By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural senior Rylee Ismert has put together a very solid cross country career, including a Class 6A state medal as a junior and top-five finishes in city, league and regional competition.
Washburn Rural senior Rylee Ismert reacts at the finish line after winning the girls Centennial League cross country championship Saturday at Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But wins had been hard to come by for the Junior Blue standout, something she took care of Saturday with a decisive individual championship by more than 18 seconds in the Centennial League meet on Rural's home course.
Ismert clocked a five-kilometer time of 18 minutes, 02.9 seconds to lead the way as Washburn Rural placed three runners in the top five and all of its top five in the top 12 spots as the Junior Blues rolled to the league team title by a 28-54 margin over Manhattan.
Washburn Rural seniors Rylee Ismert (788) and Payton Fink run side by side in Saturday's Centennial League meet en route to a one-two finish for the team-champion Junior Blues. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Ismert said her pre-race goal was to stick as long as possible with senior teammate Payton Fink, the 2023 league champ.
"That was the plan because I knew that we would both push each other if we stayed together,'' Ismert said.
Ismert eventually took the lead about the two-mile mark and pulled away for the win while Fink finished second in 18:21.4.
"I guess I just kind of felt it,'' Ismert said. "I felt better than I thought I was going to, so I put a little surge into it and wanted to see what happened.''
Junior Emily Graf was fifth (18:52.6) for the Junior Blues while senior Brooklyn Nolte finished 10th (19:38.8) and junior Kenzie Maddox 12th (20:21.0) to round out the Junior Blues' top five.
"We've been training really hard this season and our coaches have been giving us really good workouts and it's paying off a lot for us,'' Ismert said.
Hayden got a seventh-place finish from senior Elliot Wrench (19:24.1).
Junction City senior Ethan Fontaine won the boys individual title in 15:49.4 to lead the way as the Blue Jays put five runners in the top 11 en route to winning the team championship by a 28-43 margin over Manhattan.
Washburn Rural freshman Henry Laubach finishes off a second-place performance in his first Centennial League meet Saturday at Rural, leading the Junior Blues to a third-place team finish. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural finished third with 61 points as Henry Laubach continued his outstanding freshman season with a second-place finish behind Fontaine in 15:49.4.
The Junior Blues also got a top-10 finish from junior Brooks Kehoe (16:25.6), who placed ninth.
Hayden finished fifth in the boys standings with 127 points whle Topeka High was sixth with 158 points.
Washburn Rural and Topeka High will be vying for state berths in a Class 6A state regional meet next Saturday at Kanza Park, with the girls race at 10:35 a.m. and the boys at 11:45.
Hayden will compete in a 4A regional next Saturday at Blue Valley Southwest, with the girls running at 10 a.m. and the boys at 11:10.
State competition will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2, with 6A competing at Rim Rock Farm north of Lawrence and 4A competing at Wamego Country Club.
CENTENNIAL LEAGUE CROSS COUNTRY
At Washburn Rural
GIRLS
Team scores
Washburn Rural 28, Manhattan 54, Junction City 64, Emporia 77, Topeka High 140.
Individual results
1. Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural, 18:02.9; 2. Payton Fink, Washburn Rural, 18:21.4; 3. Linden Pickler, Junction City, 18:30.4; 4. Anna Fontaine, Junction City, 18:43.7; 5. Emily Graf, Washburn Rural, 18:52.6; 6. Andie Strathman, Manhattan, 19:22.2; 7. Elliot Wrench, Hayden, 19:24.1; 8. Madison Evans, Emporia, 19:25.7; 9. Scarlett Williams, Manhattan, 19:29.8; 10. Brooklyn Nolte, Washburn Rural, 19:39.8.
Other Washburn Rural -- 12. Kenzie Maddox, 20:21.9; 21. Kate Muir, 22:02.7; 26. Reese Beardslee, 22:24.0.
Other Hayden -- 27. Sofia Harper, 22:25.9; 31. Ryann Newkirk, 24.50.4.
Topeka High -- 28. Juliahnna Savago, 22:44.6; 29. Emma Womack, 23:02.3; 30. Victoria Reynaga, 23:14.1; 32. Kimberly Cortez, 29:05.4; 33. Mackynzie Murray, 30.39.8.
BOYS
Team scores
Junction City 28, Manhattan 43, Washburn Rural 61, Emporia 116, Hayden 127, Topeka High 158.
Individual results
1. Ethan Fontaine, Junction City, 15:49.5; 2. Henry Laubach, Washburn Rural, 15:59.4; 3. Anthony Testa, Junction City, 16:13.0; 4. Jack Spiegel, Manhattan, 16:14.1; 5. William Dee, Junction City, 16:14.1; 6. Evan Arnold, Manhattan, 16:14.8; 7. Wilson Wesch, Manhattan, 16:19.4; 8. Everett Pickler, Junction City, 16:20.1; 9. Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural, 16:25.8; 10. Andrei Mazin, Manhattan, 16:31.1.
Other Washburn Rural -- 14. Bodie King, 16:51.1; 17. Conner Olsen, 17:01.2; 19. Clayton Fink, 17:04.5; 28. Chris Quarles, 17:56.0; 29. Duke Graf, 18:27.9.
Hayden -- 13. Connor Baldwin, 16:48.7; 24. Jonah Stewart, 17.25.0; 26. Nick Newkirk, 17:31.3; 31. Derek Ahlstedt, 18:56.7; 33. Luke Franklin, 19:06.4; 34. Ethan Rochford, 19:14.0; 35. Nathaniel Augustine, 19:29.7.
Topeka High -- 22. Easton Davis, 17:19.1; 25. Stuart Campbell, 17:28.7; 36. Tayleon Flores, 19.58.0; 37. Oliver Snethen, 19:59.4; 38. Matthew Hanes, 20:02.0; 39. Levi McGee, 21:04.9; 40. Meeko Tinoco, 21:10.2.
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