Pawnee Heights tandem earn gold medals
BY JIM MISUNAS
WICHITA – The friendship between Pawnee Heights’ gold medal winners Alec Carlson and Braden Colglazier was cemented when Alec convinced his good friend to try track and field.
Let’s just say Carlson has a good eye for talent.
Carlson passed Hanover’s Emmitt Jueneman on his final triple jump (46-5) seconds after Jueneman’s final jump (46-0).
Carlson, an all-state basketball player, delivered a vintage state championship jump.
“I had to pause for a moment,” Carlson said. “I gathered my thoughts and told myself that I had to put together one great jump. It was like hitting a last-second shot to win a basketball game.”
Colglazier matched his teammate’s effort by clearing the bar at 6-foot-6 on his third and final jump to edge Burlingame’s Heckman for the state championship.
The tandem were the Tigers’ first state track champions since Pawnee Heights Olympian Christian Smith won his final state races in 2002.
Carlson is convinced neither athlete would’ve reached their goals without each other.
“Getting Braden out for track definitely kept us both jumping farther and higher,” Carlson said. “We pushed each other every meet. It’s hard because we have an asphalt high jump pit. We don’t get to practice at home. It’s just Braden and I pushing each other.”
Colglazier’s fifth time over 6-6 drew an enthusiastic response that fit the moment.
“I screamed I was so excited. I knew I could clear 6-6 because at regionals I had a 6-8 jump that barely missed,” Colglazier said. “I had to go at least 6-6 to win it. The 6-6 jump was one where everything finally clicked together. When I go up and arch my back, everything clicks.”
Colglazier celebrated for a moment when he cleared 6-6, knowing he would win on fewer misses.
“I knew the Heckman jumper could clear 6-8,” he said.
Colglazier thanked Alec Carlson for convincing him to try track his senior season, a rare occurrence.
“I didn’t go out for track until my senior year, but I came back and made some things happen, thanks to Alec.”
Carlson backed up his triple jump with a runner-up long jump (22-03/4) and Colglazier (20-91/2) placed seventh. Their 39-point effort nearly won the third-place 1A state trophy behind Meade (69), Madison (52) and Osborne (40).
PAWNEE HEIGHTS
High jump—1—Braden Colglazier, 6-6; 5—Alec Carlson, 6-4
Long jump—2—Carlson, 22-03/4; 7—Colglazier, 20-91/2
Triple jump—1—Carlson, 46-5; 4—Colglazier, 42-9
Javelin—4—Olivia Hands, 113-9
