The Kansas State High School Track and Field Championships, to be held Friday and Saturday at Wichita State University’s Cessna Stadium, is the largest track meet in the nation, with more than 3,000 athletes and 20,000 spectators.

WICHITA, Kan. – Every year for the past 101 years, dreams have come true at the Kansas State High School Track and Field Championships.

The meet’s 102nd running will be no exception this Friday and Saturday, as more than 3,000 competitors and 20,000 spectators will gather on the campus of Wichita State University.

Wichita author Grant Overstake recently captured the drama and excitement of the Kansas State Meet in an inspiring sports novel for young adult readers titled, Maggie Vaults Over the Moon. The story features Maggie Steele, a gutsy farm girl from fictional Grain Valley, Kansas, who overcomes tragedy and soars to new heights as a pole-vaulter.

“Maggie”captures the true meaning of a high school athlete in Kansas and the opportunities activities can create for young people.” — Kansas State High School Activities Journal

Overstake attended many state meets growing up and competed in the meet while attending Wichita Heights High School. He also covered the meet as a reporter, and experienced it as a parent, cheering for his son.

After watching so many dramatic performances through the years,  it was natural for the former Miami Herald sports writer and Kansas newspaper editor to use his favorite sporting event as the backdrop for his first novel.

Kirkus Reviews calls Maggie Vaults Over the Moon, “An inspiring young adult novel about perseverance in sports and in life.” The book also has been endorsed by Olympic athletes, coaches, counselors and teachers because of its positive message for readers from middle grades to adults.

“You’d think some other author would have written about the Kansas State Meet before now,” Overstake says. “I feel fortunate that after more than a hundred years, that the ‘some other author’ turned out to be me.” Continue Reading →