Great Bend High School will be represented by three seniors and a sophomore in jumping field events in the Class 5A portion of the State Track and Field Championships.
The meet will be held today and Saturday at Cessna Stadium in Wichita.
Seniors Kaylie Doll and Kelsie Doll will compete in the triple jump. Kaylie will join sophomore Shelby Tracy in the long jump competition.
Senior Selam Ball will be looking to challenge for a state title in the pole vault.
“Selam, she’ll be battling for a state title,” GBHS head coach Todd Kaiser said. “It’s between her and one or two other girls. I know the Salina Central girl she’s been battling with all year long.”
Ball won a regional title with a vault of 11 feet, tying her school record. She is the No. 1 seed of the meet.
Halie Turner of Salina Central vaulted 10-6 at the regional meet. She is the No. 2 seed.
“This is the end of her high school career, and it’ll be nice to see her go out with a state championship,” Kaiser said of Ball. “I know her goal is to be state champion, but she is going to be a great addition to the Fort Hays State program next year.
“Along with Kaylie and Kelsie Doll. They’re both going to go up there and jump, so Fort Hays State is getting three really good athletes from Great Bend.”
Kaylie is the fifth seed in the triple jump, reaching the state meet with a leap of 35-2.
Keslie Doll is the 10th seed at 33-1.5.
The event’s top seed is Kelly McKee of St. James Academy with a state-qualifying jump of 36-8.25.
“Kaylie is going to be battling right there in the top 3 (in the triple jump),” Kaiser said. “Kelsie, she’s going to be right there as well.”
Tracy is seeded eighth at 15-9.75 in the long jump. Kaylie is seeded 13th at 15-5.5.
The top seed in the long jump is Keiona Doctor of Emporia. She reached a distance of 17-7 in a regional meet.
“Shelby and Kaylie should be right there in the long jump,” Kaiser said. “It would be nice to see both of them get on the podium.”