Hays High hurdler in for busy day at Wichita
By NICK McQUEEN
nmcqueen@dailynews.net
Last season, Hays High School's Kristen Fleharty was the go-to hurdler for the Indian girls, following the departure of former teammate Hayley Charles to graduation.
It's a role she accepted with open arms and a heightened enthusiasm in the state meet. It led her to a fifth- and third-place finish in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles at the Class 5A State Championships, respectively, at Wichita's Cessna Stadium.
This time around, it's more of the same for Fleharty, now a senior, as the Indians get set for the 2008 season finale this weekend in Wichita.
"I am very excited for all of us girls,"¬ Fleharty said. "We have an awesome group heading down there."
Fleharty, one of three senior girls making the trip, along with three senior boys, will have a busy weekend. Not only will she compete individually in the hurdle events, but is a member of both the 400- and 1,600-meter relays, both state qualifiers for a youthful Indian girls' squad. The Indians are taking 13 girls in 13 events, seeking a team trophy under first-year coach Rick Blosser.
"I am not sure if we can contend for a trophy,"¬ Fleharty said. "But I know that we're going to give it everything we've got."
Fleharty's fifth-place finish last year served as a bit of a disappointment in the 100 hurdles. She used that as motivation to run better this season. Earlier in the year, Fleharty put up a career-best 14.81 second run, breaking a Hays High girls' record. It was the fastest time in 5A this season. Her regional time of 15.19 seconds last week at Newton was second behind McPherson sophomore Anna Eigruber. They are the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds for this weekend's race.
"I was told to run to qualify, and keep my legs just in case I was needed in the 4x4, and I was," Fleharty said of her hurdling day at the regional. "I know I could have run harder in the 100s, but I was saving some legs just in case.
"It's a great feeling, though, to be headed down in both events again," she added.
In the 300 hurdles, Fleharty is ranked second, placing fourth in a fast Newton regional last week with a time of 48.68 seconds. The top seed, held by Great Bend's Caitlyn Murray, was also run at Newton, in 56.68.
"I am expecting a better outcome than last year in the 100,"¬ Fleharty said. "In the 300s, I would be happy with the same result."
The two relays have also been solid as of late. The girls' 400-meter relay, thought to be the second-best of the two, set a school record in the regional last week, running a 50.37 to win the Newton regional. Fleharty runs the first leg, followed by sophomore Erika Schmidt, freshman Sheradin Fabrizius and sophomore Ashli Dryden.
"We could still use a little bit of work," Fleharty said. "Especially, on our handoffs, but if we have a really good day, we could put up a good time."
The 1,600-meter relay was fourth in the Newton regional at 4:10.15, and was good enough for a fourth seed in the state meet. Fleharty said the team is capable of putting up a 4:05, given another good day, which would probably put them in contention for a state crown, if regional times holds.
The Indians' 3,200-meter relay has also posted good times this season, but is ranked 10th heading into state with a fourth-place finish in Newton.
All three relays feature Fabrizius, one of several talented runners getting their feet wet at state for the Indians.
"I knew the freshmen coming in were going to be strong, but I didn't think they would be this strong this early," Fleharty said. "Those girls who have made it on the varsity relays are great competitors."
The 1,600 relay is composed of Dryden, Fabrizius, junior Sarah Disney and junior Raena Sander. Fleharty said she didn't know if she would run in the preliminaries of the relay, but definitely in the finals, if they make it to Saturday.
On the boys' side, HHS is led by a trio of seniors. The Indians' 3,200-meter relay team, which could feature all three, is the No. 3 seed following a third-place finish at Newton.
Seniors Nathan Augustine, Solomon Jackson, and Brogan Miller are all listed as relay members for the event, with Jackson also competing in the 400-meter dash, where he ranks eighth, following a second-place finish in the regional.
Sophomore standout distance runner Josh Munsch could also run a leg of that relay, and will also have a busy weekend for the Indians, if need be.
Munsch qualified in both the 1,600 and 800. In the 1,600, Munsch posted 5A's best time in 4:21.99. He won first place at Newton in the 800 as well in 1:59.33, but is the fifth seed for the event.
With Fleharty leading the way, several Indians will be busy in Wichita.
"I know this is going to be my last high school meet ever. It's going to be hard to leave behind these coaches that have brought me up so far,"¬ said Fleharty, a Fort Hays State University signee. "I am so much better than I was freshman year."