WICHITA – A slower pace at the start of Friday night's 3,200-meter run may have cost Holcomb star Brody Deniston a shot at one state-meet record.

It didn't cost him a state title.

Instead, it may have helped him secure another record.

A day after winning the Class 3A 3,200 title, the Holcomb senior set the 3A meet record in the 1,600 with a time of 4:11.52, breaking the mark of 4:12.60 set by Wichita Trinity's Clay Shively in 2023.

Deniston also added a runner-up finish in the 800 and helped lead Holcomb to its third straight Class 3A team title.

“I knew my PRs were right around the records in all of my events,” Deniston said. “I knew if I went for it in each of those I could get all of them. The 3,200, we went out pretty slow, which honestly — I didn't get the record — but that helped my 1,600 a lot because I saved a lot.

“Going into that race, I was like, ‘I'm going to go get this record.’ But that one also went out a little slow.”

Deniston said he deviated from his normal strategy in the 1,600, which saw him break away from runner-up Simeon Sanchez of Caney Valley by about three seconds for the win.

“I had to lead the first lap, which I don't really like leading,” Deniston said. “But about halfway through we were at 2:10 and I was like, ‘I'm gonna have to close hard if I wanna get this record.’

“Luckily, [Sanchez] made a hard move and I was able to close in 56 to get that for that 4:11. With about 100 meters left, it was reading about 4:00, 4:01, and I was like ‘I can really get this.’”

It was a memorable sendoff for Deniston, who also captured his first state title in cross country this past fall and helped lead the Longhorn basketball team to the state tournament.

“I couldn't ask for a better senior season,” he said.

“It was awesome being a part of a dynasty and to finally have a year where I won multiple individual events,” Deniston said. “It was a lot of emotion and it just felt bittersweet. It was good that I went out with a bang, exactly how I wanted to, but I'm for sure gonna miss high school running a lot.”
 

Though the slower start in Friday night's 3,200 didn't lend itself to a meet record, it still played right into the hands of Deniston, who finshed in 9:17.26 and won by more than three seconds over runner-up Brayden Walker of Southeast of Saline.

“In any given race, I have the confidence to say: If I'm in the race in the last 200, then I'm gonna win the race,” Deniston said. “I feel like I have some of the most natural leg speed out of any distance guy. So that just played into my favor, the slower it goes out and the quicker it finishes. The whole mindset during the race was to just sit behind the leader, give it until about 400 left, and then make a move.”

Deniston's bid to repeat as 800 champion was denied by Southeast of Saline's Jacob Bircher, who ran a 1:52.02 to Deniston's 1:53.08.

“I thought a 1:53, right around my PR, that's all it would take to win but obviously [Bircher] showed up that day and showed out, so you can't be too mad,” Deniston said. “I was happy with my effort. I went out there and gave it my all.”

Deniston finished his career with six gold medals across track and cross country, not including Holcomb's three team titles.

He's now gearing up for his college career at Pittsburg State.

“I'm super stoked to go to Pitt State,” Deniston said. “I feel like it's a lot like Holcomb in a way. They dominate a lot of years and get a lot of championships so it'll be nice to go from a championship-level high school team to a championship-level college team.

“I'm really looking forward to training with a bunch of people that are better than me and right around my speed. Hopefully that will make me a lot better.”
 

While Deniston was wrapping up his historic career, sophomore teammate Cooper Cranston was busy building upon the groundwork he began laying last year for what could be just as prolific of one for the program.
 
Even as late as a year ago, Cranston was a bit in awe of one of his top rivals in the Great West Activities Conference. Goodland’s Linkon Cure had more than made a somewhat larger-than-life name for himself as the top football recruit in the state in 2024 and was just as an imposing presence on the track.
 
After sweeping the Class 3A hurdles state titles in 2024, Cure set the 3A meet record at state a year ago in the 110 hurdles, running a 14.36. As a fellow hurdler, Cranston viewed Cure’s stature as a pretty lofty goal to reach. 
 
“When I was an eighth grader and even into my freshman year, I never thought it would even be reasonable to compare myself to him,” Cranston said of Cure.
 
But in getting to race Cure routinely a year ago, found out he really wasn’t that far off. Though he never beat the Cowboy standout, Cranston began to rise to the level of the competition. He turned in a then-career-best 14.39 to Cure’s 14.20 at regionals and then finished just .27 seconds behind him at the state meet, running a 14.63 to Cure’s record-setting 14.36.
 
Carrying that momentum over this season, Cranston quickly established himself as the favorite for the 3A title in the 110 hurdles. His time of 14.25 at the Holcomb Invitational put him within striking distance of Cure’s state-meet record and the following week, Cranston clocked a 14.16 that wound up ranking sixth overall in the state.
 
But even with his time drops and Cure having graduated last spring, the path to a state title in the 110s this season had some serious challenges. For starters, his other GWAC rival, Colby’s Jordan Jones, was back after knocking off Cure for the 300 hurdles state title last fall and had made big strides in the 110s as well.
 
Furthermore, Phillipsburg had moved up to 3A from 2A this year and that added Tanner Horinek to the field of challengers with Horinek sweeping the 2A titles in the hurdles at state last year.
 
“It’s definitely very exciting and cool to race against that competition,” Cranston said. “It’s definitely more rewarding for sure.”
 

 
Cranston laid down the gauntlet a bit in the prelims when he ran a 14.05 that erased the record Cure had set a year ago. Horinek and Jones were more than a half second back but in the finals, Horinek stuck right on Cranston’s hip the entire way.
 
The finish was nearly a photo one as Cranston just out-leaned Horinek to win by just .04 seconds in 14.26. Jones was a distant third in 14.73.
 
“It’s definitely an honor to get that record,” Cranston said. “It’s not something I really thought was possible a year ago, but felt I could get it this season.”
 
Horinek injured a leg muscle in the 400 relay and wasn’t able to come back and compete in the 300 hurdles, leaving Cranston and Jones to duel it out for the title. Cranston had beaten Jones for the GWAC title in late May, but Jones had won their other two previous meetings.
 

 
Jones had posted the fastest qualifying mark by nearly a second and was able to successfully defend his title and deny Cranston the sweep, winning the final in 38.69 while Cranston was right behind in 39.15.
 
“He’s tough and I knew that would be really tough challenge but maybe there was a shot,” Cranston said. “Definitely props to him and I’m glad I got to race him.”
 

 
Cranston did pick up a second gold, teaming with Clay Tolbert, Evan Valencia and Avery McVey to win the 400 relay, running a 42.78 to edge Silver Lake, which was second in 43.14. He also added a fourth-place finish in the javelin, throwing a career-best 188-4.
 
Deniston and Cranston also got scoring help from McVey, who placed third in the 100 and 4th in the 200. The Longhorns were able to build a big enough lead that they were able to withstand a DQ from the 1,600 relay in the final race after they had placed fourth.
 

SOUTH CENTRAL'S HERD GOES OUT WITH MONSTER THROW 

It was the final act of a remarkable senior year for South Central star Jack Herd.

The defending champion closed his high school career in historic fashion Friday, shattering the Class 1A state meet record in the javelin with a throw of 217-2.

The previous record had been held by South Coffey County's Aaron True since 2014. Herd's throw surpassed that mark by more than 15 feet and ranked No. 7 nationally this season.

“It feels amazing,” Herd said. “That was the last competition in high school, and that's going to be the most memorable.”

Herd's title defense in the javelin added to a senior season that saw him help lead South Central to a football state title and a runner-up finish in basketball. He also starred this spring for the Bucklin/South Central baseball team.

“I only dreamed about it,” Herd said of his huge senior season. “Every coach and every teammate pushed me so hard and that's why I'm here right now doing all these things.”
 

Herd's record-breaking throw came on his third attempt.

“It felt big. It felt like I had all the mechanics you need, and it just felt good,” Herd said. “I knew seeing it, it was going to do some damage.”

“I knew this was going to be a big meet for me,” Herd added. “When we got there, I felt the adrenaline.”

Herd didn't go out for track and field until his junior season but quickly found success just as he had in every other sport.

Now, he'll continue his throwing career while also playing football at Friends University.

“I'll go to Friends and I'll throw and hopefully I'll improve and learn,” Herd said. “There's always room for improvement, and I'm excited.”

 

CARSON ENDS LONG TITLE DROUGHT FOR CHASE

Malik Carson didn't know exactly how long it had been since Chase produced a boys state track champion.

He just knew it had been an extremely long time.

The Chase sophomore ended a drought for the Kats that stretched back to 1959, when Dick Link won a state title in the 440-yard dash. Carson also became the school's first state track champion since Jennifer McCoy captured the girls triple jump title in 1999. Chase carried an enrollment of just 52 students during the 2025-26 school year.

After not qualifying for state in the event as a freshman, Carson claimed the Class 1A long jump title with a leap of 22-1.75.

“It means a lot to come from such a small school, all the way to this big stage and to win for all the people back home feels amazing,” Carson said.

Carson went just 20-6.75 on his first jump and then scratched on his second attempt before coming up with the eventual winning mark on his third try.

“I made some adjustments in the final jump in the prelims, and I was able to reel it in, focus real hard and secure a big jump for the winner,” Carson said. “It feels really good. It was nerve wracking to begin with, but I was glad I was able to get the win.

“When I wasn't jumping too good, it made me a little bit nervous. But I was like, you know, I got to remember who I am and what I've done to get here. I know I belong here, so I've got to focus up and get this job done.”

Carson's state title highlighted a strong meet hat also included a third-place finish in the 200 meters (22.57) and a fourth-place finish in the 100 (11.26).

Carson came up short in a loaded regional field as a freshman in long jump but came back with a strong sophomore season, winning six meets before state and posting a personal-best jump of 22-5.50.

“I think it's really about the patience. The coaches really helped me,” Carson said. “They helped me fix the small things, get the technique down and work in the weight room. You know, the weight room transitions to the track more than people believe.

“And then focusing really hard, getting rid of distractions, eating well, all those things help me improve as an athlete every day.”
 

IT ONLY TAKES ONE: HILL CITY’S ZOHNER COMES UP BIG FOR 1A DISCUS TITLE
 
Vincent Zohner had nothing to lose.
 
Going into his final throw of the Class 1A discus competition, a state title wasn’t even on the Hill City senior’s mind.
 
“I was thinking I was out of it,” said Zohner, who was sitting in fifth with a best of 164-10 and had just fouled his three previous throws. “I was just trying to calm myself down. But I got that slow clap going and I got some adrenaline.”
 
And what an adrenaline boost it was. Zohner hit everything perfect on his final toss and came up with the best throw of his career, going 178-6 on his final attempt to stun the field and take the title.
 
“It felt good and I knew it was going to be good,” said Zohner, whose previous career best was a at the Dighton Invitational in early May. “It means a lot to mean. I’ve been working hard and these past few weeks, I’ve been in a slump.”
 
Indeed, the struggles Zohner was having early in the state competition were comparable to those he endured during a four-meet stretch in the middle of the season. After throwing a then-career-best 162-6.25 to take sixth at the Kansas State Relays on April 11, Zohner hit a funk.
 
He failed to get a throw farther than 145-6 and at the last of those two meets, he only topped out at 136-0.
 
“I think I was just in my head,” Zohner said. “Just overthinking things instead of going out and throwing.”
 
Zohner seemed to right the ship at Dighton with his 168-8 and followed that up with back-to-back meets where he threw over 160 feet, including a 161-9 at regionals that had him the runner-up to Quinter’s Caedmon Bridges, who was the 1A leader this season with a best of 180-5, just three inches ahead of Little Rivers’ Cole Deiball (180-2).

 

 
Zohner went into the meet ranked fifth in Class 1A, but last year’s state meet should have been an indicator of what he was capable of. Not ranked among the top three throwers in Class 2A going into state, Zohner PRed at the state meet by five feet to claim the 2A state title by six feet over Plainville’s Tucker Rudman.
 
That PR came on his second throw of the prelims. His winning toss this year didn’t come until the very end and it was good enough to overtake Bridges, who had also overcome a sluggish start and thrown 170-6 on his second throw of finals to take the event lead.
 
“I’d only beaten (Bridges) once this year and so I was a bit scared,” Zohner said. “I was thinking maybe I would top at 172, not 178. That’s crazy.”
 
 Zohner also finished sixth in the javelin.

OTHER WESTERN KANSAS BOYS TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONS

 

 

• Beloit-St. John’s Edward Horinek successfully defended his Class 1A state title in the triple jump, fighting off a challenge from Norwich’s Jayden Benge. Horinek struggled during prelims, managing just a best of 42-7.75 to sit just seventh going into finals with Benge leading at 44-0.5. But in the finals, Horinek got his groove back and went over 45 feet with all three jumps, topping out at 45-7.75 to win by nine inches over Benge, who sailed 44-9.75 on his final attempt.

 

 

• One of three shot putters in the state to be over 60 feet going into the state meet, Elkhart’s Baylor Childress couldn’t quite hit that plateau at state. But trailing Wakefield’s Kingsley Smith by .75 inches going into finals, Childress came up with throws of 55-1.5 and 57-5.75 on his final two attempts to claim the title by nearly four feet over Smith, who finished with a best of 53-9.75.

 

 

• Norton’s Hadyn Rice upheld his distinction as the top javelin thrower in 3A, winning his first state title with a throw of 196-11. He won by more than six feet over Girard’s Gannon Clark, who went 190-7, while defending 3A champion Kasen Parsons – recovering from an ACL injury suffered during football, finished seventh. Norton also got two titles in the wheelchair 100 and 400 from Brextyn New, who was the lone male competing this year.

 

 

• Hugoton’s Adrian Adigun denied Bishop Miege’s Liam Tesmer a triple crown in the Class 4A jumps, fighting off the Stag for the title in the triple jump. Adigun soared a career-best 47-11.25 on his second prelim attempt and then held his breath as Tesmer popped a big one on his first attempt of finals, ultimately coming up less than three inches shy with a 47-8.5.

 

 

• Weskan’s Karsyn Wright captured the title in the Class 1A 100, finishing in 10.84 to beat Little River’s Tristan Bristow by .10 seconds. Wright also took second in the 200 to Cunningham’s Skyler Thimesch and fourth in the 400.

 

 

• With defending Class 1A 300 hurdles champion Landon Schmitz of Axtell getting DQed in the prelims, Osborne freshman Donovan Holloway took advantage and set himself for the potential to be a four-time state champion in the event. Holloway turned in a career-best 39.56 in the finals and needed it to hold off Norwich’s Trevor Bice, who was runner-up in 39.65, just .09 seconds behind Holloway, who also finished runner-up to Schmitz in the 110 hurdles.

 

 

• St. John’s Jericho Mawhirter won a tight battle with Flinthills’ Beau Hall for the Class 1A 400 title. Mawhirter ran a 50.69 to edge Hall, who posted a PR time of 50.97 to take second.
• After finally breaking two minutes in the 800 for the first time in his career at regionals, Golden Plains’ Dylan Wark did it again at state to win the Class 1A state title. Wark was the lone runner to get under two minutes, winning by more than three seconds with a career-best 1:57.77.

 

 

• Ness City ran away with the Class 1A 3,200 relay title as the team of Braddix Bozarth, Ben Durham, Ethan Flax and Broxton Gall finished in 8:14.89 to win by nearly five seconds over Axtell, which was second in 8:19.87. Ness City sat fourth after the opening leg, but Durham pushed the Eagles to a two-second lead on his leg and they steadily pulled away from there. 
• Scott City pulled out a thrilling win for the title in the class 3A 1,600 relay to cap the night. The Beavers went into the final leg in a three-way battle with Holcomb and Colby with .34 seconds separating the trio when the anchors got the baton. But Peyton Bergner was able to pull the Beavers into the lead and held off a late charge from Osage City anchor Quenten Stark to win by .11 seconds in 3:25.04. Bergner was joined by Cooper Irvin, Brendan Cook and Kasten Wren on the winning relay.