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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Eleven athletes who had a hand in 10 state titles, including three multiple-event state champs, headline the 2024 All-Shawnee County boys track and field team.
Hayden senior Finn Dunshee and junior Jensen Schrickel took home three Class 3A gold medals apiece, posting two individual wins to go with a relay victory, while also running on a runnerup relay.
Finn Dunshee, Hayden
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden
Dunshee won the 100-meter dash in 10.60 seconds and the 200 in 21.99 while Schrickel took the 3A gold in the long jump at 23 feet, 1 inch and won the 400 dash in 48.73 while Dunshee and Schrickel teamed with juniors Liam Stegman and John Strickland to win the 4x400 relay in 3:26.01 and with Stegman and sophomore Jackson McGivern to finish second in the 4x100 relay (42.52).
Aaron Merritt, Seaman
Seaman senior Aaron Merritt was a double individual gold medalist in 5A and also helped the Vikings post a second-place relay finish.
Merritt won the 110-meter hurdles in 14.48 seconds and the 100 dash in 10.32 seconds and teamed with juniors Peyton Holmes and Bryce Cochran and senior Jacob Anderson to finish second in the 5A 4x100 relay (42.50 seconds).
Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights
Shawnee Heights senior Jackson Esquibel won the 5A state title in the 3,200 meters for the second straight season, with Esquibel also recording a second-place finish in the 1,600 as both a junior and senior.
Esquibel won Friday's 5A 3,200 in 9:21.31 and was second in the 1,600 in 4:19.11.
Josh Sulzen-Watson, Washburn Rural
Washburn Rural senior Josh Sulzen-Watson won the 6A state championship in the javelin with a throw of 188-7 after finishing third in the discus at 162-3 while the Junior Blues' foursome of senior Shane Jueneman, sophomores Liam Morrison and Draden Chooncharoen and junior Isaiah Terry sat through a weather delay before winning the title in the 4x400 relay in 3:19.56 in the final event of the 2024 state meet.
Esquibel is joined on the all-county team by senior teammate Alex Dawkins, third in the 5A discus (164-9), and by T-Bird junior Payton Berry-Briggs, third in the 200 (22.27).
Blake Redmond, Silver Lake
Silver Lake senior Blake Redmond placed third in the 3A long jump (22-3.75) while Eagles junior Evan Scheid was a four-event state medalist in the 100, 200, 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay. Redmond also ran on the 4x100 relay.
Also earning berths on the All-Shawnee County boys first team were Seaman sophomore distance standout Brody Anderson and sophomore sprinter Malachi Murph, a two-time all-county pick.
All-Shawnee County picks were based on meeting minimum performance standards as well as coaches' recommendations and postseason performances.
ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY 2024 BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
City softball players earned six of the 11 spots on the 2024 All-Centennial League team, selected by league coaches.
Washburn Rural senior pitcher Makayla Ekis was named to the All-Centennial League first team while also being selected as the league newcomer of the year. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural's Joy Marie Galliart has been named the Centennial League coach of the year in her first year at Rural. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural, which finished third in the Class 6A state tournament, had a city-high three first-team picks -- senior Makayla Ekis, junior Avery Rupp and freshman Olivia Koch -- while Ekis was named the Centennial League newcomer of the year and first-year Rural coach Joy Marie Galliart the coach of the year.
Topeka High put senior McCall Beall and junior Jo'Mhara Benning on the all-league first team while Hayden is represented by senior Ava Delgado.
Manhattan joined Rural with three first-team selections, with the Indians represented by league player of the year Reagan Neitzel, Jaden McGee and Cat Ball.
Junction City is represented by Sara Rexrode and Makenzie Thomas.
Washburn Rural put Reagan Chapman and Layla Collins on the second team while Topeka High is represented by Taimane Isaia, Becca Gateley and Montgomerie Freel.
Five city players earned all-league honorable mention.
ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE SOFTBALL
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Centennial League champion Washburn Rural put a league-high six players on the All-Centennial League girls soccer first team while the Junior Blues swept the individual awards.
City schools Rural, Hayden and Topeka High earned 10 of the 12 first-team spots.
Washburn Rural junior Kate Hinck has been named the Centennial League girls soccer player of the year. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural freshman Erika Bovell (right) has been named the Centennial League girls soccer player of the year. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural soccer coach Brian Hensyel has been named the Centennial League girls soccer coach of the year. [File photo/TSN]
Rural junior Kate Hinck was named the Centennial League player of the year while Junior Blue freshman Erika Bovell was selected as the newcomer of the year and Rural's Brian Hensyel was named the coach of the year.
Hinck was joined on the all-league first team by seniors Hayley Legg and Mackenzie Flood, juniors Destiny Higgs and Addyson Kaberline and sophomore Allie Schroeder.
Hayden put sophomores Carsyn Broxterman and Reese Huscher and senior Elaina Wolff on the first team while multiple-time all-league first-team selection Avery Zimmerman, a senior, represents Topeka High.
Washburn Rural, which finished third in Class 6A, put junior Delaney Hill and sophomore Peyton Merrick on the second team while Topeka High is represented by junior Ronnie Blancas and sophomore Raelee Shipley and Hayden by junior Camryn McDonald and sophomore Lauren Borjon.
Six city players received all-league honorable mention.
ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE SOCCER
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
GIRLS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High
100 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 12.41
Kielyn McDonnell, Rossville 12.72
Ally Steiner, Seaman 12.86
Alana Mitchell, Hayden 12.87
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 12.96
200 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 26.25
Natalie Hillebert, Hayden 26.67
Analese Estudillo, Washburn Rural 26.74
Shayla Rezac, Rossville 26.74
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka High 26.78
Natalie Hillebert, Hayden
400 METERS
Natalie Hillebert, Hayden 59.59
Shayla Rezac, Rossville 60.88
Ally Steiner, Seaman 60.92
Ella Bolan, Silver Lake 61.69
Ali Gerber, Silver Lake 62.18
Ryin MIller, Seaman
800 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 2:10.25
Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural 2:22.67
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural 2:25.13
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 2:26.39
Taylie Heston, Seaman 2:28.82
1,600 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 4:46.90
Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural 5:12.51
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural 5:14.08
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 5:15.14
Sofia Harper, Hayden 5:29.48
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
BOYS
Aaron Merritt, Seaman
100 METERS
Aaron Merritt, Seaman 10.32
Finn Dunshee, Hayden 10.60
Payton Berry-Briggs, Shawnee Heights 10.80
Peyton Holmes, Seaman 10.92
Evan Scheid, Silver Lake 11.00
Finn Dunshee, Hayden
200 METERS
Finn Dunshee, Hayden 21.43
Payton Berry-Briggs, Shawnee Heights 21.79
Aaron Merritt, Seaman 22.08
Malachi Murph, Topeka High 22.40
Evan Scheid, Silver Lake 22.14
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden
400 METERS
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden 48.73
Isaiah Terry, Washburn Rural 48.98
Payton Berry-Briggs, Shawnee Heights 49.95
Evan Scheid, Silver Lake 51.16
Liam Stegman, Hayden 51.21
800 METERS
Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 1:56.43
Brody Anderson, Seaman 1:57.78
Eli Ferguson, Silver Lake 1:58.12
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 2:00.15
Mark Wilkie, Topeka West 2:04.15
Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights, and Brody Anderson, Seaman
1,600 METERS
Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 4:18.27
Brody Anderson, Seaman 4:27.60
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 4:27.70
Eli Ferguson, Silver Lake 4:33.55
Adrian Lehman, Topeka West 4:34.21
