Al-Shawish in hurdles final easily

Fort Scott senior Chris Banks leaps into the air during Class 4A long jump competition at the Kansas State Track and Field Championships at Wichita Friday afternoon. Banks finished fourth with a mark of 20 feet, 4 1/2 inches. (Scott Nuzum/Herald-Tribune).

WICHITA, Kan. -- Fort Scott High School senior Zak Al-Shawish advanced to Saturday's finals of the boys' 110- meter hurdles easily, recording a 15.43 in the second heat of Friday's preliminaries at the Kansas State Track and Field Championships at Wichita State University Friday.

Al-Shawish beat Rose Hill sophomore Jake Haydon by 4/ 10 of a second in their heat. Overall, Paola sophomore Joe Stevens was second-best, winning his heat in 15.64 with Andale senior Gavin Martin second in 15.82.

Breianna Jones was unable to advance from the girls' 400- meter prelims, finishing 11th overall in 62.27 seconds. Andover Central freshman Tiffany Bias, in somewhat of a surprise, edged out Parsons senior and defending champ Bridgette Kendricks. Although the two were running in different heats, Bias ran a 57.28 while Kendricks recorded a 57.94.

Fort Scott freshman Breianna Jones clears sand from her face while talking to Pleasanton athletic director Alan King, who was acting as a triple jump judge at the Kansas State Track and Field Championships Friday evening at Wichita, Kan. Jones finished 12th in her first state appearance. (Scott Nuzum-Herald Tribune)

Junior Clint Lawrence had his best throw in discus on his first attempt, 138 feet, 8 inches. Clearwater senior Luke Bryant shattered the old Class 4A record by going 205- 5, one of four throws over 200 feet. The old record was set last year by Eric Thomas of Hays Thomas More Prep at 193 even. In fact, Bryant's mark is the longest ever recorded in any class at state, beating out the 200- 3 effort of Shawnee Mission South's Clint Johnson in 1980, which still stands as the Class 6A record.

Several other Tigers were scheduled to compete in finals on Saturday, including senior Jake Lattimer in javelin, junior Catherine Sercer in the 1,600 meters and sophomore Tiffnie Bradley in the discus.