Introducing the Wichita Eagle’s 2026 All-Metro girls track and field team
The Wichita Eagle has selected its All-Metro girls track and field team for the 2026 spring season, recognizing the top sprinters, distance runners, hurdlers, relays, jumpers, vaulters and throwers from Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties.
Selections were made with a heavy emphasis on postseason success from this season. The All-Metro team includes three teams, with the first team featuring the area’s top athletes.
Hesston senior Ashley Lehman was named the Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year on the All-Metro team after completing her second straight four-gold performance, winning the Class 3A titles once again in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash and pole vault.
Wichita Eagle All-Metro girls track and field
Taylor Barringer, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior
The senior finished second in the 5A 400 in 57.54 seconds and fourth in the 800 in 2:18.72, then ran a 2:15 split on Kapaun’s record-setting 3200 relay that broke the eight-year-old 5A state meet record in 9:18.71. She also ran on the Crusaders’ fifth-place 1600 relay. Barringer was a three-time state qualifier in both the 800 and 1600 and a two-time medalist in both races.
Aaliyah Bolden, Heights senior
Bolden saved her fastest 200 of the season for the state stage. The Heights senior placed third in the 6A 200 in a season-best 24.95 seconds, while also taking fourth in the 100 in 12.13 to finish as one of the top sprinters in Kansas. She was a two-time state medalist in the 200.
Ava Claassen, Kapaun Mt. Carmel sophomore
Claassen’s breakout season ended with a state meet that put her in rare Kansas company. The Kapaun sophomore swept the 5A distance titles, winning the 3200 in 10:04.27 and the 1600 in a season-best 4:45.15, with both times standing as the fastest in Kansas at the state meet. She also ripped off a 2:14 split on Kapaun’s record-setting 3200 relay, helping the Crusaders break the eight-year-old 5A state meet record in 9:18.71.
Tylee Coleman, Trinity freshman
Coleman didn’t wait long to become 3A’s toughest distance runner to beat. The Trinity freshman swept the 3A distance titles at state, winning the 3200 in 11:20.39 and the 1600 in 5:13.06. Her best times this season were even faster — 10:52.97 in the 3200 and 5:08.00 in the 1600 — after she also won the 3A cross country crown in the fall.
Lauren DeGroot, Bishop Carroll junior
DeGroot turned the 5A state meet into a four-medal showcase for Bishop Carroll. She won the 300 hurdles title in 43.98 seconds, finished third in the 100 hurdles in 15.31 and added a fifth-place finish in the long jump at 16-11.5. She also ran a 59.87 split on Carroll’s third-place 1600 relay, giving her one of the most complete state performances in 5A. She is a three-time state medalist in the 300 hurdles and two-time state medalist in the long jump.
Isabel Einwich, Heights senior
Einwich left the state meet with a perfect sweep. The Heights senior won all three all-class wheelchair titles, taking the 100 in 21.30 seconds, the 400 in 1:23.78 and the 1600 in 5:36.99. She finished as a five-time state champion.
Haylynn Jones, Mulvane sophomore
Jones doubled up on the hurdles podium for Mulvane. The sophomore finished third in the 100 hurdles in 15.64 seconds and came back to place second in the 300 hurdles in 45.99. Her two state medals made her one of the area’s top young hurdlers this spring. She is a two-time state medalist in the 300 hurdles.
Ashley Lehman, Hesston senior
Finished her second straight year of a four-gold weekend, as Lehman finished a decorated track and field career as a 12-time state champion. She was a four-time champion in the 400 and three-time champion in the 100 and 200. Owns the 3A state meet records in the 100, 200, 400 and pole vault. She won the 100 this year in a time of 12.01, set the meet record in the 200 in 24.10, won the 400 in a time of 54.94 and set the meet record in the pole vault at 12-8.25. She is a Nebraska signee.
Tess Martin, Bishop Carroll freshman
Martin’s freshman season came down to a jump-off, and she cleared the moment. The Carroll freshman won the 5A high jump title after clearing 5-4, then matching a season-best mark of 5-6 in the jump-off. She also placed seventh in the 100 in a season-best 12.45, ran a 59.94 anchor leg on Carroll’s third-place 1600 relay and opened the Eagles’ third-place 400 relay.
Tessa Martin, Hesston freshman
Martin saved her best throw for the biggest stage. The Hesston freshman placed second in the 3A discus with a season-best mark of 127-10, closing her first high school season as one of the state’s top young throwers.
Rylee Meyer, Andale senior
Meyer closed one of the area’s most decorated sprint careers with a three-gold weekend. The Andale senior won her third straight 4A 100 title by breaking her own state meet record in 11.90, added the 200 title in a wind-aided, season-best 24.29 and won the 300 hurdles in a season-best 43.79. Meyer also finished second in the long jump with a season-best 18-4, ending her career as a five-time state champion, 12-time state medalist and 10-time top-three finisher.
Emily O’Brien, Remington senior
O’Brien’s hurdle career at Remington ended with four straight trips to the 300 hurdles podium. The senior finished second in the 2A 300 hurdles in a season-best 45.53 and third in the 100 hurdles in 15.27, while also qualifying for state in the 200. O’Brien, last year’s 2A champion in the 100 hurdles, finished as a seven-time state medalist in the hurdles before signing with Northeastern State for basketball.
Nelly Puente, North senior
Puente made Wichita Public Schools history by becoming the first to ever win in the 6A 1600. The North senior captured the state title in a season-best 5:00.89, finished second in the 3200 in a season-best 10:46.14 and qualified for state in the 800 for the first time, running a season-best 2:22.79. Puente medaled in both the 1600 and 3200 for the second straight year before signing to run distance at Washburn.
Ella Ranz, Eisenhower senior
Ranz returned to the 5A pole vault stage and made it count. The Eisenhower senior qualified for state for the first time since freshman year, then cleared a season-best 12-0 to finish tied for the top mark in the field. Ranz placed second based on misses, turning the comeback into a state podium finish.
Allison Saunders, Andover Central senior
Saunders closed her Andover Central career as a fixture on the state podium. The senior captured three individual medals for the second straight year, clearing 5-2 for third in the 5A high jump, placing fourth in the 100 hurdles in 15.34 and fourth in the 300 hurdles in 45.48. Saunders, last year’s 5A champion in the 300 hurdles, finished as a nine-time state medalist with four straight podium finishes in the 300 hurdles before signing with South Alabama.
Kiera Smith, Northwest senior
Smith delivered the fastest state meet of her career when the stakes were highest. The Northwest senior finished second in the 6A 100 in 11.87 and second in the 200 in 24.75, picking up two state medals in the same meet for the first time. Smith’s 100 time was the second-fastest in any class at state, while her 200 time ranked fourth among all classes, and she finished top-five in the 6A 100 for the second straight year.
Kinley Spexarth, Andale freshman
Spexarth showed plenty of freshman poise with one last throw at state. The Andale freshman launched a 138-0 on her final attempt to move up two spots and finish second in the 4A javelin, adding an eighth-place medal in the triple jump at 34-0.5. Spexarth finished her debut season with a season-best javelin throw of 144-10.
Madelyn Wallace, Andover senior
Wallace finished her Andover career as one of 5A’s steadiest distance runners. The senior placed fourth in the 3200 in 11:00.54, seventh in the 1600 in 5:11.33 and qualified for state in the 800 for the first time, finishing ninth in 2:20.50. Wallace was a four-time state qualifier in both the 1600 and 3200, piling up seven state medals in those races before signing to run distance at Kansas.
Sydney Waltner, Andale senior
Waltner made a big jump from one state podium to the next. After finishing seventh last year, the senior moved all the way up to second in the 4A triple jump with a season-best mark of 36-9.5.
Reese Whiteley, Bishop Carroll sophomore
Whiteley made one of the biggest climbs in the 5A hurdles field. After finishing eighth in the 100 hurdles last year, the Carroll sophomore surged all the way to the top of the podium this season, winning the state title in 14.79. Whiteley also qualified for state in the 300 hurdles for the first time.
Autry Young, Cheney freshman
Young made an immediate impact in the throws as a freshman. The Cheney standout finished second in the 3A shot put with a mark of 41-0.5 and added an eighth-place medal in the discus at 118-5. Young closed her debut season with best marks of 41-9.75 in the shot put and 125-4 in the discus.
Clearwater 400 relay
Clearwater kept its grip on the 4A 400 relay crown. The team of Millie Allred, Callie Noland, Kynlee Martin and Ali Thompson won the state title for the third straight year, crossing in a season-best 48.45.
Halstead 400 relay
Halstead had the fastest 400 relay in 3A when it mattered most. The team of Piper Schroeder, Mackenzie Ervin, Jordy Schroeder and Annie Williams won the state title in 49.57.
Bishop Carroll 1600 relay
Carroll put together a podium finish in the 5A 1600 relay. The team of Lauren DeGroot, Emily Melcher, Ashlynn Sauer and Tess Martin finished third at state in 4:02.73, giving the Eagles another key medal in their championship team push.
Kapaun Mt. Carmel 3200 relay
Kapaun didn’t just win the 5A 3200 relay — it rewrote the record book. The team of Courtney Nye, Abigail Bird, Ava Claasen and Taylor Barringer shattered an eight-year-old state meet record with a season-best time of 9:18.71 to capture the state title.
Josh Mans, Bishop Carroll coach
Mans guided Carroll back to the top of 5A for the first time in 15 years. Carroll won just its second girls championship in program history, powered by state champions Lauren DeGroot in the 300 hurdles, Reese Whiteley in the 100 hurdles and Tess Martin in the high jump. The Eagles also received state-medal performances from Caroline Eck, Clare Munn, Gwendolyn Sattler, Ashlynn Sauer, Nora Thome and Sophia Thome, while all three relays finished in the top three with help from Clare Fouts, Brie Jones, Brook Jones, Emily Melcher and Olivia Thome.
Wichita Eagle All-Metro second team
Paige Brand, Andale junior
Ryann Daggett, North junior
Secret Dye, Heights senior
Caroline Eck, Bishop Carroll sophomore
Delaney Fuller, Newton sophomore
Aspen Garvey, Derby junior
Emily Hein, Circle senior
Josie Heinrichs, Hesston sophomore
Mia Hirsch, North senior
Hally Horsch, Andale senior
Elli Howell, Collegiate senior
Brynn Huffman, Derby junior
Janae Kelly, Andover senior
Vivian Lieurance, Andover Central sophomore
Audrey Markley, Rose Hill freshman
Abby McNeal, Andale junior
Clare Munn, Bishop Carroll senior
Reagan Neal, Bluestem sophomore
Callie Noland, Clearwater senior
Kinsley Plumer, Valley Center senior
Elizabeth Rambo, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior
Reese Quinn, Hesston junior
Miya Respress, East freshman
Gwendolyn Sattler, Bishop Carroll junior
Ashlynn Sauer, Bishop Carroll senior
Anahree Smith, East senior
Reese Stuhlsatz, Garden Plain senior
Nora Thome, Bishop Carroll freshman
Sophia Thome, Bishop Carroll senior
Khloe Washington, Collegiate sophomore
Andover Central 400 relay (Kinsley Tabor, Lia Jordan, Olivia Lewis, Juliah Bolden)
Derby 400 relay (Sanaa Truett, Latoyia Maurer, Amelia Leggett, Nazae Rivers)
Andale 1600 relay (Mayla Spexarth, Maleah Spexarth, Chloe Eck, Rylee Winter)
Kapaun Mt. Carmel 1600 relay (Ceci Meier, Courtney Nye, Briley Bina, Taylor Barringer)
Bishop Carroll 3200 relay (Olivia Thome, Emily Melcher, Clare Fouts, Gwendolyn Sattler)
Hesston 3200 relay (Avery Larson, Josie Heinrichs, Corynn Nickel, Reese Quinn)
Tyler Ryan, Andale coach
Jason Peters, Hesston coach
Wichita Eagle All-Metro third team
Millie Allred, Clearwater junior
Elena Alvarez, Valley Center junior
Madison Askew, Derby junior
Amiyah Beard, Newton senior
Hailey Brack, Garden Plain junior
Bailey Bretthauer, Andale sophomore
Braelyn Clark, Derby freshman
Maddy Colborn, Hesston sophomore
Kaiah Cravens, Classical spohomore
Ava Dreitz, Heights freshman
Brynn Eilert, Andover junior
Sophie Ellis, Valley Center junior
Baylee Frost, Maize sophomore
Claire Gorges, Andale sophomore
Morgan Green, Cheney senior
Aubrey Haukap, Garden Plain sophomore
Cortlyn Hill, Garden Plain junior
Autumn Hirsch, Berean senior
Laney Hooper, Valley Center senior
Brecken Howell, Trinity senior
Elle Hula, Derby freshman
Rylee Jay, Augusta sophomore
Skylar Johnson, Maize South sophomore
Alyssa Klingenberg, Remington sophomore
Avery Larson, Hesston sophomore
Ana Lawrence, Newton junior
Jaye McCurdy, Central Christian senior
Ashley McMullin, Newton senior
Olivia Moffitt, Campus freshman
Adrienna Mullins, Berean senior
Allie Neitzel, Northwest senior
Jaela O’Neal, Andover Central sophomore
Brittani Peschel, Mulvane sophomore
Ellie Petz, Central Christian senior
Rylee Pfeifer, Augusta senior
Nazae Rivers, Derby junior
Chloe Scheer, Cheney senior
Anna Schmidt, Classical junior
Jordy Schroeder, Halstead junior
Ella Sims, Andover senior
Rebecca Skov, Augusta senior
Maleah Spexarth, Andale sophomore
Mayla Spexarth, Andale senior
Asia’h Sullivan, Andover junior
Cole Torgerson, Andover junior
Katy Wehrman, Cheney senior
Rebecca Widler, Berean junior
Claira Wiebe, Berean junior
Abbi Winter, Andale junior
Nikki Wright, Cheney junior
Bishop Carroll 400 relay (Tess Martin, Brie Jones, Brook Jones, Reese Whiteley)
Garden Plain 400 relay (Cortlyn Hill, Anna Puetz, Dakota Pauly, Reese Stuhlsatz)
Northwest 400 relay (Karli Martin, Johanna Fountain, Julianna Avant, Kiera Smith)
Cheney 1600 relay (Nikki Wright, McKinley Sallee, Brin Bergkamp, Kinslie McDorman)
Derby 1600 relay (Anaelise Lopez, Nazae Rivers, Braelyn Clark, Zoe Dieguez)
Rose Hill 1600 relay (Rylee Wooten, Kaityn Barb, Audrey Markley, Marissa Jensen)
Andover Central 3200 relay (Kassidy Dickman, Tinley Sims, Landry Ewing, Calyn Smith)
Augusta 3200 relay (Rebecca Skov, Mylee Renville, Rylee Pfeifer, Ragan Pfeifer)
Valley Center 3200 relay (Avery Williams, Tatum Price, Sophie Ellis, Laney Hooper)
Aren Coppoc, Andover Central coach
John David Harris, Kapaun Mt. Carmel coach
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