Parrish brothers ready for Wichita State after more Kansas high school state track titles
Jason and Josh Parrish have found themselves comfortable already in their future home stadium.
The twin brothers who are seniors at Olathe North and committed to Wichita State dominated the Kansas high school state track and field championships for the second straight year this past weekend in Wichita.
Josh Parrish had the best weekend of his career to win three individual gold medals, while Josh Parrish won his own individual title and anchored a come-from-behind victory relay for Olathe North — all at Cessna Stadium, home of the Shockers.
“We’re excited to be at Wichita State, so it’s pretty dope our last high school meet is here,” said Jason Parrish.
The Parrish brothers are known throughout the state for their prowess in the hurdles, a reputation that was cemented with one final show at the state meet.
Each twin won their second straight Class 6A title in their specialty race, as Josh won the 110-meter hurdles in a career-best time of 13.92 seconds — the seventh-fastest time in Kansas modern history — and Jason defended his title in the 300-meter hurdles in 38.26 seconds.
It’s become a matter of pride for Jason and Josh to each defend their own race.
“I’m never going to let Jason beat me in that race,” said Josh Parrish, smiling. “I always try to get him in the 300, but his endurance and stamina is just crazy. He’s got that dog in him.”
“He blew me out in the 110’s, so I knew I had to get my get-back in the 300’s,” Jason added.
It’s difficult to predict how high school hurdlers will transition at the college level because both hurdle races are entirely different — the 110 hurdles raise from 39 inches to 42 inches, while the 300 hurdles extends to a full lap around the track.
But it’s a good bet that both Parrish brothers can immediately find an impact at Wichita State with their speed and competitiveness.
That competitiveness was on full display in the 1600 relay. It was the final race of a long day, Olathe North had already wrapped up the 6A team title and the individual golds were already won. No one would have thought twice if Jason would have cruised the final 400 and settled for second place.
But when Jason took the baton on the anchor leg, trailing the Shawnee Mission Northwest runner by about four strides, he couldn’t help himself. Jason’s competitive spirit kicked in and he delivered a sub-59-second final lap to chase down the leader and give Olathe North the victory in a season-best time of 3:21.06.
“That was pretty special,” said Jason Parrish, who wore a shirt that read ‘I Got That Dawg In Me!’ with his brother afterward. “To be able to go back-to-back in my senior year, I’m excited for what my team did and I’m excited about what me and my brother did.”
While the brothers have been racing hurdles for years, Josh Parrish considers himself more of a newcomer to the jumps. It’s a testament to his potential that he won his second straight 6A title in the long jump with a personal-best mark of 24 feet, 1½ inches and also won the gold medal in the triple jump, an event he just picked up five weeks ago, with another personal-best mark of 47 feet, 11¼ inches.
His long jump would have tied for third place at this year’s American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships, while his triple jump mark would have also scored sixth at WSU’s conference meet.
“I’m excited to see what they can both do when they only focus on track,” Olathe North track and field coach Levi Huserman said.
Both of the Parrish brothers agreed. After spending their youth splitting time between football, basketball and track, they are excited to find out their true potential when they can focus year-round on their events.
“Most likely I’m going to just focus on 110 hurdles, long jump and triple jump (at WSU),” Josh Parrish said. “Now that I’m not doing basketball or football, I can put all of my time and energy and strength into just those three events. I feel like I’m going to get so much better.”
