Class 1 Boys

Top Returner

Liberal junior Ben Dingman is the man to watch in Class 1. The reigning State champion is also the top returner based on mark with a 13.46m (44-2) personal best. In fact, Dingman cleared the second best returner's mark of 13.02m (42-8.75) a total of four times in 2025. He is the heavy favorite to repeat in 2026.

The "Chase Pack"

Two other Class 1 boys head into the season over 13 meters with Brunswick's Balston Brown at the afore-mentioned 13.02m mark and North Harrison's Wyatt Maize at 13.0m (42-8). Brown was fourth at the 2025 State meet in his debut season and is one of the top rising sophomores in the State regardless of class. Maize was eighth as a sophomore, but did clear 13.07m (42-10.75) as a freshman. Drexel's Miles Wheeler, Hermitage's Justin Weathers, and Tarkio's Gavyn Irvine all finished 5th, 6th, and 7th at the 2025 State meet, respectively, and will be back again in 2026.

Incoming Freshman to Watch

Grady Gockel of Jefferson (Conception Junction) will be the freshman to watch in Class 1, according to our rankings database. Gockel boasts a personal best of 11.86m (38-11). He appears to have the potential to make a difference in several different events this spring.