Indian track competes at Kansas Relays
by THAYNE GRIFFIN
Fifteen Hays High track and field athletes competed at the 81st Kansas Relays April 18 and 19 with three top five finishes, including a new school record in the 1600-meter run.
Sophomore Josh Munsch, an elite distance runner in Kansas, finished third overall in a new school record time of 4:21.99, besting the previous school record of 4:24.40, set by Brad Seibel in 1977.
“It really feels awesome to break the record,” Munsch said. “I've been wanting to do that (break the record) ever since I first looked at the record board in the seventh grade for summer lifting. Now that I have achieved that goal, I hope to continue to do well and break my own personal records.
“The mile was a really good experience; I felt that I needed a race where there were tons of great runners. The pace was really good, and my legs felt great.”
Munsch also ran the anchor leg (1600-meter) of the distance medley relay for the Indians which included senior Brogan Miller (1200-meter leg), sophomore Brock Riedel (400-meter leg) and senior Sol Jackson (800-meter leg). The relay placed fifth overall with a final time of 10:51.36, finishing first among Kansas teams.
“I felt that I ran well in both events, I didn't feel very good during the distance medley, but it was a lot of fun to run in it and take fifth,” Munsch said. “I really enjoyed the meet. I was very nervous because there was a lot of really good competition.”
Head track coach Rick Blosser had high praise for Munsch after the Relays.
“He ran an incredible race (in the mile),” Blosser said. “His second half (800) was a little faster than his first half. He came in at 2:14 and ran in the inside of lane two, showing me he can grow a little. I think he can shave off a few seconds even still this year. It was a gutsy run. He is such a great competitor.”
The other top five finish for Hays came in the 4x400 meter girls Sunflower Showdown relay, comprised of junior Raena Sander, sophomore Ashli Dryden, freshman Sheradin Fabrizius and freshman Bailey Zimmerman.
Other competitors for Hays at the Kansas Relays were senior Kristen Fleharty, senior Steph Weber, junior Taylor Betts, junior Summer Hobbs, sophomore Samantha Hardwick, sophomore Erika Schmidt and sophomore Kylie Gaughan.
“I thought we did some good things,” Blosser said. “We didn’t have all the times we wanted in some events, but we set a new record, had some personal records and did a really nice job.”
The Indians return to the track April 25 at Hutchinson.