Chanute claims podium spot

Fitzmaurice wins shot put state title

WICHITA — Earning a spot on the podium as a team, the Chanute Blue Comets boys finished third at the KSHSAA State Track and Field Championships over the weekend.

Andale won the Class 4A title with 68.5 points. Buhler was runner-up with 54.5 points while Chanute claimed bronze with 50.50 points.

“For a team that hadn’t lost to a Kansas school all year, we knew we had to go after big finishes and not just medals. They were competing for each other and it was really cool to see,” Chanute head coach Matt Kmiec said. “Everybody was always running over to the track or the shot put pit to support everybody. It’s great to get individual medals and I’m really happy for all the kids. But it’s a testament to the kids that they’re more proud of accomplishing something together.”

Canton Fitzmaurice gobbled up points for the Blue Comets, winning the state title in the shot put (54-5.25).

“It was great for us. I didn’t even look at team scores until after we saw Canton had won, and it was big for us,” Kmiec said. “He was ranked No. 1 the entire season, so he just did what he had done all year. He’s a competitor and a gamer, so it was fun to see him have success and get that victory.”

Fitzmaurice also finished runner-up in the discus with a toss of 170-4.

“He’s been working on his discus for a long time, and he really put it together at the state meet,” Kmiec said. “His first throw locked up the runner- up position. He was having a great week of practice leading up to that. He’s such a great, hard-working athlete.”

Chanute secured its third place finish as a team with a runner-up performance in the 4x400m relay from Easton Colborn, Eli Uhner, Tyler Rowden and Eliott Stephenson.

“That was a defining moment for us,” Kmiec said. “We knew we needed to beat Ulysses to get us on the podium. They all ran great. It was amazing for us to set a school record after a really long two days. It showed guts and determination. Ulysses came on strong at the end, but we held them off. I was over the moon to see them do as well as they did.”

Owen Luttrell earned a second place finish in the javelin with a hurl of 184-2.

“For him to go in and have a big PR to get runner-up was huge for us,” Kmiec said. “He’s only been throwing the javelin for about a year. He’s struggled with injuries. So seeing him end his career like that was really great to see.”

Other boys’ medalists for Chanute included Eliott Stephenson taking fifth in the 400m dash (49.05); Colborn third in the high jump (6-4); the 4x800m relay team finishing fourth (8:11); and Daniel Stanley seventh in the high jump (6-4).

Hillmon medals twice for Chanute girls

Chanute’s girls’ 4x800m relay squad of Violet Stich, Laney Hillmon, Macie Moore and Sarah Uhner finished in sixth place with a time of 10:02.

“We weren’t in medal contention when Sarah Uhner got the baton on the last lap,” Kmiec said. “But then she just chased down a lot of girls and she ran a six-second PR split to pass a bunch of them.”

Hillmon added a second medal with an eighth place showing in the 400m dash with a time of 1:01.23.

“She had a great meet,” Kmiec said. “She ran a 60 flat to get into the finals of the 400 and ran an amazing leg for us in the 4x800. She ran well on a big stage and never shies away from the moment. She puts in work in the weight room and just works hard.”