Emporia State track and field Coach Steve Blocker and cross country Coach Mark Stanbrough have announced the signing of 7 distance runners.
Coach Blocker says they all have a high ceiling.
Brent Hastert was a two-time KSHSAA Class 5A state qualifier in the 800m for Emporia HS. He placed seventh at state in the 800m and anchored the 2018 state runner-up 4x400m relay. He was a three-sport letter winner for Emporia HS and was named the KVOE Emporia HS Male Student-Athlete of the Year.
Sam Hengeli placed ninth at the 2017 NJCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 10,000m run for Johnson County CC and qualified for the indoor national championships in the 3000m as a sophomore. He was tenth in the 1600m for Olathe South HS at the 2016 KSHSAA Class 6A state championships. He will have two years of eligibility in cross country and three years left in both indoor and outdoor track.
Matthew Maki was sixth in the 3200m at the KSHSAA Class 4A state meet with a personal best of 9:53.19 for Andover Central HS. He was a two-time state qualifier in cross country and placed ninth at the Class 4A state cross country meet.
Lucas Shryock placed ninth as a senior in the KSHSAA Class 6A state cross country championships at Olathe South HS and was a two-time state qualifier in cross country. He led off the fourth place 4x800m relay at the 2018 Class 6A state championships.
Karli Elsner was a two-time KSHSAA Class 5A state qualifier in the 1600m for Valley Center HS. She placed 13th in the 800m at the state meet as a senior.
Kaitlyn Karjala qualified for the KSHSAA Class 5A State championships in both the 1600m and 3200m for Emporia HS. She was a two-time state qualifier in cross country
Hannah Showalter qualified for the KSHSAA Class 5A cross country championships all four years at Andover HS. She was a two-time Class 5A state qualifier in 3200m.
