You could call the past week in Kansas track and field the
calm before the storm -- you know, the final week for teams to get ready for the
post-season triumvirate of league, regionals and state.
But if this is the "calm," then -- my, oh my -- the storm is
going to be something special.
More than one-third of the division-leading marks went down
in Kansas this week, including 38 new marks in the six boys' divisions, and 37
more in the girls' divisions.
Included in the carnage was a pair of performances that
landed Kansas athletes among the top 15 in the United States so far this year.
Samantha Vanhoecke of Paola cleared 13-1.5 to win the pole
vault at the Wellsville Invitational. The mark puts her at No. 12 in the U.S.
rankings currently.
And Tyler Palic of Marion let loose with a throw of 191-11
to win the discus at the Hesston Relays, putting him at No. 14 in the country.
But a huge chunk of the state's top performances took place
at the Shawnee Mission No...