- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's men's and women's track teams combined to set 12 school records in the Southwest Baptist Invitational at Bolivar, Mo., with former Shawnee County standouts Zac Chander, Eric Patterson Jr., Wyatt Heiman, Josh Wiltz and Kaylee Snell sharing in the record haul.
Patterson, a Seaman product, teamed with Shawnee Heights grad Josh Wiltz, Silver Lake native Wyatt Heiman and Josh Hopkins to set a school record of 41.85 seconds in the 4x100-meter relay en route to a fourth-place finish in the 16-school men's meet
Former Washburn Rural Class 6A state pole vault champion Zac Chandler and teammate Peyton Lane both cleared 4.80 meters (15 feet, 9 inches) to improve on the previous school men's pole vault record of 4.71.
Seaman grad Kaylee Snell took second place in the women's 3,000 meters in a time of 10:32.26, taking more than 36 seconds off the previous school record of 11:08.67.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Back in the spring of 2019, Hayden's Tanner Newkirk burst on the state track and field scene as a freshman, placing second in his state debut.
Now a junior, Newkirk, the reigning Class 4A state cross country champion, is one of several Shawnee County upperclassmen who appear poised to make noise at the state level later this season along with several newcomers who have already shown promise in their first track and field campaigns.
Other top returners include Seaman boys hurdler Sean Hoffmans, Washburn Rural boys hurdler Marquel Russell, Hayden boys long-jumper/sprinter Jack Konrade and Shawnee Heights girls hurdler/jumper Shelby Butterfield, while a talented group of newcomers includes Shawnee Heights boys hurdler/sprinter Jeremiah Smith, Heights girls sprinter Taylor Rottinghaus, Seaman girls distance runner Bethany Druse and Seaman hurdler Taylin Stallbaumer.
Here's 20 athletes to keep an eye on this spring:
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
City swimmers dominated the Topeka High Invitational last Thursday and Friday at the Capitol Federal Natorium, combining for victories in 10 of 12 events.
Washburn Rural used its depth to take the team championship by a 437-326 margin over Seaman while the Vikings won a meet-high six events, followed by Rural and Topeka West with two wins apiece.
Seaman's Avery Walz and Gabby Grace both captured four gold medals, with Walz winning the 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 13.79 seconds and the 100 breaststroke (1:08.15) and Grace the 100 freestyle (56.99) and 100 backstroke (1:02.96) while both A. Walz and Grace swam on the Vikings' 200 medley relay (1:59.74) and 400 free relay (3:59.72) along with Tauren Walz and Samantha Shea.
Washburn Rural got wins from Makenna Pritchard in the 50 free (26.54) and from Mara Bare in the 100 butterfly (1:07.56).
Topeka West's Kadence Jefferies was a double individual winner, taking the 200 freestyle in 1:58.20 and the 500 free in 5:12.81.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After advancing to the Class 6A state tournament in 2019, another big year could be in store for Shane Miles' Topeka High softball team this spring.
The Trojans return eight players that gained starting experience for High's 16-4 team in '19, including All-Staters Zoe Caryl and NiJaree Canady and four other players who received All-City recognition, and Miles' team is already off to a 4-0 start, including a pair of wins over 5A power Shawnee Heights.
Topeka High senior catcher Zoe Caryl, an All-Stater in 2019, has helped lead the Trojans to a 4-0 start this spring. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka High junior NiJaree Canady, who received All-State recognition as a freshman, is a star at the plate and on the pitching mound for the Trojans. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka High will build this year's team around seniors Caryl, Zoie Kincade, Tatum Wilson and Mia Kelly and juniors Canady, Amiah Cain and Majayla Boyd while top newcomers include junior Elycia Joyce and sophomores Adisyn Caryl and Quincy Smith.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's softball team opened its 2021 season in impressive fashion Thursday at home, taking a 10-0, 3-2 decision over Centennial League foe Manhattan.
Seaman took control of the opener with three runs in the first inning and added four runs in the third, two runs in the fourth and a run in the sixth.
Junior Emma Smith had two home runs and four runs batted in for the Vikings in the first game while junior Skylar Duncan had a three-run homer and senior Raigan Kramer had three hits, including a triple, and an RBI.
Duncan picked up the pitching win, throwing a one-hitter while walking three and striking out eight.
