Track preview: a look at the top athletes competing for state titles in Wichita

Top 10 boys teams

1. Bishop Carroll

State Finish: First, Class 5A

2. Hutchinson

Eighth, Class 6A

3. Andale

Third, Class 4A

4. Buhler

First, Class 4A

5. Wichita South

Fourth, Class 6A

6. Campus

Third, Class 6A

7. Newton

14th, Class 5A

8. Garden Plain

Second, Class 3A

9. Hesston

State Finish: Ninth, Class 3A

10. Eisenhower

10th, Class 5A

Top 10 girls teams

1. Andale

State Finish: First, Class 4A

2. Newton

First, Class 5A

3. Bishop Carroll

Seventh, Class 5A

4. Hutchinson

Fourth, Class 6A

5. McPherson

Third, Class 4A

6. Maize

11th, Class 5A

7. Cheney

Fourth, Class 3A

8. Augusta

Eighth, Class 4A

9. Garden Plain

Sixth, Class 3A

10. Eisenhower

14th, Class 5A

Top 10 boys

1. Deron Dudley - Wichita South, Sr., sprints

Defending 6A 100-meter state champ after beating a loaded field at 10.59 seconds and earning All-Metro honors.

2. Xavier Sellers - Wichita West, Sr., sprints

Sellers will rival Dudley all season through the Class 6A state meet.

3. Caleb Grill - Maize, Sr., high jump

Set the Maize school record with a 6-foot-7 high jump in first meet of year.

4. Ethan Hull - Bishop Carroll, Sr., pole vault

His 15-1 mark won last year’s Class 5A pole vault title.

5. Tayeshan Crough - Hutchinson, Jr., hurdles

Only two-event champion on this list: won the 110 (14.45) and 300 (38.66) hurdles last year.

6. Marcus Hicks - Wichita Northwest, Sr., throws

Fourth in Class 6A discus (159-7) and fifth in shot put (50-1.25) last year. Committed to OU for football.

7. Josh Carter - Wichita Northwest, Sr., throws

Runner-up in 6A shot put last year at 52-5.75. Committed to Southwestern College for football.

8. Trey Patterson - Cheney, Sr., javelin

Threw 202-5 in 3A prelims but dropped to 183-6 and finished fourth. Committed to Nebraska.

9. Larry Wilson - Valley Center, Sr., sprints

Third in 100 meters (5A) last year at 11.12 seconds.

10. Jacob Schmitz - Kapaun, Sr., throws

Won 5A discus at state in 2018, at 165-9.

Top 10 girls

1. Maggie Remsberg - Newton, Sr., hurdles/sprints/jumps

Top two in four events at state in 2018. Defending 5A 100-meter hurdles champ. Will attend Colorado-Colorado Springs.

2. Kalli Anderson - Newton, Sr., sprints

Runner-up in the 100 (11.91) and 200 (25.10) and won state title as part of Newton’s 4x100 relay at 47.81.

3. Layne Needham - Cheney, Sr., sprints/hurdles

Returning two-event champ and four-event qualifier. Won 100-meter hurdles (15.34) and 300-meter hurdles (45.68).

4. Emma Ruddle - McPherson, Jr., sprints/hurdles

Defending two-event champ: won 4A 100 (12.37) and 100-meter hurdles (14.39).

5. Kindel Nordhus - Bishop Carroll, Sr., hurdles/long jump

Defending 5A 300-meter hurdles champ (44.94).

6. Isabella Hohl - Bishop Carroll, Sr., sprints

Top-eight at state in 2018 in four events: 100, 200, 4x100, 4x400. Committed to Washburn.

7. Taylor Linn - Bishop Carroll, Sr., pole vault

Won 5A pole vault last year at 10-6. Will attend Fort Hays State next.

8. Abbee Rhodes - Augusta, Sr., throws

Defending 4A state shot put champ at 42-6.75. Committed to Texas Tech.

9. Aimee Davis - Clearwater, Jr., distance

Finished fourth in 1,600 (5:27.45) and runner-up in 3,200 (11:22.15).

10. Katelyn Fairchild - Andale, So., throws

Fourth in 4A javelin (139-8), sixth in shot (36-2.75), sixth in discus (122-9).

Five storylines

Replacing icons

Wichita South’s Philip Landrum and Southeast’s Christal Mosely have graduated.

The two felt as if they were tearing up Kansas high school tracks for decades, but they are gone now. Last year, the two combined for eight top four finishes at last year’s state meet.

Landrum and Mosely became City League poster children but must be replaced. Southeast junior Sariah Sumpter and South’s Deron Dudley appear to be the most likely to succeed them.

Four on the cards

The Newton seniors have a shot to go every year with a state championship.

The Railers have captured three straight Class 5A girls track titles. Last year, they beat St. James Academy 87-76. This year, they figure to battle against Mill Valley and Bishop Carroll.

Standouts like seniors Maggie Remsberg and Kalli Anderson, and freshman Savannah Garcia.

Looking to repeat

In Kansas’ top two classifications over the past decade, there have been five repeat boys team champions.

Bishop Carroll is looking to become the sixth after winning the Class 5A title 119-79 over Shawnee Heights. The Golden Eagles won four individual titles and bring back only one in pole vaulter Ethan Hull.

Keep an eye on senior Jack Ebright, senior Matthew Harding and junior Phoenix Smith to carry the load.

Continuing legacy

One of the Wichita area’s most accomplished and respected track coaches has stepped down.

Andale’s Greg Smarsh won his second straight state title last year, leading the Indians to a 90-74 win over Paola and the field. His daughter Abby Smarsh graduated after winning three event titles as a senior.

Tyler Ryan has been named the next Andale coach and will look to take over in route to the school’s 12th track state championship.

6A sprints

Last year, four sprinters finished the Class 6A 100-meter dash in under 10.90 seconds.

Wichita South’s Deron Dudley returns to defend his title after a 10.59. South’s Philip Landrum and Southeast’s Ollie McGee have moved on.

West senior Xavier Sellers, Blue Valley West’s Nevan Tebb-Lolar and South’s Nicomus Craig will figure into what was the most electric event at the Kansas state track meet in 2018.

This story was originally published March 26, 2019 at 12:47 PM.