Kansas high school boys state track results: Andale javelin success a family affair

It was a family affair for the Andale boys track and field team atop the podium of the javelin competition at the Kansas high school state track and field championships at Wichita State’s Cessna Stadium on Friday.

In arguably the most competitive classification for the event, Andale’s three qualified throwers all finished in the top-four with senior Riley Marx winning his third straight Class 4A title in the javelin in dramatic fashion, Jonah Meyer finishing second and Cooper Marx taking fourth.

Not only are all three teammates, but they’re all related — Riley is the older brother to Cooper, while Meyer is the first cousin to both of them.

On top of those family connections, Marx’s sister, Samantha, finished second place in the javelin at the American Athletic Conference meet earlier this season for Wichita State, while the Marx’s other set of cousins, the Fairchilds, also feature their own accomplished throwers: McKenzie, a senior at Andale, won her fifth state title on Friday in the shot put, while older sister Katelyn is a standout javelin thrower currently at Texas A&M.

Marx joined Fairchild as a five-time champion on Friday, as he delivered in the clutch on the final javelin attempt of his high school career to leapfrog Meyer, his teammate and cousin, for the gold medal.

Meyer had just uncorked the best throw of his career, a 202-foot, 6-inch bomb that was more than an eight-foot improvement on his previous best, to move past Marx by six inches. With the pressure of a three-peat riding on his final throw, Marx delivered his own season-best throw of 206 feet, 11 inches to win the title.

Marx also has a place in the history book, as his career-best throw of 209-9 from last year still ranks No. 17 all-time in Kansas history.

The 4A javelin field was the most competitive in the state with three top-50 national marks thrown by Marx, Meyer and Eudora’s Kole Manley (193-8). Andale also had a third thrower, Cooper Marx, take fourth with a throw of 186-4.

It was also sweet redemption for Riley Marx, who was the two-time defending champion in the discus but finished runner-up this season. Even though Marx delivered his best throw in a state meet (166-9) in his career, he had to settle for the silver to Ottawa senior Zion Woodin, who had the winning throw of 168-10.

Trinity’s Samuel Ferguson wins 3A boys 3200 title

Trinity Academy junior Samuel Ferguson broke away from a pack on the last lap of the 3A 3200 race, becoming a first-time state champion with a season-best time of 9:20.23.

In a foot race to the finish line, Ferguson beat Marysville’s Silas Miller (9:20.90) by less than seven tenths of a second and Collegiate’s Will Meyer (9:21.59) by a little more than a second. Collegiate’s C.J. Meyer (9:29.10) also made the podium in fifth.

Hesston’s Tyler Rewerts wins 3A boys long jump title

Hesston senior Tyler Rewerts took the lead in the 3A long jump after his first mark of 21-11¼ and it ended up being good enough for him to become a first-time state champion.

Rewerts edged Norton’s Dean Clark (21-7½) by a little less than four inches. Collegiate senior Jaden Mitchell also made the podium with a fifth-place finish in 20-8½.

Inman’s Tanner Heckel wins 2A boys triple jump title

Inman junior Tanner Heckel was the lone competitor to clear 45 feet to comfortably take home the 2A gold medal in triple jump.

Heckel registered a winning mark of 45-2¾, which was more than a foot clear of second place in Garden Plain senior Noah McGregor, who finished at 44-2¼. Belle Plaine senior Trenton Pierson (43-1¼, fourth) and Sedgwick freshman Noah Little (41-6¼, eighth) also made the podium.