The Axtell boys and the Washington County girls both won state championships in Class 1A of the 2023 Kansas State Track & Field Championships on Saturday afternoon.

Axtell junior Grady Buessing won first place in the 800 Meter Run (2:06.64) and the 1600 Meter Run (4:32.16). The Boys 4x800 Meter Relay team also took home the gold medal with a time of 8:23.17.

Their final event of the night, the Boys 4x400 Meter Relay, the Eagles finished fourth place to clinch the championship. However, they also got some help from Quinter who would have won the state title if they weren’t disqualified. Quinter had the fastest time and would have defeated the Eagles by a singular point if their time was legitimate.

The Washington County girls were led by first place finishes from sophomore McKenzie Baker in the 100 Meter Hurdles (15.42) and sophomore Addy Goeckel in the 300 Meter Hurdles (46.2).

Junior Kiersten Tholstrup placed runner-up in the 400 Meter Dash with a time of 1:00.35 as well.

Perry-Lecompton senior Kael Gorski placed first in the 100 Meter Hurdles with a time of 15.03.

Centralia senior Reagan Becker won her second straight gold medal in the 1A high jump while also claiming a third place finish in the long jump. 

Jefferson County North junior Isaac Kane won first place in the 400 Meter Dash with a time of 50.2. He also placed fourth in the high jump.

Hanover sophomore Anna Jueneman had a very good meet which includes a first-place finish in the 400 Meter Dash (58.88), second place in the 200 Meter Dash (26.8) and fourth place in the 100 Meter Dash (12.68).

Silver medal finishes for Holton's Darcee Ashcraft in the 4A shot put, Nemaha Central's Connor Deters in Class 3A in both discus and shot put along with Cali Honeyman in the 100 meter hurdles. 

Kanyon Olberding of Jackson Heights finished her stellar career with second place finishes in both the long jump and triple jump. 

Overall, it was a successful year at the 2023 Kansas State Track & Field Championships. You can see all of the results from our area athletes right here.