Hutchinson CC Sports Information

With only three returning national qualifiers from 2023, Hutchinson Community College head track and field coach Robert Spies will utilize a lot of new athletes for the 2024 season.

That season opens Saturday at the Washburn University Rust Buster Classic in Topeka.

Sophomore sprinters Ezekiel Seamster and Omari Smith are the only returning national qualifiers for the indoor season. Thrower Christopher Brown will join the team once the outdoor season begins in mid-March.

The Blue Dragons have a national cross country qualifier in sophomore Christian Darrah, whom Spies describes as a team leader on and off the track.

"We call him Superman," Spies said of Darrah. "He's been a very nice influence with the entire time. He is a very interesting person. He really continues to improve."

Seamster was an indoor 60-meter qualifier last season. He placed 32nd in the NJCAA Indoor Championship prelims at 6.94 seconds.

Seamster and Smith were part of the Blue Dragon outdoor national qualifying 4x100-meter relay.

"Ezekiel is a hometown kid who has made huge strides over the summer," Spies said. "He's not a big guy, but he's gotten incredibly strong. He can get himself into contention to be a top eight national performer in the 60 and he will improve in the 200 as well."

Spies is looking forward this weekend to seeing how the new Blue Dragons will perform.

Another new Blue Dragon in Hutchinson High product Stephfon Hunter, who played football at Butler, but returned to the Blue Dragons to compete in the hurdles.

New Caney, Texas, freshman Chris Johnson will aim to carry on the success of the Blue Dragon pole vault program. Johnson has already cleared 15 feet, 6 inches in high school.

The Blue Dragons added a pair of strong distance runners in Kenyan Titus Kiprotich and Farrin Mangelson (San Antonio, Texas).

"Christian Darrah has already taken both of these guys under his wing," Spies said. "The weather has been a shock to both of them, but they are taking it well."

Ty'Rique Roland will be a freshman to watch out for in the jumps. He competed only one year in the high jump in high school and cleared 6-6. Also watch for David Thid in the jumps and hurdles.

Adding to the depth in the sprints and relays will be Rickyle Telemaque and Elisha Williams – both athletes are from Grenada. D'Antonio Warren (Pensacola, Florida) will run the 400 and run the relays as well.

The Blue Dragons will compete throughout the indoor season in the state of Kansas. The Dragons competing in meets at Washburn, Wichita State and Pittsburg State, which the Region VI Championships at the Plaster Center in Pittsburg State on February 17 and 18. The NJCAA indoor national championships will be in Gainesville, Florida on March 1 and 2.