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Kansas state high school javelin toss, thy name is Johannes Swanepoel.
 Swanepoel, a Shawnee Mission South High School senior headed to Kansas University to continue his throwing career next season, is the 2010 All-Sun Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year, departing the Raiders program as the state’s all-time record holder in the event.
His memorably winning throw of 238-4 at this year’s Class 6A state meet at Wichita also proved good for third-best all-time in the nation for the current javelin.
Three-time All-Sun first-teamer Swanepoel is, Raiders coach J.J. Wannamaker notes, the first-ever SM South athlete to win the same event three times at the state track and field competition, having done so in the javelin in each of his final three prep seasons.
A two-time KU Relays champion in the event – in 2008 and 2010 – he holds records for the SM South Relays, SM North Relays, Topeka Seaman Relays and 6A state meet.
No wonder the post-season accolades have been flowing for this first-team All-Sunflower League selection in the event.
Swanepoel recently was awarded the Gatorade Kansas Track and Field Athlete of the Year for 2010 and earlier this month was named by USA Today among the nation’s top high school track and field performers.
“Johannes is a tremendous athlete who set marks that will be tough to equal,” Wannamaker said. “He worked extremely hard during this past off-season to achieve and surpass some lofty goals.”
Here now, listed alphabetically within their positions of distinction, are the members of the 2010 All-Sun Boys Track and Field Team.
The biographical information that appears along with each honoree has been supplied by his high school coach.
SPRINTS/HURDLES
Bay Abbott
St. James Academy
Abbott, a senior, placed third in the 400 meters at the Class 4A state meet with a season-best 49.47, which also marked a school record. He earlier won his regional in the event.
He also was a state qualifier in the 200 as well as the 1,600 relay. He qualified for the KU Relays in the 400 and 1,600.
In all, Abbott set school records in five events.
“Bay has surpassed all expectations of both himself and his coaching staff, on and off the track,” St. James Academy coach Rich Weitz said. “He has not yet reached his true potential, but with his work ethic, there are many great things in store for Bay.”
Antonio McFadden
Shawnee Mission South
This senior was the Sunflower League runner-up in the 110-meter hurdles and fourth-place finisher in the 300 hurdles.
He placed second at his Class 6A regional in the 110 hurdles and fourth in the 300 hurdles.
At state, he secured second place in the 300 hurdles by virtue of his personal best time of 39.69.
He was a first-team All-Sunflower League selection in the event.
McFadden was an honorable-mention all-league choice in the 110 hurdles.
“Antonio was a great asset to the SM South program over the past four years,” Raiders coach J. J. Wannamaker said. “He turned into a very solid hurdler. He also sacrificed himself for relays and the good of the team.”
Mike Widrig
Blue Valley North
Widrig, a junior, claimed victories in the 400 meters and 800 at the East Kansas League competition, a pair of feats he duplicated at his Class 6A regional.
He gleaned second in the 400 at state and fourth in the 800.
“Obviously to go down and take second at state in the 400 shows Mike is an extremely talented runner,” Blue Valley North athletic director Mickey Masterson said. “But he is also a very intelligent runner, as well as very intelligent in the classroom and hallways.”
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The 2010 All-Sun Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year earned a pair of high school state championships in the discus.
