BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Eagles' Wirtz captures three gold medals
WICHITA — Ellinwood freshman Reagan Wirtz swept a trio of 2A gold medals in the long jump (18-1), 100 meters (12.24) and 200 meters (24.98) with a state meet record at Saturday's 2A state track championship.
"It hasn't hit me what I've accomplished," Wirtz said. "I'm soaking it in. I was shocked by that 200 meter record. Sterling's Julia Kilgore beat my time in prelims. We've gone back-and-forth. I knew I had to run my best."
Wirtz owns Ellinwood school records in the long jump (18-93/4), 100 meters (12.18) and 200 meters (24.98).
Wirtz faced nerves competing at state track for the first time.
"As a freshman, I had nerves, but I tried to stay confident," she said. "I told myself to keep a good mindset and stay confident.
Although a clear favorite, Wirtz faced nerves while competing in the long jump.
"I was nervous for the long jump. My adrenaline was going crazy," she said. "I got focused as I went along."
Ellinwood track coach Jeff Zook and assistant coach Ben Mitchum helped her stay calm. She receives training help from Barton track coach Emmanuel Dixon.
"My goal was work hard, improve each meet and make the most of my events," she said. "I wanted to win league and qualify for state. My goal, as I got older, was to place at state."
Five freshmen sparked the Eagles. Wirtz competes in volleyball and basketball much like many of the Eagles.
"When we were in middle school, we looked forward to seeing how we'd compete at the high school level," Wirtz said.
Wirtz teamed with Jenna Borror, Ayla Ritchie and Eleanor Joiner to place fifth (4:11.76) in the 1,600-meter relay, just shy of their personal best time.
"Wirtz delivered a meet for the ages," said Ellinwood coach Jeff Zook. "Wirtz began by capturing the long jump with a leap of 18-1. She sprinted to gold in the 100 meters, clocking a dominant 12.24. Her jaw-dropping moment came in the 200 meters, where she broke her school record (25.24), but shattered the 2A state record (25.21) with a blistering 24.98.
The Eagles scored 42 points for fifth place, barely missing a top three state trophy behind runners-up Alma Wabaunsee (44) and Smith Center (44) and fourth-place Inman (431/2). The Eagles missed a chance for a 2-point seventh-place finish when No. 9 ranked 800-meter runner Eleanor Joiner was tripped and unable to complete her race.
"Their journey began with a spectacular performance in the 4-by-800-meter relay," Zook said. "Lexi Thomas, Jenna Borror, Ayla Ritchie, and Eleanor Joiner blazed to a silver medal in 9:59.76 — breaking the school record."
The Eagles earned seven state medals, broke six school records, and saw a three-time state champion emerge in Wirtz. The underclassmen gained valuable experience — setting the stage for a promising future.
Ellinwood's highly-ranked Landon Simpson placed fifth in the 2A long jump (21-41/2) after working through an injury sustained at regionals.
Senior pole vaulter Cason Merritt cleared 12-6 and closed his career securing a track scholarship to Cowley College.
The boys’ sprint relays composed primarily of underclassmen, showed future promise. The 400 relay (Simpson, Logan Broyles, Cannon Schartz, Dawson Sunderland) and the 1,600 relay (Kellen Behnke, Erik Grose, Sunderland, and Simpson) gained crucial state-level experience.
Sophomore Ryan Pohlman competed in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters — earning a personal best time in the 3,200.
2A ELLINWOOD GIRLS—1ST—Reagan Wirtz, long jump, 18-1; 1ST—Wirtz, 100m, 12.24; 1ST—Wirtz, 200m, *24.98 (state record); 2ND—Ellinwood, 3,200m relay, *9:59.76 (Thomas, Jenna Borror, Ritchie, Joiner); 5TH—Ellinwood, 1,600m relay, 4:11.76 (Wirtz, Borror, Ritchie, Joiner); 12TH—Eleanor Joiner, 1,600m, 5:44.59; DNP—Joiner, 800m, no time; DNP—Ritchie, high jump, no height
2A ELLINWOOD BOYS—5TH—Landon Simpson, long jump, 21-41/2; 5TH—Cason Merritt, pole vault, 12-6; DNP—Simpson, 400m, no time; 10TH—Ayla Ritchie, 400m, 1:02.37; 16TH—Ryan Pohlman, 1,600m, 4:48.53; 11TH—Ellinwood, 1,600m relay, 3:35.96 (Schartz, Kellan Behnke, Sunderland, Simpson); 15TH—Ellinwood, 400m relay, 45.79 (Simpson, Logan Broyles, Cannon Schartz, Dawson Sunderland); 16TH—Pohlman, 3,200m 10:43.9
