LA CROSSE, KS – Local track and field athletes converged on La Crosse High School this past Thursday, April 2, 2026, for a high-stakes invitational that saw dominant individual performances and a tightly contested battle for the team titles. When the dust settled, the Ellis High School girls and the Plainville High School boys emerged as the meet champions.
Boydston Sisters Lead Ellis Girls to Victory
The Ellis girls secured the top spot on the podium with 88 points, narrowly edging out Osborne (80) and the host, La Crosse (72). The victory was fueled by a distance-running masterclass from the Boydston family. Senior Avery Boydston claimed gold in the 3200-meter run with a time of 11:37.71, while freshman Taryn Boydston captured the 1600-meter title (5:26.20) and the 800-meter crown (2:23.99).
Other standout performances for the girls included:
- Taegin Liggett (Ness City): A triple-threat on the track, winning the Long Jump (18-0), the 100-meter dash (12.71), and the 400-meter dash (59.12).
- Gentrie Riner (Osborne): Swept the hurdles, taking first in both the 100m (17.49) and 300m (48.65) events.
- Hannah Dellett (La Crosse): Won the Discus on her home turf with a throw of 116-10.
Rudman and High Jumpers Propel Plainville Boys
On the boys’ side, Plainville utilized a powerhouse performance in the field events to rack up 93 points, holding off La Crosse (83) and Hodgeman County (59). Senior Tucker Rudman was a force in the throwing rings, taking double gold in the Discus (154-4) and the Shot Put (48-9.25).
The boys’ high jump reached impressive heights, with Brody Schroeder of Hodgeman County clearing 6-4 to take first place, followed closely by Plainville’s Eric Mackey at 6-2.
Other notable boys’ results included:
- Gavin Alloway (Otis-Bison): Dominated the jumping pits, winning the Long Jump (21-8) and the Triple Jump (44-9).
- Tyron Steinert (La Crosse): Proved to be the fastest man at the meet, winning the 100-meter (11.86) and 200-meter (23.81) dashes.
- Broxton Gall (Ness City): Claimed the 1600-meter run with a sub-five-minute time of 4:55.28.
Team Standings
Girls Top 5
- Ellis — 88
- Osborne — 80
- La Crosse — 72
- Plainville — 69
- Ness City — 44
Boys Top 5
- Plainville — 93
- La Crosse — 83
- Hodgeman County — 59
- Ness City — 58
- Osborne / St. John-Hudson — 44 (tie)
