De Soto High School’s track team was moved into a different region as decided by the Kansas State High School Activities Association, possibly increasing their chances of going to State.

Region 7 also includes Mill Valley High School, Kansas City Washington High School, Shawnee Heights High School, Seamen High School, Leavenworth High School and Highland Park High School. KSHSAA determines the regions based on geographical and league-based reasons.

According to assistant coach Ben Stamey, the new region now pins DHS with teams that they have previously been “very successfully competitive with.”

“I’m really excited about the change,” said junior varsity track runner Alyssa Perry. “I think it could really help our chances of getting to State now that we’re competing with different schools.”

Regions are named after the school hosting the State tournament. In this case, Region 7 will be hosted by Shawnee Heights.

“It doesn’t guarantee anything,” Stamey said of the change increasing State chances. “But right now we’re kind of forecasting and looking ahead as to what teams are doing now and what we’re doing. We hope to be ready to send a good amount of [runners] to State.”