2A Boys Track and Field: Sedgwick County Wins First-Ever State Championship

LAKEWOOD — At the Class 2A track and field state championships, Sedgwick County proved you can win a title off the track. 

“We scored everything in field events, except the one point that put us over at the end,” coach Kaleb Lanckriet said of tallying one in the 4×400 relay. “There was a four-way tie for third in High Jump, we also had a two-way tie for fourth place in another event, and also a tie in Pole Vault. What was placed in front of us we were able to capitalize on.”

It was just enough to secure the team championship for Sedgwick County (57.5 points) over Peyton (57). 

Entering the 4×400, Sedgwick held a slight advantage over Peyton, 56.5-51. Despite the Panthers finishing ahead of the Cougars, fourth to ninth place, Sedgwick County held on by half a point.

And yet, it was the field events that really put them over the top. They scored points in Long Jump, High Jump, Triple Jump, Shot Put, Discus, and Pole Vault. 

Junior Brady Mollendor was the headliner with a gold medal in Long Jump (21 feet, 10 inches), and silvers in Triple and High.

“Brady came on the scene as a freshman, shocking everyone and winning Triple Jump,” Lanckriet said. “He’s been a great leader. I love him to death.” 

Sedgwick County has tasted success before, but this weekend was a breakthrough. 

“We’ve been close a lot of times,” Lanckriet said of seeking the team crown. “But, in 2A track there’s a lot of 3A schools that come down. We’re one of the smaller 2As. This is the first for the co-op and the first for the county in 28 years.” 

So, who won that title in 1997? 

“Me and all my friends won it, same as these guys,” their coach said of Julesburg’s trophy. 

“Before the co-op, both schools had a lot of athletes all the years,” he added. “I can’t say enough about the athletes that graduated from Revere and I can’t say enough about the athletes that graduated from Julesburg. Then, we combined them and it’s been a great thing. They’ve been a very powerhouse team. The community loves it. We’ll probably go home and the fire trucks will escort us through town at probably midnight tonight.”

Lanckriet was also glad to see other area teams perform well. 

“You had Wiggins win for girls and that’s our league,” he said. “Then you had Haxtun win (1A boys), that’s another league team. Idalia was the co-champion (1A girls), so Northeastern Colorado really represented well here.” 

In other 2A action, Joe Probst of West Grand defended his 110 Hurdle crown (14.77). 

“I was chasing the state record, didn’t get it, but I’m just happy with the year,” he said. 

The senior has signed with Colorado State for track and field. But, he will miss being a multi-sport athlete. 

“I was a three-time (state) qualifier in wrestling and we made the playoffs in football three times,” Probst said. “I was a receiver. Wrestling is probably my favorite sport, but I was never as talented at that.”

He was the 2A runner-up in the 110 Hurdles as a sophomore and also earned second in the 300 Hurdles as a senior. Probst will have fond memories of high school track and of being part of his community.

“West Grand is so special to me,” he said. “I’m proud to be a Mustang.”

In other events, Eli Schuknecht (Buena Vista) was the 100 champion in 11.08, while Trey Oakley (Holyoke) won the 200 (22.08). 

Bobby Kiesewetter (Golden View Classical) swept the distance triple crown (800, 1600, 3200) with 2A state meet records in the 1600 (4:17.84) and 3200 (9:25).

Caleb Kearse of Peyton destroyed the 2A state meet record in the 400 with a blistering 48.76. 

Burlington’s Connor Halde (38.85) was the champion of the 300 Hurdles.

Kolter Mann of Cedaredge (49-2) won Shot Put.  

Holyoke earned gold in the 4×100 Relay in 43.61, while Byers won the 4×400 title in 3:23.97.