnee Mission West, 4:25.40; 5. Tom O'Connell, Andover, 4:25.52; 6. David Roberts, Mulvane, 4:27.46; 7. Robbie Martinez-Garcia, 4:28.00.

3200 Meters- 1. Alex Hendee, Shawnee Mission North, 9:34.41; 2. Kyle Hanson, St. Thomas Aquinas, 9:37.55; 3. PJ Greer, St. Thomas Aquinas, 9:38.13; 4. Tom O'Connell, Andover, 9:42.25; 5. Glasgow Kaupaun Mt. Carmel, 9:45.00; 6. Graham Armstrong, Manhattan, 9:45.56; 7. Aaron Thornburg, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 9:45.90.

110 Meter Hurdles- 1. Andrew Etheridge, Wichita Northwest, 14.09; 2. Jonathan Walker, Bonner Springs, 14.30; 3. Joe Stephens, Paola, 14.40; 4. Meshach Kennedy, Derby, 14.78; 5. Campbell, Manhattan, 14.80; 5. Taylor Headrick, Meade, 14.80; 5. Jake Groskurth, Derby, 14.80.

300 Meter Hurdles- 1. Robert Saunders, Olathe North, 39.14; 2. Kyle Long, Bishop Carroll, 39.21; 3. Joe Stephens, Paola, 39.50; 4. Miguel Johns, Newton, 39.60; 5. Bryce Campbell, Topeka Seaman, 39.79; 6. Antonia McFadden, Shawnee Mission South, 39.81; 7. Andrew Etheridge, Wichita Northwest, 39.90.

4X100 Meter Relay- 1. Newton, 42.70; 2. Wichita Northwest, 42.73; 3. Bonner Springs, 42.80; 4. Olathe East, 42.96; 5. Hutchinson, 42.98; 6. Shawnee Mission West, 43.00; 6. Olathe North, 43.00.

4X400 Meter Relay- 1. Shawnee Mission West, 3:23.00; 2. Shawnee Mission Northwest, 3:23.43; 3. Olathe North, 3:24.20; 4. Lawrence Free State, 3:24.64; 5. Maize, 3:25.80; 6. Olathe East, 3:25.81; 7. Leavenworth, 3:26.00.



4X800 Meter Relay- 1. Topeka West, 7:58.87; 2. Manhattan, 8:04.43; 3. Shawnee Mission Northwest, 8:10.46; 4. Wichita Northwest, 8:11.72; 5. St. Thomas Aquinas, 8:14.50; 6. Baldwin, 8:18.03; 7. Topeka West, 8:18.20.

Pole Vault- 1. Nate Arnold, Bishop Carroll, 15-3; 2. Kyle Wait, Gardner-Edgerton, 15-0; 3. Trenton Oborny, Hays, 14-6; 3. Nate Baalmann, Andale, 14-6; 3. Scott Duesing, Garden City, 14-6; 3. George Huser, Syracuse, 14-6; 7. Bryon Bridges, Halstead, 14-5 1/4; 7. Brett Gross, Bishop Carroll, 14-5 1/4; 7. Casey Bowen, Gardner-Edgerton, 14-5 1/4.

High Jump- 1. Briar Ploude, Jefferson West, 7-2; 2. Michael Hollembeak, Olathe South, 6-10; 3. Trevor Miller, Royal Valley, 6-8 1/2; 4. Justin Moore, Wichita Heights, 6-8; 4. Jordan Bicknell, Pittsburg, 6-8; 4. Nic Giancana, Topeka West, 6-8; 7. Chase Keyser, Galena, 6-7.

Long Jump- 1. Reggie Harris, Olathe South, 22-11; 2. Joe Stephens, Paola, 22-10 1/2; 3. LaDerrick Richardson, Topeka Highland Park, 22-6 1/2; 3. Jonathan Walker, Bonner Springs, 22-6 1/2; 3. Austin Fulson, Olathe East, 22-6 1/2; 6. Vernon Sublett, Louisburg, 22-5 3/4; 7. Hayden Groves, Olathe East, 22-4 1/2.

Triple Jump- 1. Joe Stephens, Paola, 46-3 1/2; 2. Austin Bahner, Wichita Heights, 46-2; 3. Vernon Sublett, Louisburg, 46-1 1/4; 4. Ebenezer Davis, Junction City, 45-5; 5. Jacob Rowe, Leavenworth, 45-3 3/4; 6. Tyler Barber, Herington, 45-0 1/2; 7. Steven Mann, Jayhawk-Linn, 45-0.

Shot Put- 1. Ryan Hershberger, Clay Center, 59-1 1/4; 2. Luke Wilson, Paola, 56-3 1/2; 3. Adam Haskin, Greensburg, 54-5 1/4; 4. Brian Heintzelman, Pleasant Ridge, 54-0; 5. Denzel Roland, Junction City, 53-4; 6. Braden Hager, Beloit, 52-10 1/4; 7. Chris Butler, Leavenworth, 52-9 1/2.



Discus- 1. Alex Roe, Maize, 172-4; 2. Ryan Hershberger, Clay Center, 168-11; 3. Tyler Rathke, Hays, 162-10; 4. Chebon Dawes, Lawrence, 162-1; 5. Luke Wilson, Paola, 159-4; 6. Robert Dunn, Manhattan, 158-8; 7. Denton Dittmer, Washington County, 157-11.

Javelin- 1. Matt Byers, Wichita East, 213-1; 2. Johannes Swanepoel, Shawnee Mission South, 209-10; 3. Jesse Vaughn, Shawnee Heights, 205-11; 4. Jake Durham, Sterling, 191-9; 5. Max Carroll, Mill Valley, 189-6; 6. Mark Kolmer, Emporia, 187-3; 7. John Rizzo, Goddard, 184-5.