By RICK PETERSON TopSports.news
Hayden junior swimming standout Kaelyn Gerdel and Washburn Rural junior track standout Christian Hartman-Babb have been selected by the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency as the Rising Stars of the Week.
The Dan Key Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the bulk of the 2025-2026 school year.
Here's a brief look at Gerdel and Hartman-Babb's recent accomplishments.
Kaelyn Gerdel, Hayden
KAELYN GERDEL, Hayden
Gerdel swept her two individual events in Wednesday's Hayden Invitational girls swimming meet at the Capitol Federal Natatorium, posting personal records in both events.
Gerdel won the 200-yard freestyle by 1.30 seconds in a time of 2 minutes, 12.32 seconds and cruised to a win in the 100 breaststroke by more than four seconds while improving her personal best by nearly two seconds in 1:16.48.
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural
CHRISTIAN HARTMAN-BABB, Washburn Rural
The Junior Blue sprinter swept the 100 and 200-meter dash championships in Monday's 19-school Blue Valley West Elite Meet.
A Class 6A state qualifier as a sophomore, Hartman-Babb won the 100 in 10.43 seconds and came back later in the evening to win the 200 in 22.68 seconds as Washburn Rural tied for fourth in the team standings with 54 points.
