By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After winning city and United Kansas Conference individual championships, Seaman sophomore cross country star Ryin Miller added a Class 5A regional title on Saturday at the Shawnee North Community Center, leading the Vikings to a team berth for next Saturday's 5A state meet.
Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller completed a sweep of city, UKC and Class 5A regional individual cross country titles Saturday at Shawnee North Community Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Running on her home course, Miller took control of Saturday's race from the outset, clocking a five-kilometer time of 18 minutes, 20.89 seconds to post a win by more than a minute over De Soto sophomore Addison Gillespie (19:28.79).
Now Miller, who finished fifth in 5A as a freshman, will turn her focus to next Saturday's state meet at Rim Rock Farm north of Lawrence and said she feels like she's where she needs to be to be ready to challenge for another strong state finish.
"My knee's kind of been bothering me a little bit, but other than that, yes,'' Miller said.
Miller, who also ran the UKC meet at Shawnee North, was satisfied her performance on Saturday.
"I'm alright with it,'' she said. "I didn't do as good as last week but I think it was a little bit hotter, and obviously my knee, so I think I'm happy with it.''
Miller led Seaman to the third and final team berth for state, with the Vikings posting a team score of 66 points to finish behind defending state champion St. James Academy (31) and De Soto (52).
Freshman Brynn Spencer posted a seventh-place finish for Seaman in 19:53.80, followed by junior Stella Appelhanz in 13th (20:15.72), senior Savannah Sampson in 17th (20:41.55) and freshman Alex Richardson in 28th (21:30.70) to round out the Vikings' top five.
Senior Elinore Stallbaumer was 34th (22:24.09) and freshman Hannah Wempe 36th (22:27.43).
"Our kids ran faster than they did at conference as a whole,'' Seaman coach Rick Brading said. "Ryin had a good race, being there by herself. She ran well and Savannah Sampson had a really good day today as our four and Brynn got under 20 minutes, which was great.''
St. James Academy placed all of its top five runners in the top 10 en route to the team title.
Junior Elizabeth Hogan led Shawnee Heights with a 42nd-place finish (23:08.24).
CLASS 5A REGIONAL GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
At Shawnee North Community Center
Team scores
St. James Academy 31, De Soto 52, Seaman 66, Basehor-Linwood 99, Lansing 150, Bonner Springs 178, Piper 192, Leavenworth 209, Shawnee Heights 255.
Individual results
1. Ryin Miller, Seaman, 18:20.89; 2. Addison Gillespie, De Soto, 19:28.79; 3. Katelyn Menghini, St. James Academy, 19:30.14; 4. Katie Price, St. James Academy, 19:30.16; 5. Brooke Bundt, De Soto, 19:34.00; 6. Allie Morfeld, St. James Academy, 19:53.31; 7. Brynn Spencer, Seaman, 19:53.80; 8. Quinn Hays, St. James Academy, 19:53.82; 9. Taya Swarts, De Soto, 20:02.12; 10. Annie Wilken, St. James Academy, 20:06.00.
Other Seaman -- 13. Stella Appelhanz, 20:15.72; 17. Savannah Sampson,, 20:41.55; 28. Alex Richardson, 21:31.70; 34. Elinore Stallbaumer, 22:24.09; 36. Hannah Wempe, 22:27.43.
Shawnee Heights -- 42. Elizabeth Hogan, 23:08.24; 47. Abigail Lewis, 24:27.62; 53. Addison Cooper, 25:46.27; 56. McKenna Haltom, 26:02.24; 57. Kinsley Mohan, 26:15.89; 59. Adelaide Davis, 26:16.76; 60. Mia Mattox, 26:35.21.
