Introducing the 2022 Wichita Eagle high school boys track and field All-Metro team

The Wichita area featured some of the best high school track and field athletes in Kansas this season, and that star power is highlighted on The Wichita Eagle’s 2022 All-Metro boys track and field team.

The All-Metro squad consists of a total of 20 selections: 16 of the top (nine track, seven field) athletes, three top relays and a top coach from Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties, based heavily on performance at the state meet and state-wide rankings.

Andover senior athlete Tayton Klein, a KU signee, was named the All-Metro Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year after winning three Class 5A state championships in the 110-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles and long jump. Below are the complete All-Metro selections (the girls team can be found here).

Wichita Eagle All-Metro boys track and field team

Ashton Barkdull, Andover Central senior

Andover Central installed its first pole vault pit in 2021 and Barkdull showed why it was a wise investment by becoming a 2-time state champion in pole vault. Thanks to elite speed that saw him qualify for state in the open 100 and place third in the 200, Barkdull was the best pole vaulter in Kansas this season and broke the Class 5A state meet record by clearing a PR of 16-7¼ for the No. 6 best mark in Kansas history. The KU signee was an AV-CTL Div. II champion in the 100, 200 and pole vault, a regional champion in the 200 and pole vault and finished his career as a 8-time state qualifier, 6-time state medalist and 2-time All-Metro pick.

Luke Brock, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior

A breakout season was capped off in the best way possible, as Brock was the surprise winner of the Class 5A state title in the 1600. Despite not winning the race at City League or at the regional meet, Brock ran a season-best time of 4:21.69 for the 15th-best time in Kansas this season to win the race. In his first appearance at the state meet as an individual, Brock also added a fourth-place finish in the 800 with a season-best time of 1:58.50 in a race he was a regional champion in.

Bryce Cohoon, Maize junior

Speed talks and Cohoon’s work in the month of May showed exactly how. He completed a perfect month in the 100, becoming AV-CTL Div. I champion, a regional champion and then a Class 5A state champion in a season-best time of 10.57 seconds. It’s not a coincidence that within the month he received a Division I football offer to play wide receiver for Syracuse, where he is now committed. After placing sixth in the 200 last season in his state meet debut, Cohoon improved that finish to second place in the 200 this season in Class 5A and his season-best time of 21.82 was the No. 9 time in Kansas this season.

William Doolittle, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior

One of the top throwers in the state, Doolittle finished his career with a Class 5A state championship in the shot put and the discus. After winning gold in the discus and silver in the shot put in 2021, Doolittle flip-flopped his senior season and won gold in the shot put and silver in the discus. Doolittle, the City League and regional champion in both events, finished No. 4 in Kansas with his PR shot put throw of 57-11½ and his PR of 191-2 in the discus was No. 3 in the state this season. He finished his career as a 3-time state qualifier in both events, a 2-time All-Metro pick and 3-time state medalist in the discus with a gold, silver and bronze.

Matthew Holthusen, Bishop Carroll senior

It was quite the rollercoaster postseason for Holthusen, who won the City League title in the 300 hurdles in a season-best time of 39.76, barely qualified at regionals, then barely qualified for finals at the state meet, before ripping off a 40.14 in the finals to place third in Class 5A. The Southwestern football signee’s season-best time was good for 11th-fastest in Kansas this season. He also ran a leg on Carroll’s 4x1 relay team that picked up a fifth-place medal at state.

Tayton Klein, Andover senior

No one from the Wichita area put on a better show at the state meet than Klein, who became a 3-time gold medalist and picked up a silver in a busy weekend of work. The KU signee had a breakthrough performance on Day 1 in the long jump, producing a PR mark of 24-1¾ to defend his Class 5A state title with the top mark in Kansas this season. He also finished with the best time in state this season in the 300 hurdles with another PR performance at state with a winning time of 38.23. He added a third gold in the 110 hurdles in 14.87, then finished third in the open 100 with a PR time of 10.66. He finished his career as a 4-time state champion and 2-time All-Metro pick, not only qualifying for four events in his final two seasons but coming away with a state medal all eight times.

Jackson Kraus, Andale junior

Kraus has come antagonizing close to winning a Class 4A state championship in the shot put his first two years at the state meet, finishing runner-up with a silver medal both times. This time Kraus came less than three inches away from winning, but still produced a season in the event where his PR of 60-0 was the third-best throw in Kansas and he was the AV-CTL Div. IV and regional champion in the event. He also came through with a PR throw of 155-9 in the discus at the state meet to finish third in Class 4A.

Riley Marx, Andale junior

It’s been a perfect start to his high school track career, as Marx once again won the Class 4A state championships in the discus and the javelin. His specialty is the javelin and his PR of 209-9 from this season was the top mark in Kansas and the No. 16 throw in state history. Marx also came up clutch to defend his discus title, delivering a PR of 162-1 on his final throw in the finals to capture the gold medal. He is a 2-time All-Metro pick who was the AV-CTL Div. IV champion in both events this season, as well.

Blake McCormick, Maize South senior

It was quite the transformation for McCormick, who blossomed into one of the state’s top javelin throwers in his senior season. After finishing 11th at the state meet as a junior, McCormick won the Class 5A state title this spring with a PR throw of 189-9, which finished as the No. 8 mark in Kansas this season. The Wichita State signee also finished fourth place in the 5A discus, which was his second state medal in the event. He was the AV-CTL Div. I champion in both the discus and javelin this season.

Jaden Mitchell, Collegiate junior

Injuries had prevented Mitchell from participating in high school track until he returned late in his junior season. The wait was worth it: Mitchell not only won the Class 3A state championship in the 100, he tied Jordy Nelson’s 19-year-old state meet record with a PR time of 10.63. He was the AV-CTL Div. IV champion in the 100 and also was the anchor on Collegiate’s 4x1 relay that finished with a silver medal at the state meet. He also was a regional champion in the long jump.

Caquoy Patterson, East senior

It was a triumphant return to the track for the speedy football wide receiver signed to Hutchinson, as Patterson proved himself as one of the fastest sprinters in the state. He finished with a silver medal in Class 6A with a PR time of 10.55 in the 100 and also ran the second leg on East’s championship 4x1 relay team that broke the school record with a time of 41.79 to capture the state title. Patterson was a regional champion in the 100 and City League champion in the 200 this season, as his season PR of 10.51 in the 100 was the No. 4 time in Kansas this season.

John Randle Jr., Heights junior

The same explosion that made him one of the nation’s top running backs made Randle Jr. one of the top jumpers in Kansas this season. Almost entirely on athleticism, Randle Jr. won the Class 6A triple jump state championship with a PR mark of 49-3½ that finished as the top jump in Kansas this season. He also picked up a fourth-place state medal in the long jump, while his PR mark of 23-5 was the fourth-best in Kansas this season. Randle, who also ran a leg on Heights’ 4x1 relay team that finished fourth, finished this season as the City League champion and regional champion in both the long jump and triple jump.

DeShon Reynolds, Derby junior

In his state track meet debut, Reynolds came away with a fourth-place finish in the Class 6A triple jump. He was consistently one of the best in the event in the state this season, winning the AV-CTL Div. I title in the process, and his PR of 45-11 was No. 9 in Kansas. He also was a state qualifier in the high jump.

Sawyer Schmidt, Augusta senior

Schmidt finished his career as one of the most decorated distance runners in Kansas, as a 2-time state track champion and a cross country state title in 2021. Although the KU signee didn’t win a state title on the track in his senior season, he still pulled off an impressive weekend with silver medals in the 800, 1600 and 3200 to go along with a fourth-place finish on Augusta’s 4x8 relay team. He was the AV-CTL Div. III champion in the 800 and 1600 and region champion in the 800, 1600 and 3200. His season-best times in the 800 (1:56.14, No. 10), 1600 (4:16.76, No. 6) and 3200 (9:12.26, No. 4) were all among the best in the state. He finished his career as a 2-time All-Metro pick, 8-time state qualifier and 8-time state medalist with a top-3 finish in all seven of his individual races.

Clay Shively, Trinity Academy sophomore

Shively sent shockwaves through the state midway through the season when he ripped off a PR time of 4:10.08 in the 1600, which stood as the fastest time in Kansas this season and the No. 12 fastest race all-time in state history. He finished with a silver medal in Class 3A in the race and also added a runner-up finish in the 800 for the third individual state medal of his career.

Carter Wagner, Rose Hill senior

Down to the final triple jump attempt of his career, Wagner delivered in the clutch with a PR of 44-6 to win the Class 4A state championship. The Emporia State signee was also one of the state’s top high jumpers, as he finished in second place at state and his PR of 6-9 was the No. 6 mark in Kansas this season. He was the AV-CTL Div. IV champion and regional champion in the high jump and triple jump and finished his career with four state medals.

East 4x1 relay

It was a fitting end to the season after qualifying three of its runners to the open 100 finals at the state meet. The East 4x1 relay team of seniors Justin Bell, Caquoy Patterson, Tobi Osunsamni and Travon Manuel etched their names in history by winning the Class 6A state championship with a school record time of 41.79 seconds, which is the 10th-fastest time in Kansas history. They also won the City League championship together and a regional title.

Andale 4x4 relay

The final race of the state track meet has long been the bread-and-butter for Andale, usually topping off yet another team state championship. It was no different this season, as sophomore Gage Prosser, senior Zach Winter, senior Matt Seiler and senior Nathan Seck teamed up to win another Class 4A title with a time of 3:26.26 at the state meet. In a testament to teamwork, none of Andale’s four members were individual All-Metro picks. Their season PR time of 3:24.81 finished as the sixth-fastest time in Kansas this season.

Bishop Carroll 4x8 relay

It was a postseason sweep for the Bishop Carroll 4x8 relay team, which won the City League title, regional title and then Class 5A state title. The team won state with a PR time of 8:04.61 with the group of sophomore Gunnar Leonard, junior Trent Zimbelman, junior Connor McKinney and senior Carson McEachern. It was McEachern who provided the dramatics, breaking away from the lead pack down the final straightaway to capture the gold medal.

John Kornelson, Kapaun Mt. Carmel coach

Kornelson is a Wichita legend and he was able to get the very best out of a deep and talented Kapaun team this season with a third-place finish at the Class 5A state meet and just seven points away from the title. The Crusaders finished with six different athletes to come away with state medals, including state champions in Luke Brock (1600) and William Doolittle (shot put) and medalists in Luke Hampl, Henry Thengvall, Isaac Schmitz and Jackson Daniel.

Second team All-Metro

Logan Albers, Garden Plain senior hurdles

Tyson Ashihi, El Dorado senior sprints

Bryce Barkdull, Andover Central sophomore pole vault

Korbin Black, Halstead senior throws

Teagan Cobb, Rose Hill junior jumps

D.J. Dingle, Heights junior hurdles

Kelby Eck, Andale junior hurdles

Luke Grace, Cheney senior jumps

Andrew Harder, Berean Academy junior distance

Beau Kerschen, Andale senior throws

Easton Landers, Andale senior jumps

Travon Manuel, East senior sprints

C.J. Meyer, Collegiate junior distance

Jonah Meyer, Andale junior throws

Zane Pepperd, Goddard senior hurdles

Eddy Rachedi, Southeast senior sprints

Joseph Ricalde-Phillips, Independent junior sprints

Ryan Stucky, Sedgwick senior distance

Brandt Stupka, Andover Central freshman jumps

Henry Thengvall, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior distance

Will Tice, Garden Plain senior throws

Trent Zimbelman, Bishop Carroll junior distance

Heights 4x1 relay (Jaeden Hamilton, John Randle Jr., Kamaar Alexander, Ashmar Anderson)

Collegiate 4x1 relay (Carson Phelps, James Shackelford, Peyden Chronister, Jaden Mitchell)

Hesston 4x4 relay (Max Werner, Cavan Fuqua, Tyler Rewerts, Cason Richardson)

Bishop Carroll 4x4 relay (Keaton Hansard, Jack Loyd, Joshua Capps, Trent Zimbelman)

Maize 4x8 relay (Alex Ayin, Zach Johnson, Kaleb Glazier, Aiden Werner)

Collegiate 4x8 relay (Will Meyer, Mason Hart, C.J. Meyer, Tyler Gwyn)

Andrew Bergkamp, Garden Plain coach

Tyler Ryan, Andale coach

Third team All-Metro

Nolan Bevan, Valley Center junior sprints

Marquan Culley, Southeast senior sprints

Drew Daniels, Andover Central senior throws

Luke Hampl, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior hurdles

Alan Hanna, Maize freshman jumps

Keaton Hansard, Bishop Carroll junior sprints

Gabe Harp-Jackson, El Dorado junior jumps

Luke Hillman, Garden Plain junior throws

Andrew Howard, Campus senior hurdles

Daniel Jackson, Kapaun Mt. Carmel freshman throws

Thomas Johnson, Augusta junior hurdles

Eyan Knipp, Bluestem senior jumps

Carson McEachern, Bishop Carroll senior distance

Will Meyer, Collegiate freshman distance

Landen O’Neil, Andover Central junior distance

Tobi Osunsamni, East senior sprints

Carson Phelps, Collegiate junior sprints

Michael Polley, Bishop Carroll senior jumps

Jonah Remsberg, Newton senior jumps

William Schaefer, Maize South senior distance

Trevor Schmidt, Garden Plain senior throws

Isaac Schmitz, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior throws

Ryan Son, East sophomore distance

John Spexarth, Andale senior pole vault

Brock Stupka, Andover Central senior hurdles

Marcus White, East sophomore hurdles

Rylan White, Andale sophomore pole vault

Andale 4x1 relay (Luke Kuhn, Gage Prosser, Daniel Reichert, Nick Schwab)

Derby 4x1 relay (Brock Zerger, Dylan Edwards, Mason Madrigal, Christian Crawford)

Maize South 4x4 relay (Braedan Winter, William Schaeffer, Ladislao Jaimes III, Danny Vitzum)

Southeast 4x4 relay (Marquan Culley, Eric Torres, Evan Boudreau, Eddy Rachedi)

Newton 4x8 relay (Simon Secor, Kaden Anderson, Alexander Barnett, Simon Hodge)

Augusta 4x8 relay (Michael Johnson, Aiden Broadbent, Patrick Dieter, Sawyer Schmidt)

Aren Coppoc, Andover Central coach

Clark Ensz, Collegiate coach