By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
In November 2022, the USD 428 Board of Education approved up to $2 million for renovations to the turf and track at Great Bend High School's Memorial Stadium. The Panther football team enjoyed the new turf this past fall. On Monday, the Kansas State High School Activities Association announced the school would host a Class 5A regional track meet on May 16. Track and Field Coach Lyles Lashley said the event could bring more than 1,500 athletes, coaches, and parents to town.
"It's cool to be able to host, especially having an extra lane," he said. "Having eight lanes is really cool. I didn't think that would ever be possible here. I figured we were seven lanes no matter what, and it was kind of amazing we were able to figure that out."
The renovations included the addition of an eighth lane on the track, moving the high jump pit to the north end of the field near the other field events, and replacement of the jumping and vaulting surfaces. Unlike most regionals around the state, the Great Bend meet will start its field events a 2 p.m. and track preliminary races at 5 p.m. to allow for completion of the field events.
"As a coach, and a ton of coaches agree, we just hate our kids running around between the long jump and back and forth, or whatever event they're in," Lashley said. "It's nice for them to be able to focus. For us as a host facility, it's easier for us. We don't have to wrangle a kid to start the final of the long or triple jump. We can just keep rolling with it. It's going to be a little blessing in disguise."
The top four competitors from each event will advance to the KSHSAA State Track and Field Championships in Wichita the following week. Great Bend will be joined in the nine-team regional by the likes of Hays, Hutchinson, and two schools from both Goddard and Salina.