Four regional crowns in a row for Chanute boys

LOUISBURG — Four years. Same result.

With state berths on the line, the Chanute Blue Comets’ boys won the 2025 KSHSAA 4A Track and Field regional title in Louisburg on Thursday.

Chanute’s boys dominated the team standings, posting 154 points, to run away with the school’s fourth straight regional crown.

Paola was second place with 118 points, followed by Louisburg (95), Labette County (79), Parsons (44), Coffeyville (44), Independence (36), Fort Scott (14) and Ottawa (14).

“This senior class has never lost a region title and that’s something special,” Chanute head coach Matt Kmiec said. “It speaks to their competitiveness and leadership. I’m really impressed and proud of how they’ve led the team.”

On the girls’ side, Paola won the regional title with 153 points.

Labette County was runner-up with 112 points, followed by Chanute (100), Louisburg (81), Coffeyville (50), Parsons (34), Fort Scott (33), Ottawa (23) and Independence (19).

“I’m so proud of the girls and they keep bridging the gap,” Kmiec said. “They’ve improved so much this year and I’m proud of how they performed today.”

State qualifiers

This spring was the first year under KSHSAA’s new qualifying system for state track — the top three at each regional earn automatic berths, then the next four best marks across all four regionals across the state.

Eleven different entries for Chanute won regional titles.

Laney Hillmon won the crown in the 400m dash with a time of 1:01.63.

Violet Stich claimed first in the 800m run (2:27.75). Layla Harbin won the pole vault title, clearing 8-6.

Chanute’s girls 4x800m relay team of Macie Moore, Hillmon, Stich and Sarah Uhner won with a time of 9:52, setting a new school record.

“They’re peaking at the right time and getting faster every week,” Kmiec said. “They’ve got a shot to go after it at state. That’s all we can ask for.”

The girls’ 4x400m relay team of Maddie Kepley, Hillmon, Stitch and Uhner also won a regional title with a time of 4:13.34.

Jaron Powers won a pair of titles in the 1,600m run (4:37.17) and the 3,200m run (10:25.93).

Daniel Stanley won the high jump (6-4) with teammate Easton Colborn taking second (6-4).

Owen Luttrell won the javelin (165-1) while Canton Fitzmaurice won the shot put (52-2).

Chanute’s boys also won the 4x800m relay, with Rowden, Powers, Colborn and Tucker Applegate posting a time of 8:28.40.

Tyler Rowden placed second in the 800m run and set a new school record with a time of 1:58.81.

“He ran a great race. He went out and finished,” Kmiec said. “He’s just had a great year. He put in time in the offseason, it pays off.”

In the final race of the night, Chanute’s boys 4x400m relay squad of Eliott Stephenson, Eli Uhner, Rowden and Colborn set a new school record and finished runner-up at regionals with a time of 3:24.69.

“They’re super tough kids,” Kmiec said. “We had a couple on that team that couldn’t hardly get up off the infield 10 minutes earlier. They’re just so tough.”

Other state qualifiers for Chanute included Sarah Uhner in the 400m dash (third), Moore in the 3,200m run (second), Madison DeCoster in the 100m hurdles (second), Averee Hicks in the discus (third), Eliott Stephenson in the 400m dash (second) and long jump (third), Applegate in the 1,600m and 3,200 runs (third in both), Stanley in the 110m hurdles (third), Wyatt Stephenson in the 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles (fourth and third, respectively) and Fitzmaurice in the discus (second).

“We just have great kids and I’m proud to be their coach,” Kmiec said.

Up next

Chanute’s state qualifiers will head to the KSHSAA State Track and Field Championships in Wichita next week, which start on Friday at Cessna Stadium.

“My expectation is that the kids do their best and the cards will fall,” Kmiec said. “I’m sure it’s going to work out well for our guys.”