Wingfield wins pole vault, Wildcat boys take fourth at Ottawa

By Andy Brown
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: April 9, 2025

***Louisburg senior Cooper Wingfield clears a height during a meet last season. Wingfield, the returning state champion in the pole vault, won the event on April 3 at the Ottawa Invitational.***

OTTAWA — The Louisburg boys track and field team have a handful of returning state qualifiers and medalists and many of them picked up right where they left Thursday during their season opener.

Louisburg finished fourth at the Ottawa Invitational with 86 points at the 10-team meet. Olathe East won with 185 points and St. James Academy was second with 139.5.

In all, the Wildcats won one event, had three runner-up finishes and scored points in 12 events.

“It was nice to get out and compete against other teams,” Louisburg boys coach Andy Wright said. “Overall, we saw some positive performances, as well as areas that need improvement. The experience of competing against larger schools will only help our athletes grow and develop as the season goes along.

“The enthusiasm and determination shown by the team are encouraging, and I believe we have a promising season ahead of us. With continued hard work and focus, I am excited to see how our athletes progress.”

Louisburg senior Cooper Wingfield leads the Wildcat jumpers as he is the returning state champion in the pole vault. He wasted no time getting back into form.

Wingfield won the pole vault as he cleared 15 feet to take gold. Senior teammate Jacob Brown, who is also a returning state medalist, took second after he cleared 13-0.

In the long jump, senior Myles Vohs got out to a good start as he took third with a mark of 20-2.5 and Martin Alicea Soto was sixth at 19-4.

“Our vaulters have been working hard and are eager to push each other this season,” Wright said. “Myles had a strong start, especially considering he only used a short approach for his jumps. I am confident that as the season continues, he will improve further and reach new heights.”

Evan McKitrick went on to score points in the high jump as he took fourth at 5-8 and was eighth in the triple jump at 38-1.5.

On the track, senior Gavin Lohse, who is a returning state medalist in the long jump, had a strong showing in the 100-meter dash as he was second in 11.39 seconds. Caleb Feldkamp was fourth in 11.48.

**Louisburg senior Gavin Lohse leans at the finish line during the 100-meter dash last season. Lohse is a returning state medalist in the long jump, and took second in the 100 dash on April 3 at Ottawa.**

Another senior and returning state medalist, Jerynce Brings Plenty, found success in the distance races. Brings Plenty was runner-up in the 1,600-meter run in 4:44. He was also ninth in a talented field in the 3,200 run with a time of 10:42.

“Jerynce had two solid races, finishing with impressive times for the beginning of the year,” Wright said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how he continues to develop and what he will achieve this season.”

Also on the track, Aidan Meyer, Emmett White, Colton Blue and Vohs ended the night with a third place finish in the 4×400 relay in 3:29. Meyer also went on to take fourth in the 400 dash in 52.57 and White was seventh at 53.74.

In the 800-meter run, Blue earned a fourth-place finish in 2:07, while Gavin Manson was seventh in the 100 hurdles in 22.05.

The Wildcats also scored points in the throws and it started in the javelin. Senior Brayden Yoder edged junior teammate Tasen Ellison for fifth at 136-3, and Ellison was sixth at 136-0.

Johnny Hendrickson took fifth in the discus with a throw of 120-1 and Michael Foote finished eighth at 107-2.