Wildcat boys take fourth in Paola; win 4×400, pole vault

By Andy Brown
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Updated: April 16, 2025

***Louisburg senior Gavin Lohse lands a mark in the long jump on April 10 at the Paola Invitational. Lohse took fourth overall.***

PAOLA — The Louisburg boys track and field team didn’t have the victories it hoped for at the Paola Invitational, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t a success.

Louisburg took first in two events and placed in the top three in six others as the Wildcats finished fourth in the team standings with 101.5 points. Paola won with 126 and Spring Hill was second in the 11-team meet with 124.5 points.

The Wildcats racked up several personal bests in the process as they continue to show improvement.

“We achieved many personal bests, with over 11 different athletes setting their personal records at the meet,” Louisburg coach Andy Wright said. “We just need to continue improving throughout the season.”

One of the highlights for the Wildcats came at the end of the meet. The Louisburg 4×400-meter relay of Aidan Meyer, Emmett White, Colton Blue and Myles Vohs won in 3 minutes and 28.14 seconds.

Louisburg’s relay success continued with the 4×100 as Vohs, Meyer, Caleb Feldkamp and Gavin Lohse took second in 45.08 seconds.

***Louisburg’s Aidan Meyer takes the handoff from Myles Vohs during the 4×100 relay on April 10 in Paola.***

“The 4×400 relay is doing great, but we just need to continue to get in better shape,” Wright said, .”The 4×100 relay is also improving. With some new runners on the team this year, it’s going to take a few meets to work on our handoffs.”

Feldkamp also scored points in the sprints as he medaled third in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes in 11.18 and 23.17 seconds, respectively. Lohse was fourth in the 100 in 11.21, while White was fifth win the 200 in 23.49.

Blue, who ran in the 400-meter dash for the first time this season, also medaled third in 52.61 seconds.

Senior Jerynce Brings Plenty ran strong in a pair of distance races. Brings Plenty took third in the 800 run in 2:05 and fourth in the 1,600 run in 4:42.

Junior Grant Cannon earned points in the 110 hurdles as he finished sixth in 18.70 seconds.

Senior Cooper Wingfield once again led the Wildcats in the field events. Wingfield won the pole vault after he cleared 14-1, while teammate Jacob Brown finished second at 13-1.

Lohse, a returning state medalist in the long jump, took fourth overall with a mark of 21-2.5. His teammate, Martin Alicea Soto, was right behind hm in fifth at 20-9.5.

***Louisburg senior Jerynce Brings Plenty rounds a turn during the 1,600-meter run on April 10 in Paola.***

Evan McKitrick took sixth in both the triple and the high jumps.

“Gavin’s initial jumps were solid, and I believe he will continue to improve throughout the season,” Wright said. “Martin is also starting to come along in the long jump, with all of his jumps landing in the 20-foot range. I’m excited to see what he will achieve this season.”

Tasen Ellison led the Wildcats in the throws as he took fourth in the javelin with a season-best toss of 152-5 and Brayden Yoder was eighth with a mark of 135-1.

Johnny Hendrickson took seventh in the discus with a mark of 122-4 and Michael Foote placed eighth in the shot put with a toss of 41-11.

Louisburg is back in action on April 17 when the Wildcats travel to the Anderson County Invitational. Events begin at 3:30 p.m.

A select group of athletes were also selected to participated in the Kansas Relays in Lawrence beginning on April 18.

The Wildcats 4×100 and 4×400 relays will compete, along with Cooper Wingfield (javelin) and Gavin Lohse (long jump).

Louisburg’s Jerynce Brings Plenty, Colton Blue, Emmett White and Caleb Feldkamp will run in the Sprint Medley Relay, while Blue, Aidan Meyer, Brings Plenty and Myles Vohs will compete in the Distance Medley Relay.