The century's best athletes, school by school
The idea was simple enough. Ask each Kansas high school for the name of their greatest track and field athlete.
What we should've realized was how many coaches couldn't choose between athletes, much like they couldn't choose between children.
But more than 250 coaches or athletic directors did come up with one name, which you see in this list along with the person's track speciality.
Around 100 coaches or ADs did not respond to multiple requests from The Eagle.
Andale: Gordon Stockemer, Throws
Anderson County: Darrell Erhardt, Hurdles
Andover Central: Tiffany Bias, Sprints
Andover: Charity Swartz, Distance
Arkansas City: Matt Gee, Throws
Ashland: Bill Grimes, Sprints
Atchison County: Julie Gilkison, Hurdles/Sprints
Atchison: George Ross, Sprints
Attica: Mike Heath, Jumps
Augusta: Kent Adams, Sprints
Axtell: Fred Gee, Sprints/Jumps
Baileyville: Darci Schmitz, Sprints/Jumps
Baldwin: Heather Garcia, Distance
Basehor-Linwood: Dawn Steele, Sprints/Hurdles
Belle Plaine: Amanda Callaway, Distance
Beloit St. John’s: Lindsay Eck, Hurdles
Beloit: Casey Seyfert, Throws
Berean Academy: Jon Dyck, Sprints
Bern: Nicole Grose, Sprints
Bishop Carroll: Trina Brugner, Distance
Blue Valley: Steve Dew, Hurdles/Jumps
Bluestem: Mike Harge, Sprints
Brewster: Mike Dawes, Distance
Bucklin: Kelsey Erb, Jumps
Buhler: Lorraine Davidson, Sprints
Burlingame: Mark Traphagan, Sprints
Burlington: Katie Guevel, Sprints/Hurdles
Burrton: Samantha Hurst, Distance
BV Northwest: Laura Roxberg, Distance
BV West: Sararh Buschmann, Jumps
Caldwell: Susan Neal, Distance
Campus: Brent Wiseman, Sprints/Jumps
Central Heights: Vincent Wuertz, Jumps
Centralia: Todd Polson, Sprints
Centre: Jennifer Hanschu, Sprints
Chanute: Cris Hall, Hurdles/Jumps
Chapman: Troy Williams, Sprints
Chase: Staci Keesling, Throws
Cheney: Tonya Jopp, Sprints
Cimarron: Roger Timken, Hurdles/Sprints
Claflin: Jackie Stiles, Distance
Clay Center: Ken Swenson, Distance
Clearwater: Mallory Champa, Distance
Clifton-Clyde: Shelly Bowman, Sprints
Coffeyville: Aaron Lang, Sprints
Colby: Jerry James, Distance
Coldwater: Renae Bumgarner, Hurdles
Concordia: Tabi Robbins, Throws
Conway Springs: Amy King, Sprints
Cottonwood Falls-Chase County:
Council Grove: Connie Long, Jumps
Deerfield: A.J. Beaudry, Sprints/Hurdles
Derby: Billy Campfield, Sprints
DeSoto : Casey Johnson, Distance
Dighton: Charmane Smith, Sprints/Jumps
Dodge City: Tim Robinson, Distance
Douglass: Cara Barnes, Hurdles
El Dorado: Troy Brown, Sprints/Hurdles
Elkhart: Glenn Cunningham, Distance
Ell-Saline: Mariah Jones, Jumps/Sprints
Ellis: Brenda Beecher, Sprints
Ellsworth: Shawnee Call, Hurdles/Sprints
Eudora: Emily Bullock, Hurdles
Eureka: Greg Purkeypile, Distance
Fairfield: Kristi Reinhart, Jumps
Flinthills: Garrett Breech, Sprints/Jumps
Fort Scott: Rosalyn Nelson, Sprints/Jumps
Fowler: Nick Canton, Jumps
Frankfort: Angie Miller, Throws
Fredonia: Janell Smith, Distance
Frontenac: Archie San Romani, Distance
Galena: David Qualls, Sprints
Garden City: Latisha Brown, Jumps
Garden Plain: Jim Bausch, Sprints/Throws
Gardner-Edgerton: Jeff Buckingham, Jumps
Goddard: Sharlee Beiter, Sprints/Hurdles
Goodland: Rich Felver, Sprints
Great Bend: Bobby Williams, Sprints/Jumps
Greeley County: Shad Mangan, Jumps
Greensburg: Cherith Unruh, Sprints
Grinnell: Jacque Struckhoff, Distance
Halstead: Stacy Keller, Sprints
Hartford: Pat Foraker, Distance
Haven: Brad Nachtigal, Jumps
Haviland: Harold Bryant, Hurdles/Sprints
Hays: Dale Alexander, Sprints
Herington: Marci Vansholtz, Sprints
Hesston: Justin Rempel, Distance
Highland Park: Joslyn Bentley, Sprints
Hillsboro: Angie Helmer, Sprints
Hoisington: Bill Kimble, Sprints/Hurdles
Holcomb: Melissa Henry, Jumps/Hurdles
Hope: Ann Riedy, Sprints
Horton: Lachelle Hartley, Javelin
Hutchinson Central Christian: Jonathan Hilton, Hurdles/Jumps
Hutchinson Trinity: Ryan Ketchum, Throws
Hutchinson: Morgan Bonds, Distance/Jumps
Independence: Charles Tidwell, Sprints
Inman: Jill Swisher, Jumps
Iola: Terry Catron, Sprints
Jackson Heights: Shannon Daily, Sprints/Distance
Jefferson North: Beth Sittenauer, Sprints
Jefferson West: Briar Ploude, Jumps
Junction City St. Xavier:
Junction City: Kim Milleson, Hurdles
Kapaun Mount Carmel: 1983 boys 3200 relay team
KC Harmon: Brett Starr, Sprints
KC Piper: Danyelle Cole, Sprints
KC Schlagle: Maurice Greene, Sprints
KC Turner: Keyon Harrison, Sprints
KC Washington: Wendell Gaskin, Sprints
KC Wyandotte: Steve Stubblefield, Jumps
Kingman: Justin Watkins, Sprints
Labette County: Janet Treiber, Distance
Lakeside: Mike Becker, Distance
Lansing: Dean Herzog, Jumps
Larned: Lori Reep, Sprints/Hurdles
Lawrence Free State: Alysha Valencia, Distance
Lawrence: Bill Nieder, Throws
Leavenworth Immaculata: Dick McGlinn, Sprints
Leavenworth: Melvin Lister, Jumps/Sprints
Lebo: Matt Thorne, Throws
Lenexa St. James: Bay Abbott, Distance
Leoti: Levi Gillen, Sprints/Jumps
Liberal: Melvin Sanders, Jumps
Lincoln: Leesa Wallace, Sprints
Linn: Danielle Sedivy, Sprints
Little River: Sandra Myers, Sprints
Logan: Kelly Pakkebier, Sprints
Louisburg: Jason Burke, Sprints/Jumps
Lyndon: Andrea Hoke, Throws
Lyons: Darryl Thornton, Sprints/Hurdles
Macksville: Jenna Wood, Distance
Maize: Liz Kramer, Distance
Marais Des Cygnes Valley:
Marion: Julia Zeiner, Jumps
Marysville: Kendra Wecker, Throws/Sprints
McPherson: Adam Porter, Distance
Meade: Kenneth Covert, Sprints
Medicine Lodge: Cori Christensen, Distance
Minneapolis: Lori Meredith, Sprints
Mission Valley: Ron Huske, Throws
Moscow: Brandi Broaddus, Throws
Moundridge: Mark Bartel, Sprints/Hurdles
Mulvane: Brandon Butts, Sprints
NE-Arma: Karl Wicker, Distance
Neodesha: Lane Bailey, Sprints
Newton: Henry Wiebe, Sprints
Northern Heights: Jacquelyne Leffler, Throws
Northern Valley: Travis Vallin, Sprints/Hurdles
Norton: Neal Philpot, Throws
Norwich: Lori Lowrey, Hurdles
Oberlin: Sam Francis, Throws
Olathe East: Danielle McCray, Throws/Jumps
Olathe North: Eniak Mpwo, Sprints
Olathe Northwest: Katlyn Merrill, Jumps
Olathe South: Amanda Pape, Distance
Onaga: Janet Haskin, Distance
Osage City: Anna Stadel, Sprints/Throws
Osborne: Jolene Mick, Distance
Oskaloosa: Lisa Cropper, Jumps
Ottawa: Kathy Hodges, Distance
Palco: Wesley Landis, Sprints/Jumps
Paola: Joe Stephens, Hurdles/Sprints
Pawnee Heights: Christian Smith, Distance
Perry-Lecompton: Heidi Yost, Jumps
Phillipsburg: John Mason, Distance
Pike Valley: Keith Blanding, Sprints/Jumps
Pittsburg Colgan: Charlie Gilmore, Sprints
Plainville: Aubrey Frederking, Distance
Pleasant Ridge: Kirk Culbertson, Throws
Pleasanton: Amy Allen, Sprints/Jumps
Pomona: Dakota Criqui, Distance
Pratt Skyline: Kari Jones, Jumps/Throws
Pratt: Ashley Melichar, Sprints
Protection: Nathan Leeper, Jumps
Quinter: Scott Huffman, Jumps
Quivira Heights: Mike Lumpkins, Sprints/Jumps
Rawlins County: Cristy Ruda, Sprints
Remington: Kris Sommers, Hurdles/Jumps
Riley County: Amy Mortimer, Distance
Riverton: Monte Weathers, Sprints
Rock Hills: Sam Colson, Throws
Rolla: Junior Vasquez, Distance
Rose Hill: Tracy Ames, Jumps
Russell: Andrea Holloway, Throws
Sabetha: Mike Spielman, Distance
Salina Central: Ashley Keats, Sprints/Jumps
Salina Sacred Heart: Jim Neihouse, Distance
Salina South: Alyson Deckert, Distance
Scott City: Jennifer Gruver, Hurdles/Jumps
SE-Cherokee: Nick Renfro, Hurdles
SE-Saline: Steve Fritz, Jumps/Hurdles
Sedgwick: Brian Moorman, Hurdles
Sharon Springs: Hallie Kuhlman, Sprints
Shawnee Heights: Trisa Nickoley, Distance
Shawnee Maranatha: Zachary Zarda, Distance
Shawnee Mill Valley: Justin Woods, Sprints
Silver Lake: Cary Deiter, Sprints
SM East: Doug Hedrick, Hurdles/Sprints
SM North: Bob Bornkessell, Hurdles
SM Northwest: Steve Fein, Distance
SM South: Clint Johnson, Throws
SM West: Cathy Saxon, Distance
Smoky Valley: Tim Bishop, Distance
South Central: Bryce Reimer, Sprints
Southwestern Heights: Jon Handy, Distance
Spearville: Melanie McDaniel, Sprints/Jumps
Spring Hill: Allison Key, Sprints
St. Francis: Jenny Cassidy, Distance
St. Marys: Jeanette Mott, Sprints/Distance
St. Paul: Natalie Noe, Sprints
St. Thomas Aquinas: Drew Morano, Sprints
Stafford: Jon McClure, Distance
Stanton County: Dody Martin, Distance
Sterling: Rene Zimmerman, Hurdles/Jumps
Stockton: Joel McReynolds, Sprints/Jumps
Sublette: Shalee Lehning, Sprints/Throws
Syracuse: Barry Brown, Sprints/Hurdles
Thomas More Prep: Kim Haberman, Sprints/Jumps
Thunder Ridge: Spencer Levin, Throws
Tipton: Brian Zachgo, Sprints/Hurdles
Tonganoxie: Roxie Grizzle, Throws
Topeka Hayden: Dan O’Mara, Throws/Sprints
Topeka Seaman: Julie Howerton, Distance
Topeka West: Lori Green, Sprints
Topeka: Clardy Vinson, Distance
Troy: Terry Karn, Jumps
Ulysses: Jill Wood, Distance
Uniontown: Abbie Smith, Hurdles/Jumps
Valley Center: Brandon Clark, Sprints/Jumps
Valley Falls: Tyson Allen, Jumps
Valley Heights: Lacey Palmateer, Throws
Victoria: Rachelle Geist, Throws
Wabaunsee: Larry Schwalm, Sprints/Hurdles
WaKeeney: Robert Spies, Sprints/Jumps
Wakefield: Kristi Kitchner, Jumps
Wathena: Tonya Drake, Hurdles
Wellington: Tim Lira, Sprints
Wellsville: Emily Bloss, Sprints
Weskan: Todd Okeson, Jumps
West Elk: Sonny Lee, Sprints/Jumps
West Franklin: Rose Griffin, Sprints/Hurdles
Western Plains: Nolan Cromwell, Sprints/Jumps
Wheatland: Cheryl Ladenburger, Sprints
Wichita Collegiate: Matt Norton, Sprints/Distance
Wichita East: Jim Ryun, Distance
Wichita Heights: 2005 boys 3200 relay team
Wichita Independent: Richard Cairns, Sprints
Wichita North: Bob Barratti, Distance
Wichita Northwest: Robbie Martinez-Garcia, Distance
Wichita South: Veryl Crawford, Jumps
Wichita Southeast: Sylvester Cowans, Hurdles/Sprints
Wichita Trinity: Cooper Hanning, Hurdles/Sprints
Wichita West: Tyrone Watkins, Sprints
Williamsburg: Shanna Shoemaker, Jumps
Wilson: John Kuck, Throws
Winfield: Floyd Shaw, Sprints.
This story was originally published May 28, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "The century's best athletes, school by school."