By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The weather may have been ideal to break a 55-year-old school record, but it was hardly ideal for a full track meet. Not long after Great Bend High School senior Kaiden Esfeld edged his way into the record books, the Jack Bowman Invitational went into lightning delay. Action never returned as more storms moved into the area.
Esfeld and GBHS Track and Field Coach Lyles Lashley eyed the conditions all week and decided Friday would be ideal to make a run at the 1600m record of 4:20.9, set by David McLeland in 1967.
"As of Tuesday this week, coach texted me and said it's supposed to be a sunny day, not supposed to be much wind," Esfeld said. "Sixty-fives all the way and kick it that last. I tried to do that but went out real fast that first lap and slowed to a nice 65. That was the plan from day one."
Esfeld had nothing pushing him except the record. It called for a big kick at the end, but he finished the race in 4:20.74, winning by 24 seconds.
"When I came into 100 to go, I saw the clock was about 14 seconds until 4:20," Esfeld said. "Up until that point I had belief I had it all the way. When I saw that I knew it was going to be a close one."
Esfeld set the Lake Barton Course record to open his season, though it was later broken again at regionals. He finished 11th at the Class 5A State Cross Championships this fall. He plans to run at Fort Hays State University next year.