Adonis Saunders of Olathe North is boys track athlete of year

Adonis Saunders is well on his way to earning the nickname “Flash” after his performances on the back stretch of countless tracks this spring.

Saunders, who just finished his sophomore year at Olathe North, was unbeatable — especially in the season’s biggest races — down that back stretch.

Earning the title as the fastest high school sprinter in Kansas, Saunders won three gold medals at the Kansas 6A state track and field championships in late May at Wichita State University’s Cessna Stadium.

He posted a clocking of 10.91 seconds in the 100-meter dash and backed that up with a 200 crown in 22.16. He also anchored the Eagles’ state title-winning 400 relay.

His performance at state earned Saunders another honor as well — the 2009 Olathe News Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

Saunders also pulled off the 100-200 double at the SM North Relays, the Sunflower League meet and at regionals.

All-Olathe boys track and field teamJORDAN ASHLEY • Olathe Northwest: The Ravens’ senior was third at state in the 300 hurdles.

HAYDEN GROVES • Olathe East: The Hawks’ junior finished second at state in the long jump and helped the 400 relay to a fifth-place showing.

REGGIE HARRIS • Olathe South: The Falcons’ senior coveted a state title in the long jump for four years and finally got his Kansas 6A title.

MICHAEL HOLLEMBEAK • Olathe South: Coming off a Kansas 4A title with St. James Academy as a junior, the Falcons’ senior won the 6A high jump crown in the spring.

TYLER MCCARTNEY • Olathe Northwest: The league champion in the triple jump, the Ravens’ junior finished 11th at state in the event.

LOGAN PONDER • Olathe South: Finished as the Kansas 6A runner-up in the high jump behind teammate Michael Hollembeak.

ADONIS SAUNDERS • Olathe North: The Eagles’ sophomore carved out a place as the fastest high schooler in Kansas by winning the 100 and 200 at state and anchoring the first-place 400 relay.

RJ SAUNDERS • Olathe North: A state champion in the 300 hurdles and as part of the 400 relay, the Eagles’ senior also helped the 1600 relay claim third and finished fifth in the 110 hurdles.

JUSTIN SCHMIDT • Olathe East: Just a freshman for the Hawks, Schmidt was ninth at state in the javelin and also won the league javelin title.

BEN SCHMITZ • Olathe East: A member of the state champion 3,200 relay, the Hawks senior, who is headed to Marquette, finished eighth in the open 800 and helped the 1600 relay to an eighth-place finish at state as well.

ANDREW SHEETS • Olathe East: The Hawks’ junior placed eighth at state in 3,200 and 11th in the 1,600 while also helping the 3,200 relay claim a state title. Sheets also was the regional champion in the 1,600 and 3,200.

BRYAN SHEPHERD • Olathe North: A state finalist in the 100, the Eagles senior also won a state championship with the 400 relay and finished third with the 1,600 relay.

SHAWN SMITH • Olathe Northwest: The Ravens’ junior was sixth in the 100 and eighth in the 200 at state.

SETH WONCH • Olathe South: A regional champion in the shot put, the Falcons’ junior was eighth at state in the discus and 11th in the shot put.

OLATHE EAST 3200 RELAY: In addition to Schmitz and Sheets, junior Ryan Hocker and senior Cody Banks ran on the Hawks’ state title-winning relay.

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