Three Cardinals took home four individual state titles at the state track and field meet this weekend, and the girls finished second as a team. 

It was another successful season for the Cardinals after the girls team won state last season. This year, they doubled their individual title haul.

Senior Hanna Keltner won a pair of state titles in her final season. On Friday, she won the 3,200-meter run, lifting her hands above her head in celebration as she crossed the line. The next day, she defended her state titles from last season in the 1,600-meter run. Keltner also placed third in the 800-meter run.

She said it felt special to accomplish dreams she had been chasing since she was young.

“All the things I’ve been able to do, it’s not just me,” Keltner said. “It’s my teammates, it’s my best friends, it’s my parents, family and everything. I’m just so, so grateful.”

Sophomore Izzy Brunkow kicked off the winning for Eudora, claiming the state title in pole vault. She set a personal record and dominated the field. Fellow sophomores Avery Hemphill and Edie Siemon also made the podium, tying for sixth. 

“It feels amazing,” Brunkow said.  “It felt really good to finally get to PR and get first.”

Wrapping up the individual titles was senior Addy Hemphill, who defended her state title in triple jump. She broke the school record with a massive second jump of 36 feet and 9.75 inches. Hemphill also finished on the podium in the long jump and competed in the 4×100-meter relay. 

“I’m just glad that I got to finish out on such a strong note,” Hemphill said. “I’m really proud of myself.”

Head coach MaryJo Swann said Hemphill is a great example of pushing through adversity and getting the job done. In the 4×100 relay, she helped lead the team to the finals, partnering with Brunkow and juniors Avery Warren and Bailey Hammerschmidt. 

“The kids have shown up as competitors across the board,” Swann said. “There is a lot of desire, a lot of passion. They show up and they do what they have to do in that heat of that moment. When a lot of people fall apart, that is when they’re bringing it.”

Hemphill wasn’t the only Cardinal to find success in the triple jump. Sophomore Stella Wyrick used a huge final jump of prelims to make finals and eventually finish sixth. 

“It was just so surreal,” Wyrick said. “I could not believe it. Coming in, I was really nervous. I really knew I had to fight for this.”

Other competitors for the girls team included freshman Brenna Brooks in the 100-meter hurdles and junior Bailey Hammerschmidt in triple jump. 

Sophomore Brenika Rader placed sixth in high jump. Sophomore Brynn Deterding made finals in the 300-meter hurdles.

The boys team finished 17th. 

Senior Nate Steinlage finished third in boys javelin, with junior Alexander Gonzalez in seventh.  

Steinlage said even when some results didn’t go the Cardinals’ way, they picked each other up. Steinlage was battling an injury that kept him out of some events and hampered him in others. 

“It’s not easy driving down and then competing at your best,” he said. “But sometimes you’ve just got to show up. And everyone does that. I can see the team we have here. We’re so close.”

Junior George Hagan placed third in triple jump. Senior Cole Baumgartner and junior Colton Bowser both found themselves on the podium in pole vault. 

Other competitors for the boys team included: junior Brady Von Holten competed in discus, freshman Grayson Masterson ran in the 3,200-meter run, and seniors Connor Watson and Micaiah Jerome, junior Brody Wenger and sophomore Elijah Clobes ran the boys 4×400-meter relay. The team of Clobes, Wenger, Watson and Masterson ran the 4×800-meter relay. 

Senior Christian Jarrett competed in the 100-meter dash. He said it was good to spend time with his teammates one last time. He said it was bittersweet knowing they wouldn’t get to see each other for much longer, but he was glad they had the chance to compete one last time. 

“We’re all excited to be here,” he said. “It’s hard to be down. I mean, you’re at state. You made it. I think we’re coming together as a team one last time.”

Reach reporter Cuyler Dunn at [email protected]