ShawneeDispatch.com

Olathe — A trip to the Class 6A state track meet as a freshman seemed to foreshadow a bright career for Shawnee Mission North's Storm Simons, but an anterior cruciate ligament tear shattered her expectations and kept her out for the entire 2007 season.

Now a junior, Simons is back on the track, and she has spent the entire season proving that she's not only back, but that she's better than ever.

"The hardest thing I've ever had to do was sit out and watch, and I think that's the best motivation I've ever gotten," she said.

There was no doubt about Simons' health or determination Friday at the Sunflower League championships at the Olathe District Activity Complex. Running her signature event, the 300-meter hurdles, she exploded out of the blocks, built a 10-meter lead by the time she entered the home stretch and charged through the finish line in a personal best time of 46.46 seconds.

According to the Wichita Eagle's track honor roll that was updated May 4, the fastest time in the state this year is a 44.99 by Emily Ballock of Class 4A Eudora. Meanwhile, the fastest listed time in the state in Class 6A was a 46.80 by Siena Robinson of Derby. That means Simons now is in elite company.

In addition, she helped the 400 relay team place third, the 800 relay team place second and the 1,600 relay team place sixth.

She said her expectations are high for the rest of the season.

"I'm really, really looking forward to state. I can't wait," she said.

Simons led the North girls to a seventh-place finish at the Sunflower League meet with 52 1/2 points. Leavenworth won the league title with 116 points.

Chelsea Keiffer also impressed in the hurdles. She raced to a second-place finish in the 300 hurdles in 47.83 and a fifth-place finish in the 100 hurdles in 16.31.

The North boys placed ninth as a team with 37 points. Shawnee Mission South won the title with 137 points.

Standout hurdler Aaron Sawyer won the 110 hurdles in 14.11. He also helped the 400 relay team place third in 43.55, but he tweaked his hamstring and was forced to pull out of the 300 hurdles. Teammate Nico Yoch won the pole vault with a clearance of 14-0.