By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- As a freshman back in 2018, Washburn Rural hurdler Marquel Russell flashed his potential, placing second in Class 6A in the 110-meter hurdles.
Russell delivered on that potential Thursday at Cessna Stadium in his final state meet, claiming a state championship in the 110s in 14.79 seconts.
And although it might not have shown on the outside, Russell was thriilled to finally claim a state title.
"I felt the excitement inside me, but I know it's kind of rude to like go, 'Yeah,' or something like that, so I've always kept my excitement inside me,'' Russell said.
Washburn Rural's Marquel Russell finished off his senior season with a Class 6A state championship in the 110-meter hurdles Thursday at Wichita's Cessna Stadium. [File photo/TSN]
Russell had burst on the state scene when he claimed the state runner-up position his freshman season in 14.91 and viewed Thursday's race as a chance to show how much he's improved since then.
Russell finished fourth in the 110s as a sophomore (15.22) and posted a personal-best Thursday while Hutchinson's Stephon Hunter was second in 15.00
"I knew I've come a long ways from my freshman year and I've always felt it's better to go against fast competitors,'' Russell said. "That pushes me to get better.''
Russell was one of two Junior Blues to celebrate a state title Thursday, with junior Zsamar Sipple winning the long jump with a leap of 22 feet, 0 inches, as Washburn Rural finished fourth as a team with 40.50 points.
Washburn Rural junior Zsamar Sipple won the Class 6A long jump title Thursday at Wichita's Cessna Stadium.. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sipple notched what proved to be his state-winning jump on his first attempt and then held on to get the win by a mere one and one-half inches over Centennial League rival Chales Jones of Manhattan, who jumped 21-10.50.
"I was looking to set the stage with a 23, but if I won with a 22 I'm not going to complain,'' Sipple said. "This is very satifying for me. I just wanted to work hard and get up on that podium.''
Sipple didn't have one of his better days in the triple jump, but still picked up a second state medal with a seventh-place finish at 41-3.75.
Washburn Rural picked up a pair of state medals in the boys high jump, with senior Joel Goering taking fourth at 14 feet, his career-high in a high school meet, while senior Christian Ahlf was fifth at 12-6.
Rural senior Sam Shonka tied for third in the high jump at 6-2 while junior Zach Sulzen Watson took fifth in the discus at 153-3.
Washburn Rural's girls placed in five events, led by a pair of top-five relay performances.
The Junior Blues' foursome of sophomore Alexis Fredrickson, senior Elle Bray, sophomore Madeline Carter and freshman Jada Ingram finished fourth in the 4x400-meter relay in 3:10.74 while the Rural team of senior Keely Wagner, junior Khloi Bird, freshman Sydney Laster and Carter finished fifth in the 4x800 in 9:51.17.
Carter earned a third state medal with a sixth-place finish in the 800 meters in 2:23.21 while Ingram cleared 5-2 to finish fifth in the high jump and senior Rebekah Smith was seventh in the shot put at 35-9.
