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Neither were any of his Sacred Heart teammates.
And yet as the Knights set their sights on the school's first boys team title in 26 years this weekend at the Kansas State High School Track and Field Championships, the focus is much narrower.
WICHITA -- Earlier in her fledgling pole vault career, Taylor Swanson recalls telling Salina Central vault coach J.D. Garber that by the time she graduated, she'd be clearing 13 feet.
"He said it would never happen," said Swanson, who as a senior entering her final meet this weekend at the Kansas State High School Track and Field Championships would love nothing better than to make him eat his words. "He's going crazy."
Actually, Swanson is still six inches away from that 13-foot mark, which would tie her with Mill Valley's Emily Brigham at No. 1 all time in the Kansas high school ranks. But her progress the last month, which does include a 12-9 clearance in practice, has her eager for one last opportunity.
Neither were any of his Sacred Heart teammates.
And yet as the Knights set their sights on the school's first boys team title in 26 years this weekend at the Kansas State High School Track and Field Championships, the focus is much narrower.
"What the coaches have been telling us, and should be telling us, is that we should just be concerned about our personal goals," said Diederich, double sprint champion last year in Class 2A. "Everybody's goal is no less than to get on the medal stand."
That's certainly not the case in the first year after conference realignment took effect.
In a year dominated by regular-season champion Baylor, the Big 12 enters its conference tournament this week in Oklahoma City hoping to avoid setting a record low for teams that move on to the postseason.
At least five Big 12 teams have made it into the NCAA tournament every year since 1998, with a record eight teams in 2009. That's the year Oklahoma State finished ninth out of 10 teams but still made it despite missing the Big 12 tournament.
LAWRENCE - If more opportunities like this come Ben Hargrave’s way - and his head coach is positive they will - then the Salina South junior can draw from the experience he gained in his 19 holes at Alvamar Golf Course.
But early Monday evening, nearly seven hours after he hit his first tee shot at the Class 5A boys state championship, Hargrave could find little positive from his runner-up finish to Wichita Kapaun’s Sam Stevens.
Hargrave appeared to be in control when he made the turn at 2-under, birdied two of the first four holes on the back nine and had his round at 4-under with four holes to play.
But it all slipped away from there. Bogeys on three of the final four holes in regulation gave Hargrave an 18-hole total of 1-under 71. That got him into a playoff with Stevens for tourney medalist honors, but that playoff lasted only one hole when, like the last four holes of regulation, Hargrave couldn’t catch a break.
NEW YORK -- With every out the New York Yankees made and every run they gave up, the boos from the sparse crowd got louder.
New York's 6-0 defeat to the Kansas City Royals on a misty, dreary Monday night was the Yankees' sixth loss in seven games, dropping them into last place in the AL East this late in the season for the first time since 2008.
"At times, it looks like there's 20 people out there playing defense," Yankees captain Derek Jeter said. "It happens every year. It happens to every team. It doesn't look good when you're going through it, but you've got to have confidence."
MANKATO -- There's no place like home for the Rock Hills boys golf team.
The Grizzlies won their second consecutive Sand Greens state title, outdistancing the field by 24 strokes at the Mankato Country Club.
Rock Hills also won state the last time the tournament was held in Mankato in 2008.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- When the whistle blew, Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry headed off to the corner of the far practice field while the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs began a full-squad practice.
In many ways it looked like last season, when the speedy running back and playmaking safety were recovering from torn ligaments in their left knees. The difference this time was that Charles and Berry were dressed in shorts and jerseys and appeared on the cusp of returning.
That alone made the first in a series of organized team activities a success.
Salina Journal
LAWRENCE -- If more opportunities like this come Ben Hargrave's way -- and his head coach is positive they will -- then the Salina South junior can draw from the experience he gained in his 19 holes at Alvamar Golf Course.
But early Monday evening, nearly seven hours after he hit his first tee shot at the Class 5A boys state championship, Hargrave could find little positive from his runner-up finish to Wichita Kapaun's Sam Stevens.
Associated Press
OMAHA, Neb. -- Bob Boozer was a star in college, an Olympic gold medalist and an 11-year professional who finished his playing career with an NBA championship.
His friends and family remember him more for his humility and service to others.
WHERE--Buffalo Dunes, Garden City.
TEE TIMES--9 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.
QUALIFYING TEAMS--Dodge City, Hutchinson, Garden City, SM East, SM Northwest, Lawrence Free State, Blue Valley North, Olathe East, Blue Valley West, Manhattan, Washburn Rural, Wichita Heights.
LAWRENCE -- A return trip to state was never a given. Not after Salina Central lost its top two players from last year's state qualifying team and had only one senior among its top six this season.
Now that the Mustangs have played their way back to the Class 5A boys state golf tournament, head coach Patrick Newell isn't exactly sure what to expect.
"Our goal was just to make state and we did that," Newell said. "I'm proud of the boys. That's a great accomplishment to get to state two years in a row and now I look for a good tournament out of our team."
TOPEKA -- The Salina South girls swim team finished the 2012 season with a strong showing, turning in season-best times in four events Saturday during the final day of the Kansas Class 5-1A Girls State Swimming Championships at Hummer Natatorium.
The top performances for the Cougars were a pair of sixth-place finishes for Martina Schartz in the 200-yard freestyle and by the South 400 freestyle relay team.
Schartz, Marisa Tomlins, Meghan Ouderkirk and Kalene Paul were seeded eighth in the 400 freestyle relay after Friday's preliminaries, but improved two spots in the championship finals by combining for a season-best 4:01.23. That was an improvement of more than five seconds over their previous fastest time this spring.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Bruce Chen weaved his way into and out of trouble over the first four innings against Arizona. The Diamondbacks had eight base runners during that early span but couldn't get even one run across.
Chen won his third straight start with some help from Billy Butler and Mike Moustakas, who both homered, and the Kansas City Royals beat Arizona 7-3 Saturday night.
The game could have gotten out control early for Chen as the Diamondbacks had two base runners in each of the first four innings, including three innings with no outs. But the Diamondbacks went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position in that span.
GULF SHORES, Ala. -- Jasmine Zaker got the Bethany Swedes off and running -- literally.
Zaker, a freshman second baseman from Mesa, Ariz., went 4 for 4, scored three runs, drove in two and set an NAIA national softball tournament record with five stolen bases in leading Bethany to a 7-3 victory over Talladega, Ala., in the Swedes' final game in Pool A on Saturday.
Bethany ends the season with a 45-9 record, including a 1-2 record in it first NAIA tournament appearance.
GULF SHORES, Ala. -- Amanda Fama hit a grand slam and drove in five runs in leading No. 1-ranked Concordia, Calif., to an 8-2 victory over Bethany in the NAIA softball tournament Friday.
The loss leaves the Swedes (44-9) with an 0-2 record in Pool A. They will play Talladega, Ala., at 1 p.m. today in their final game of the tournament.
Concordia (56-3) took control in the top of the third inning, scoring five runs -- four on Fama's homer over the center field fence on a 1-2 count.
Goal OrientedSalina Central repeat state boys golf qualifierKnight boys dominate at Beloit regionalSacred Heart baseball to open against Rock Creek |
Swanson eyes lucky 13 at stateGoal OrientedSalina Central repeat state boys golf qualifierNo Average Jones: South sprinter shines at 5A regional |
Swanson eyes lucky 13 at stateGoal OrientedState title eludes South junior in 19 holesSalina Central repeat state boys golf qualifier |
Fifteen Salinans named to all-AVCTL teamsCounty football roundupRemarkable runsSecondary becomes primary role for former two-way Ell-Saline standout Omli |
Big 12 formally introduces new commisioner BowlsbyK-State's Weber adds second assistant to staffKlein leads K-State into annual spring gameSnyder: We will not take Wildcats' growth 'for granted' |
KWU baseball still alive -- barelyPitching saves KWU softballKWU soccer team signs 21 playersHome of the Braves; 'Hungry' Ottawa squad turns Evans into personal playground |
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