Great Bend High School Cross County coach Lyles Lashley has been named 5A Girls Coach of the Year by the Kansas XC TF Coaches Association. (KCCTFCA)
The Lady Panthers finished third in this year's 5A state meet and were within seven points of 5A power Mill Valley and five points behind second place St. Thomas Aquinas.
Great Bend won every meet but two that they participated in while winning the 5A Regional and Western Athletic Conference meet.
With two freshmen, two sophomore's and several other talented underclassmen, the Lady Panthers figure to be in contention for a state title again in 2022.
Lashley has been the head cross country and track & field coach for the past 6 years at Great Bend after coming to the Panther program from Ellinwood.
While at Ellinwood HS, his teams won 4 State Championships, 5 State Runners up, and 2 3rd place finishes. He was also named Boys KCCTFCA Cross Country Coach of the Year twice, Boys KCA Overall Cross Country Coach of the Year, NFHS Midwest Section Coaches Association CC Coach of the Year, KCCTFCA Girls Track Coach of the Year, and KCCTFCA Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year.
The Louisiana native is now in his 28th year of coaching at the college and high school level.