FHSU Athletics
The Fort Hays State track and field teams turned in several standout performances over the weekend as they split competition between the Jo Meaker Classic & Multis in Canyon, Texas, and the K.T. Woodman Classic in Wichita, Kan. Facing a strong field that included numerous NCAA Division I programs, the Tigers posted multiple top finishes and provisional marks across both meets.
The Jo Meaker Classic & Multis saw Annabeth Baalmann clear a school-record height of 13-9.25, breaking her own previous record from earlier this season. The mark not only earned her first place in the event but currently ranks her second in Division II and stands as a provisional qualifier for nationals.
In the men's decathlon, Nolan Churchman secured a second-place finish with 7,138 points, highlighted by a first-place finish in the long jump (24-6) and second in the 400m (49.24). His total also met the provisional qualifying standard. Teammate Drew Tolar placed eighth overall, also hitting a provisional mark with 6,578 points.
The pole vault squad made a statement on the men's side as well, sweeping multiple top spots. Brady Deges and Josiah Ball tied for second at 15-7.0.
Sprinter Nakari Morrical-Palmer continued his strong outdoor season, finishing eighth in the 400m (47.90) and 12th in the 200m with a provisional time of 20.98. The men's 4x100-meter relay team of Eddie McVay, Toby Wahlmeier, Avrey Albright, and Hayden Albright crossed the line in 40.71 seconds, good for sixth place and also a provisional qualifier.
On the women's side, Reba Mader claimed a third-place finish in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:02.33, while Jayme Hagerman had a strong showing in the horizontal jumps, placing fifth in the long jump (18-10.0) and 10th in the triple jump (37-1.75).
The K.T Woodman Classic saw Emily Diercks lead the way with a dominant performance in the women's 5000m, finishing first overall in a time of 16:55.67, hitting a provisional qualifying mark in the process. The Tigers placed six women in the top 35 in the event, including Ashlyn Harbaugh (12th, 17:47.79) and Emma Weiner (15th, 17:55.14).
In the men's steeplechase, Noah Morenz clocked 9:15.79 to finish fifth, while Christian Darrah earned a third-place finish in the men's 5000m (14:31.01), adding another top-five performance to the weekend tally.
Makenzie Premer led the women in the steeplechase with a third-place finish at 11:24.74, while Eden Bathurst secured a top-15 finish in the 800m, placing 14th in 2:18.34.
In the throws, Jessica Saunders placed sixth in the discus (148-1.0), while Emma Slade was close behind in eighth (144-10.0). Slade also competed in the shot put and hammer throw, helping round out a busy weekend for the Tigers' field athletes.
With the outdoor season in full swing, the Tigers will look to build on these strong performances as they continue to chase national qualifying marks and gear up for the KU Relays Thursday (April 17) and the Coyote Challenge (April 18).
FHSU Results
Jo Meaker Classic & Multis
Men's
100m
18th – Hayden Albright – 10.55
23rd – Avrey Albright – 10.64
31st – Omari Smith – 10.76
32nd – Toby Wahlmeier – 10.78
110mH
23rd – Spencer Rich – 16.76
200m
12th – Nakari Morrical-Palmer – 20.98 #
24th – Hayden Albright – 21.39
26th – Toby Wahlmeier – 21.44
40th – Avrey Albright – 21.69
400m
8th – Nakari Morrical-Palmer – 47.90
400mH
10th – Mayan Paz – 55.90
14th – Noah Mitchell – 56.75
Pole Vault
2nd – Brady Deges – 15-7.0
2nd – Josiah Ball – 15-7.0
4th – Kurtis McCormick – 15-1.0
7th – Mason Younger – 14-7.5
9th – Rylan White – 14-1.25
Triple Jump
13th – Dean Clark – 45-0.5
Long Jump
18th – Dean Clark – 22-4.5
4x100m Relay
6th – Eddie McVay, Toby Wahlmeier, Avrey Albright, Hayden Albright – 40.71 #
Decathlon
2nd – Nolan Churchman – 7138 #
100 – 10.83 – 899
LJ – 24-6 – 932 1st
SP – 37-0.0 – 562
HJ – 6-3.0 – 731
400 – 49.24 – 850 2nd
110H – 15.37 – 805
DT – 118-6.0 – 587
PV – 14-0.0 – 688
JT – 159-0.0 – 566
1,500 – 5:07.42 – 518
8th – Drew Tolar – 6578 #
100 – 10.94 – 874
LJ – 22-4.0 – 774
SP – 139-1.0 – 601 3rd
HJ – 6-0.0 – 653
400 – 49.74 – 827
110H – 16.25 – 705
DT – 106-4.0 – 512
PV – 12-9.5 – 603
JT – 138-1.5 – 473
1,500 – 5:00.57 – 556
Women's
100m
39th – Reba Mader – 12.38
44th – Jayme Hagerman – 12.38
100mH
21st – Elysia Kunkler – 16.95
200m
40th – Amelia Foster – 25.80
400m
18th – Amelia Foster – 59.09
400mH
3rd – Reba Mader – 1:02.33
Pole Vault
1st – Annabeth Baalmann – 13-9.25 # @
Long Jump
5th — Jayme Hagerman – 18-10.0
Triple Jump
10th – Jayme Hagerman – 37-1.75
13th – Abby Rueschhoff – 36-3.5
K.T Woodman Classic
Men's
800m
34th – Emery Wolfe – 1:57.19
66th – Ethan Emmons – 2:01.13
1500m
22nd – Kaiden Esfeld – 3:59.68
36th – Ethan Fisher – 4:03.00
3000m Steeplechase
5th – Noah Morenz – 9:15.79
22nd – Cole Krug – 9:58.94
25th – Ian Weich – 10:06.05
5000m
3rd – Christian Darrah – 14:31.01
22nd – Chayse McCullough – 15:11.28
35th – Ty Raulston – 15:29.88
44th – Andrew Waller – 15:46.54
49th – Hunter Metzger – 15:52.96
Women's
800m
14th – Eden Bathurst – 2:18.34
1500m
24th – Madison Sutterfield – 4:52.68
27th – Alayna Cossaart – 4:53.78
47th – Kyra Nippert – 5:06.93
68th – Morgan Beckwith – 5:20.48
3000m Steeplechase
3rd – Makenzie Premer – 11:24.74
13th – Brenna Murphy – 12:19.87
5000m
1st – Emily Diercks – 16:55.67 #
12th – Ashlyn Harbaugh – 17:47.79
15th – Emma Weiner – 17:55.14
20th – Abbye Hudson – 18:22.25
30th – Arely Maldonado – 18:48.50
35th – Keziah Bachman – 19:19.86
Javelin
12th – Patrisha Doll – 125-7.0
Shot Put
21st – Liberty Booker – 38-6.0
27th – Emma Slade – 35-2.5
Discus
6th – Jessica Saunders – 148-1.0
8th – Emma Slade – 144-10.0
23rd – Kieran Burke – 121-9.0
Hammer
11th – Liberty Booker – 166-0.0
15th – Emma Slade – 161-8.