By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Payton Fink
PAYTON FINK, Washburn Rural
A sophomore, Fink won her first individual city girls cross country title last Saturday at Washburn Rural after finishing third as a freshman, leading the Junior Blues to the team championship by a 21-35 margin over Seaman. Fink clocked a winning five-kilometer time of 18 minutes, 10.9 seconds, setting a personal record.
Kate Fritz
KATE FRITZ, Washburn Rural
A senior, Fritz teamed with Meredith Kucera to win a pair of doubles championships last week. Fritz and Kucera won the Centennial League doubles title last Monday and followed that up with a win in last Friday's Class 6A regional win on Friday at Kossover Tennis Center, leading the Junior Blues to the regional team title. Fritz and Kucera posted a 6-0, 6-2 win over Topeka High in the regional final.
Meredith Kucera
MEREDITH KUCERA, Washburn Rural
Kucera, a senior, partnered with Kate Fritz to win Centennial League and Class 6A regional titles last week. After winning the league title with a three-set win over Hayden last Monday, Kucera and Fritz won a regional champioship last Friday at Kossover Tennis Center, leading the Junior Blues to the regional team title. Kucera and Fritz posted a 6-0, 6-2 win over Topeka High in the regional final
Lenny Njoroge
LENNY NJOROGE, Topeka West
The Topeka West senior won his first city crosss country championship in last Saturday's city championship at Washburn Rural, clocking a five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 30 seconds to win by 18 seconds. Njoroge became the Chargers' first city boys champion since Winston Tidwell in 1993 and has now won five individual titles in six races this fall.
Lauren Sweeney
LAUREN SWEENEY, Seaman
A Class 5A state doubles champion as a junior, Sweeney earned an opportunity to try to win a second straight state title with last Saturday's Class 5A regional singles championship at Emporia. Now 29-5 on the season, Sweeney will compete in the 5A state tournament Friday and Saturday at Andover after taking a 6-0, 6-0 win in her regional final, helping the Vikings win the regional team title.
Ainzley Zulueta
AINZLEY ZULUETA, Hayden
Zulueta, who won the Class 4A state singles championship last season as a freshman, earned the chance to defend her title with last Saturday's regional championship. Zulueta, now 24-2 on the season, took a 6-1, 6-1 win in her regional final, leading the Wildcats to the regional team championship. Zulueta will compete in the 4A state tournament at Harmon Park Friday and Saturday.
