It was a busy weekend for several Manhattan High track athletes, yet the majority of them made it seem easy as they swept the Wichita Heights Invite and others broke records at the KU relays.

“[Wichita Heights] was good,” head coach Kory Cool said. “With some athletes competing at KU it left an opportunity for other athletes to step up and compete for us, which they did just that. The success they have is a testament of their ability to prepare for the season outside of and before the season. These athletes desire to improve is a year round process.”

The boys team dominated, placing first by a margin of 43 points, while the girls did the same by nine. While some athletes were blowing out the competition at Wichita Heights, others were breaking records and making it look easy.

“It’s definitely an honor to go to the KU relays for any high school student, especially since it’s such a high-quality, high-caliber meet,” sophomore Ella Rosenkranz said. “It was made even more special since I was running with the girls I run with year round, and it was amazing to see the boys distance medley relay not only break the school record but smash it.”

The boys distance medley relay broke the MHS school record by six seconds, with a time of 10:45.42, while the girls 4×1600 got the sixth-best time in state history with a time of 22:02.44. Sophomore Sam Hankins placed first with a throw of 205-02 in boys javelin, which was not even his personal best. Before the relays, it was obvious that the team was having major success, even in bad conditions, but with the team setting state records, it brings even more attention to what they will be able to do at the state competition.

“Our main focus is still on winning a 6A title for both boys and girls, nothing less,” sophomore Isiah Childs said. “We just have to come to practice and work hard and hold each other accountable and just control the simple things we can control and everything will fall in its place. What makes us different is that we have a bunch of great athletes in every grade, from freshman to senior and we are a very family-oriented team and each and every one of us are very coachable.”