The Kearney High School Bulldogs met the competition and ran them off their feet.

The boys made history by earning the school's first-ever state track and field championship on Saturday, May 28 in Jefferson City. The squad scored 64 total points over the two-day competition and won the meet by 14 points.

Head Coach Scott Crall credited his team for using the lessons they learned during last year's Class 4 State Track and Field Meet, when they took home the second-place trophy.

"I am very proud of these boys and what they accomplished," Coach Crall said. "Our boys went in confident and calm. This group has been there before, and they had a goal this year, which was to win the whole thing. This state championship means the world to a bunch of kids that through their sweat, dedication and leadership brought this program to where it is today: state champions!"

Kearney High School girls also had an outstanding day and took home the third-place state track and field trophy. They earned points in seven different events.

"I'm so impressed with how these girls united as a team and improved in their events over the course of this season," Girls Track and Field Head Coach Geoff Hutton said. "All that work paid off during the state meet. They were amazing and definitely earned this trophy."

The KHS contingent was given a hero's welcome with a Kearney Police Department and Kearney Fire Department escort as they drove back into town on Saturday night.

It was a true team effort for KHS at the state meet. Every squad member stayed focused and helped earn points.

"They trusted each other, trusted their training, and far and away were the best team in Class 4," Crall said. "This was a team win, and all of our athletes had specific roles. They put it all out there, and had a perfect meet. They were flawless!"

Luke Noland (110m Hurdles), Logan Arellano (400m Dash), Ava Lawless (Triple Jump) and Jayden Barnes (800m) earned individual state championships in their events.

Boys State Track and Field All State Results:

- 110M Hurdles - Luke Noland - STATE CHAMPION (14.35)

- 200M Dash - Luke Noland - 6th Place (22.13)

- 400M Dash - Logan Arellano - STATE CHAMPION (48.66)

- 4x200M Relay - Brock Colhour, Joe Marshall, Grant Noland, and Luke Noland - 6th Place (1:30.06)

-4x400M Relay - Joe Marshall, Brock Colhour, Kyler Chappell, and Logan Arellano - 2nd Place (3:23.61)

- High Jump - Zach Procor - 3rd Place (1.97m)

- Long Jump - Luke Noland - 3rd Place (7.02m)

- Discus - K.J. Smith – 3rd Place (52.45m)

- Discus – Zach Grace – 5th Place ( 51.36m)

- Pole Vault - John Timchak - 2nd Place (4.24m)

Girls State Track and Field All State Results:

- 4x200M Relay – Ava Lawless, Jadyn Barnes, Shelby Singleton, Abigail Stamper – 5th Place (1:44.96)

- 4x400M Relay – Jadyn Barnes, Liela Murphy, Shelby Singleton, Addy Davis – 4th Place (4:09.29)

- 4x800M Relay – Abigail Smith, Liela Murphy, Abby Elam, Jadyn Barnes – 7th Place (9:56.01)

- 800M Dash – Jayden Barnes – STATE CHAMPION (2:17.00)

- 100M Hurdles – Ava Lawless – 3rd Place (14.83)

- Long Jump – Ava Lawless – 2nd Place (5.41m)

- Triple Jump – Ava Lawless – STATE CHAMPION (11.57m)

Coach Crall and Coach Hutton thanked their teams and coaching staff members for all their hard work throughout a season marked by tough conditions.

“People ask me how we have been able to be so successful over the years. Real simple: the kids, and we have the best assistant coaches in the state of Missouri!" Crall said. "We are blessed with stellar assistant coaches who work tirelessly to make our track program successful. They are great motivators, leaders, students of their field, and professionals."

Track and Field Coaching Staff

- Coach Marcus Brinkley - Sprints

- Coach Richard Haas - Jumps

- Coach Therese Rankin - Jumps

- Coach Brad Colhour - Mid Distance/Distance

- Coach Tom O'Brien - Mid Distance/ Distance

- Coach Chris Daniels - Discus/Javelin

- Coach Rachel Daniels - Shot Put

- Coach Hunter Gray - Hurdles/Javelin

- Coach Kenny Brown - Pole Vault

- Coach Mel White - Pole Vault

KPGZ Sports - Brian Watts contributed to this story