By CONOR NICHOLL
Last season, Pleasanton’s Isaiah Bates smashed the longstanding Class 2A state meet record in the 100-meter dash. In the prelims, Bates posted a 10.79, a hundredth of a second ahead of Leoti-Wichita County’s Levi Gillen’s record from 1991.
In the championship, Bates posted a 10.50, which significantly lowered the state record – and tied the second-fastest all-time mark. Moundridge freshman Kaden Elmore was second at 10.76 and broke Gillen’s mark.
Bates’ main photo on his Twitter feed features him just after the 10.50 seconds. He is in front of the massive scoreboard at Wichita State University’s Cessna Stadium. He had the top time in the 200 prelims, though was not able to run in the final. The Blu-Jays took eighth in the 400-meter relay.
Two years ago, Bates won the 100 in 11.28 and finished eighth in the 200.
This spring, Bates has solidified himself again as Kansas’ top sprinter.
Bates currently ranks first for all classes and 11th in Kansas history with 10.41 seconds, per Kansas historian Carol Swenson’s statewide list. He has posted 10.3 seconds hand timed. Bates posted both 10.41 in the prelims and final at KU Relays.
Earlier this month, Bates won the 100 at the KU Relays by a significant .25 seconds ahead of the field. The final eight included six non-Kansas runners and Blue Valley North’s Alonzo Morgan.
Bates’ all-time best marks are 6.92 in the 60, 10.24 hand-timed in the 100 and 21.47 in the 200. He has committed to Fort Scott CC track. He has the school record in the 100, 200 and 400 relay.
Bates’ 10.50 easily bested the 1A state meet mark of 10.80 that has stood for more than 25 years. He bettered the 3A mark of 10.63 from Riley County’s Jordy Nelson, the famous eventual Kansas State and Green Bay Packers wide receiver. The 4A mark is 10.66 in 2011 from Wichita Trinity’s Morgan Burns, who was an eventual first team All-American returner at Kansas State.
Bates’ 10.50 tied the 5A standard from 1981. The only person to run faster than 10.50 at the Kansas State track meet came in 1996 when Wichita Southeast’s Mario Ponds posted a 10.36.
