LEAGUE CHAMPS: Louisburg boys cruise to Frontier League title

The Louisburg boys track and field team cruised to a league title with 152 points and won five individual events Thursday at the Frontier League meet at Baker University.

BALDWIN CITY — The last two seasons, the Louisburg boys track and field team has found itself on the state podium — which included a state championship in 2021. 

During that time, however, one thing has been missing from the Wildcats’ accomplishments — a Frontier League title.

The Wildcats got that on Thursday during the Frontier League meet at Baker University. Louisburg finished as league champions with 151 points, which was 52 points ahead of runner-up Eudora.

“It was my first time as head coach that the boys have won the league track meet, as we have been second the last two years,” Louisburg coach Andy Wright said. “So, it was great to get that done as a team. We had awesome weather, and we took advantage to put together a good outing, with great competition and some new PR’s.”

Some of those personal records came thanks to Mason Dobbins. He was a part of two school records and he earned three gold medals on the day.

Dobbins, who tied the school high jump record two weeks ago at Wellsville, got it all to himself at league. He cleared 6 feet, 7 inches to win the high jump and broke the previous record held by Dennis Sack (91) and Jason Burk (98).

After clearing 6-3 and securing the league crown, Dobbins asked the height be raised to 6-7 and he cleared it on the first attempt.

“I have been wanting to own the high jump record for years and for me to finally accomplish my goal feels surreal,” Dobbins said. “I feel like I have more in the tank, so higher heights are to come.”

Dobbins also joined Caden Caplinger, Colyer Wingfield and Ashton Moore in the 4×100-meter relay and the Wildcat team broke the school record for the second straight week. The Louisburg quartet won the league title in 43.06 seconds

“I think we have a group of fast and hardworking athletes that are willing to do anything to win,” Dobbins said. “We definitely can, and will, get faster.”

The Louisburg senior won his third event of the day in the 110-meter high hurdles in 14.86 seconds to complete a banner-day on the track.

Senior Nathan Vincent also had a successful day in the throws, especially the javelin. Vincent, who is a two-time state medalist in the event, recorded a personal-best throw of 194-1 to take the top spot in league.

Vincent also went on to finish runner-up in the discus with a season-best throw of 149-6, and in the shot put with a mark of 49-1.5.

“With Nathan injured at the beginning of the season, we didn’t know what he would be able to get back to,” Wright said. “He has put in the work and it’s paying off.”

In the pole vault, Caplinger won the league title after he cleared 14-6 and sophomore teammate Cooper Wingfield was right behind him. Wingfield also cleared 14-6, but was second on number of misses.

Senior Nathan Apple recorded two personal best times in the hurdle events and finished with a pair of runner-up finishes. He was second in the 110 hurdles in 15.05 seconds and second in the 300 in 39.58 seconds.

In the distance races, the 4×800-meter relay of Hunter Heinrich, Myles Vohs, Blaise Vohs and Jerynce Brings Plenty finished as a league runner-up in 8 minutes and 29.07 seconds.

Brings Plenty also went on to finished third in the 1,600-meter run in 4:34 and fourth in the 3,200 run in 10:17. Junior Noah Cotter took sixth in the 1,600 (4:55) and seventh in the 3,200 run (10:38).

Blaise Vohs went on to take fifth in the 800 run in 2:06, while Colton Blue was seventh in 2:10.

In the sprints, senior Ethan Ptacek was fourth in the 400 dash in 51.89 and Heinrich was fifth with season-best 52.74. Caplinger took fifth in the 100 dash in 11.34 seconds.

The 4×400 relay of Heinrich, Blaise Vohs, Colyer Wingfield and Ptacek took fourth in 3:33.

In the field events, senior Cade Gassman finished runner-up in the high jump after he cleared a season-best 6-1 and senior Isaiah Whitley was sixth at 5-11.

Colyer Wingfield took fifth in the long jump at 20-6.75, while Jacob Brown was fifth in the pole vault at 11-6.

Senior J.R. Rooney had a strong day in the shot put as he finished third with a toss of 48-2.75.

Louisburg will now focus on its most important meet of the year — the Class 4A regional. The Wildcats will compete at the regional meet Friday at Shawnee Mission North, where the top four finishers in each event will qualify for state next week in Wichita.

“We are excited to get to the second of the big three meets,” Wright said. “Our regional is going to be very competitive. They have been working for this all season, and we need to put it all together at the right time. I believe that we are up for the challenge.”

Other results are:

200 dash: Cade Gassman, 17th, 25.23

800 run: Leo Martin, 19th, 2:26

1,600 run: Martin, 8th, 4:59.30

Long Jump: Isaiah Whitley, 8th, 20-0.75; Myles Vohs, 15th, 17-10

Triple Jump: Colyer Wingfield, 9th, 38-6; Trey Myers, 10th, 36-8.25

Shot Put: Jaymes Melton, 9th, 42-0.25

Discus: J.R. Rooney, 8th, 120-11; Ben O’Bryan, 10th, 113-9

Javelin: Tasen Ellison, 10th, 129-0; Brecon Klugman, 16th, 124-8