Reece breaks school record at KU Relays, earns medal with Holtzen

Louisburg junior Chris Williams gets off to a good start in the 400-meter dash Friday during the Kansas Relays at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence. Williams competed in both the 400 and 800-meter run. 

LAWRENCE – Several members of the Louisburg High School track and field team had a chance to compete against some of the best athletes – not only from the Kansas City area – but surrounding states as well, at the Kansas Relays on Friday and Saturday in Lawrence.

Two Wildcats brought home medals from the event and one of them added a new school record to their resume.

Senior Wyatt Reece set a new school record Saturday morning in the 2,000-meter steeplechase and Reece put together a strong showing as he finished seventh in 6 minutes and 43 seconds to earn a KU Relays medal.

Reece broke his own record of 6:45 that he set earlier in the year at the Baldwin Invitational and he did it in rainy, cool weather.

“Wyatt had a great race in some crummy conditions,” Louisburg coach John Reece said. “He was able to improve his school record and was rewarded with a medal.”

Fellow senior Isabelle Holtzen also left Lawrence with a medal as she finished eighth overall in a difficult pole vault competition. Holtzen cleared 11 feet, which is six inches off her school record.

Senior Isabelle Holtzen clears a height in the pole vault Friday during the Kansas Relays.

Paola’s Samantha VanHoecke won the competition after she cleared 12 feet and the two vaulters will be in the same regional together in late May.

Holtzen wasn’t the only Lady Cat to find success as sophomore Carlee Gassman nearly broke her own school record in the 300-meter hurdles. Gassman won her heat with a time of 47.89 seconds and finished 12^th overall in an event that featured 42 athletes.

Senior Kaitlyn Urban also competed in the triple jump for Louisburg and took 27^th with a leap of 31 feet, 9.5 inches.

“Isabelle, Carlee and Kaitlyn did great at KU,” coach Reece said. “They all enjoyed the opportunity to compete at the Relays and I hope this helps them as we get to the end of season. The pressure that comes with the big meets will not be an issue because they have competed at a high level at KU.

“Carlee ran a strong 300m hurdles and was only beat by one other 4A girl. Isabelle vaulted great and brought home some hardware for her effort.”

Louisburg sophomore Carlee Gassman won her heat in the 300-meter hurdles and took 12th overall Friday at the KU Relays.

On the boys side, junior Brandon Cooper came in 26^th out of 38 runners in the 100-meter dash in 11.31 seconds. Cooper, along with Charlie Koontz, Ben Wiedenmann and Blue Caplinger, also competed in the 4×100 relay and came in 47^th in 45.16 seconds.

Junior Chris Williams also competed in a pair of events Friday. Williams ran in the 400-meter dash and took 28^th in 53.18. He later took 31^st in the 800-meter run in 2:08.

“It was great for our athletes to compete with and be around the level competition at KU,” Louisburg boys coach Andy Wright said. “I think it helped us see what we need to work on, and what we need to do to be prepared against great competitors.”