Dragons set for regional track

The Pittsburg High School boys and girls track teams will face its toughest competition today at the Class 5A regional track and field championships at Mill Valley.
And the competition comes at a time where it is the most important.
Teams will by vying for the top four individual and relay spots at the regional meet to qualify for the Class 5A state track and field championships next week at Cessna Stadium on the campus of Wichita State University.
PHS head coach Gary Ausemus said that, even with the stiff competition, he still feels confident about his individual chances at getting athletes to state.
“I feel good about all the athletes that we are taking out there,” Ausemus said. “If they are all peaking at the right time, they all have a good chance at qualifying.”
Some of the toughest competition will come on the boys side in the sprints.
“Some of the best in the state in the 100 and 200 are at our regionals,” Ausemus said. “Whoever qualifies from our regional in those events should be in the top seven at state.”
That puts pressure on Wesley Slavens, who has never qualified for the state meet and who’s best time this year in the 100 is 11 seconds flat.
Jake Wilson will also be staring down a tough road in the 200. Wilson has state experience in relays and in the 400 but will have to take time off his best in the 200 which was 22.8 seconds.
“They are both going to have to shave time off of their best to get to state,” Ausemus said. “This is the time when you have to step up and earn that spot because it is not going to be given to you.”
While Wilson will bring state experience to the regional meet, Ausemus said that he is very confident in Slavens’ ability to qualify.
“Wesley is running very well right now,” Ausemus said. “He has had a great season and really come into his own.”
Jordan Bicknell will eye a return to the state meet in the high jump where he currently has the best height this season at 6-foot-9. Last year, Bicknell was second at the state meet at 6’ 6”.
“We just hope that he can get back to that and peak at the right time,” Ausemus said.
Roylan Rountree-Garcia in the triple and long jump along with Dane Bell in the shot put and discus also have solid opportunities to move on to state.
“We are not taking anyone to regionals that we do not think has a chance,” Ausemus said. “We feel like they have worked hard enough and earned that spot but now it just depends on how they perform.”
On the girls side, the Dragons have been without Amber Kloster who has been out of the last few meets with an ankle sprain.
Ausemus said that Kloster will return today to throw the shot and the javelin at Mill Valley.
“She still has a good chance to, at least, qualify and she should have a little bit better mobility next week,” Ausemus said. “She feels very confident and she has been one of the better javelin throwers in the state before she was injured.”
Ausemus said that the three relays along with senior Leola Kinnard in the long and triple jump could see a trip to state.
“She (Kinnard) has been able to rise to the occasion before and I would not count her out,” Ausemus said. “I just hope that she can do it one more time for her senior year.”
He also said that Jacobi Spresser in the 800 and Ashley Lewandowski in the 200 also have shots at qualifying.
The key for regionals is getting numbers to state.
“This time of the season that is what it is all about ... trying to get as many as possible to state and it really helps to quality those relays,” Ausemus said.
The Class 5A regional track and field meet gets underway today at 3:30 p.m. at Mill Valley High School

Matthew Clark can be reached at matthew.clark@morningsun.net or at 620-231-2600, Ext. 140