WICHITA — Chon Chavez’s 3,200-meter run got everything started for Great Bend High School at the Class 6-1A state track and field championships.
Chavez competed in his first event at 8:05 a.m. on Friday at Cessna Stadium on Wichita State University’s campus.
He trimmed 21 seconds from his personal best to finish fifth with a time of nine minutes, 51.66 seconds.
“I didn’t realize it was that much of an improvement,” Chavez said. “I have never run the two mile fresh before. I usually have an event or two before I run in the two mile. I think that had a lot to do with it.
“At least I got my goal. I wanted to get under 10 minutes.”
Chavez also finished sixth in the 1,600 with a time of 4:39.31.
“Chon had a really great weekend,” Great Bend head coach Bo Black said. “He really battled on Friday in the 3,200, and then today, to get up on the awards stand in sixth in the 1,600 was great. He’s a young runner, and he’ll be a leader for our track team next year.”
Seniors Matt Moyd finished second in the 110 hurdles, and Jacy Quade finished second in the shot put and third in the discus to lead Great Bend.
Hannah Wondra finished eighth in the 400 dash, clocking in at 1:01.49.
“I don’t think I ran what I should have,” Wondra said. “There’s a lot of tough competition out there today. I could have done better, though.”
Wondra combined with Mariah Stein, Mary Williams and Kaitlynn Tuey to finish ninth in the 4x800 relay with a time of 10:21.79.
The Panthers 4x800 relay team — Cristian Garcia, Greg Burley, Kole Stiner and Richard Lara — finished 11th with a time of 8:34.55.
“Both the boys and girls teams came out and did what they were capable of doing,” Black said. “They did the best job that they could. We’re proud of how they competed.”
Chris Burley finished fourth in the pole vault, as did teammate Selam Ball. Hannah Middtleton finished fifth in the pole vault.