By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Taylin Stallbaumer tries to be a good big sister.
But when it comes time for Taylin, a sophomore, to compete against her freshman sister in the 100-meter high hurdles, Jaida is pretty much on her own.
"It's pretty friendly, but it's just one of those family competitions where you can't let your younger sister beat you,'' Taylin Stallbaumer said.
Sisters Jaida (left) and Taylin Stallbaumer pose for a picture last Friday night after helping Seaman capture the girls team championship in the Joe Schrag City Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TS
Jaida still hasn't beaten Taylin this spring, but she did the next best thing in last Friday's Joe Schrag Invitational track and field championships at Hummer Sports Park, with the Stallbaumer sisters finishing 1-2 in the highs.
Taylin, who swept the city titles in the 100 and 300 hurdles for the second straight season, won the 100 highs in 16.25 seconds while Jaida was a strong second in 17.03.
Seaman's Taylin Stallbaumer (front) and Jaida Stallbaumer finish 1-2 in the 100-meter high hurdles in last Friday's Joe Schrag City Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Although the sisters ended up in the same event, Taylin, who won the 300s in 49..21, said she had nothing to do with Jaida taking up the hurdles.
"She did it herself, she hurdled in middle school,'' Taylin said.
And Taylin, a two-time Class 5A state medalist as a freshman, also gives Jaida the credit for the steady progress she has made in her freshman season.
"Most of the time I'm at soccer practice so I don't even get to practice with her,'' Taylin Stallbaumer said. "I'll try to help her when it comes down to, it but of course I'm not going to try to lose to her ... ever.''
"I just like to be my own girl but I pick up some things from her,'' Jaida said.
Taylin did help her sister with a change in technique earlier this season.
"This year is her first year three-stepping,'' Taylin said. "She used to four-step for the past two years but this year I kind of helped her with that.''
The Stallbaumers currently rank one-two in the 100 highs and Jaida is happy with the progress she's made this spring.
"I'm getting better each week,'' Jaida said.
Taylin and Jaida both had plenty to celebrate in last Friday's city meet, playing a key role as Seaman claimed its first girls city team title since 2016, ending Washburn Rural's string of four straight team titles.
Taylin claimed three gold medals on the night while Jaida posted a pair of second-place finishes and earned her first city title in the meet-ending 4 x 400-meter relay, with the Stallbaumers teaming with Taylie Heston and Bethany Druse to win the event in 4:15.31, wrapping up a 146-134 victory over the Junior Blues.
"It feels good because we haven't won in quite a while,'' Taylin said. "It's been a long time.''
