By Jennifer Stultz
Tri-County Tribune Editor
jstultz@cherryroad.com

Head track and field coach at Kiowa County High School Travis Powell is looking forward to a great season with some top returning athletes. Expectations for a great year of competition will likely pan out with leadership returning in many events.

Leading the way is Brock Deterding, a senior sprinter who won the 100m, 10.83; won the 200m, 22.66 last year at state. Right there with him bringing in top team points is senior Kaden Weseloh who was 3rd kn pole vault at 13-6 and also qualified in the 200.

Carter Kishpaugh will be a Maverick to watch this year as he came in 7th last year at the state 400-meter dash, 54.04.

And then there are the boys’ relay teams. In the 4x100m the Mavericks’ Hunter Thompson (graduated), Kaden Weseloh, Nazar Haydon, and Brock Deterding took 3rd – 44.21 seconds last year at state. The 4x400m relay team of Kishpaugh, Weseloh, Thompson, and Deterding won the state title – 3:32.35.

Additional competitors to keep an eye on this year for Kiowa County include Samuel Martinez: 3rd 1600m, 4:34.79; 5th 3200m, 10:05.52; Mason Weseloh: 12th 3200m, 10:37.40; and Kendal Blanton: 7th, 200m, 26.89.

On the girls side of the team there is a strong 4×100-meter relay team of Blanton-Sayre Hassiepen-Sydney Taylor-Marley Little (graduated) took 3rd 52.24. Ava Little could also bring some surprises this year as a 7th PS, 35-5.25 performer last year.

“Practice has been going well. We have had some decent weather days coming back from Spring Break before the wind hit, so that was enjoyable,” Powell said. “Our first half of the season looks like this: April 11-Pratt Invitational, April 15-Ellsworth Invitational, April 22-Kingman Invitational, April 25-South Gray Invitational.

“Our goals are to always work hard so we can have fun in competitions. Staying healthy throughout the season and qualifying as many kids/events to state, that will be our focus.”