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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Brody Anderson, Seaman
BRODY ANDERSON, Seaman
A sophomore distance standout, Anderson received All-Shawnee County honorable mention in track last spring and was a first-team all-county pick in cross country in the fall. Anderson set the fastest five-kilometer time in Seaman cross country history at the city meet, clocking a time of 15 minutes, 50 seconds, and Anderson finished third at regionals to lead the Vikings to a state team berth. Anderson opened his track season with a win in the 800 meters in the Topeka West Invitational (2:01.23).
Alesecio Batson, Topeka West
ALESECIO BATSON, Topeka West
A junior, Batson is the returning Class 5A state champion in the triple jump, winning the title with a leap of 48 feet, 4.25 inches. An All-Shawnee County first-team pick, Batson was the county leader in the event with a season-best jump of 48-11. Batson is easing back into competition this spring after suffering a leg injury over the summer but finished third in the 400-meter dash (53.64) in the season-opening Topeka West Invitational.
TRISTAN BERG, Seaman
Berg is a standout senior long-jumper for the Vikings and earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season. Berg finished his 2023 eason tied for fourth in Shawnee County with a top jump of 21 feet, 5 inches.
BRYCE COCHRAN, Seaman
A junior, Cochran earned All-Shawnee County first-team recognition last season after a solid season for the Vikings in the sprints and jumps. Cochran ranked third in the county last season in the 200-meter dash (22.34) and fifth in the triple jump (41-10). Cochran opened the 2024 season in Thursday's Topeka West Invitational, finishing fourth in the 200 (23.41) and running on Seaman's second-place 4x100 and 4x400 relays, with the 4x100 setting a school record.
ALEX DITTMAN, Shawnee Heights
A senior, Dittman was a first-team All-Shawnee County selection in 2023 after finishing fifth in the 5A javelin (165 feet, 9 inches). Dittman had a season-best of 175-1, which ranked No. 2 in the county. Dittman opened his season at Friday's Free State Early Bird Invitational with a runnerup finish in the javelin at 157-9.
Finn Dunshee, Hayden
FINN DUNSHEE, Hayden
A returning All-Shawnee County first-teamer, Dunshee, a senior, won the 4A 100-meter dash (10.84) last spring and also ran on the Wildcats' winning 4x100 (42.65) and 4x400 relays while helping Hayden set the 4A meet record in the 4x400 relay (3:20.99). Dunshee was also an all-county Top 22 selection in football after helping the Wildcats advance to the 3A state championship game.
Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights
JACKSON ESQUIBEL, Shawnee Heights
A senior Kansas State signee, Esquibel won the 5A 3,200-meter run in 9 minutes, 18.67 seconds in the 2023 state track meet and added a runnerup finish in the 1,600 (4:15.26). A multi-time All-Shawnee County pick, Esquibel added the 5A cross country championship this past fall. Esquibel opened his senior track campaign with a sweep of the 1,600 meters (4:36.23) and 3,200 (9:44.51) in Friday's Free State Early Bird Invitational.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural
PAYTON FINK, Washburn Rural
Fink, a first-team All-Shawnee County pick last spring, is one of Class 6A's premier distance runners and will also run relays for the Junior Blues. Fink was part of Washburn Rural's fifth-place 4x800-meter relay team (9:52.27) in the 2023 6A state meet. Fink finished second in the 6A cross country meet last fall.
Taylie Heston, Seaman
TAYLIE HESTON, Seaman
A junior, Heston earned first-team All-Shawnee County recognition last season after earning a 5A state medal as a member of Seaman's sixth-place 4x800 relay team. Heston opened her season in Thursday's Topeka West Invitational with a second-place finish in the 800 meters (2:37.14) while also running on Seaman's winning 4x400 and 4x800 relays.
Natalie Hillebert (left), Hayden
NATALIE HILLEBERT, Hayden
A first-team All-Shawnee County selection last spring, Hillebert placed second in the 4A 400 meters. A senior, Hillebert clocked a time of 58.83 seconds at state and ranked No. 2 in the county with a season-best of 58.15. Hillebert also ranked among the county leaders in the 200 dash. Hillebert finished second in the 400 in Friday's season-opener at Free State (63.31).
Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural
RYLEE ISMERT, Washburn Rural
A junior distance runner, Ismert helped Washburn Rural post a fifth-place finish in 6A in the 4x800 relay (9:25.27) in the 6A state meet. Ismert, a first-team All-Shawnee County team last season, ranked among the county leaders in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters last spring. Ismert placed 16th in the 6A cross country meet last fall.
KAIBRYN KRUGER, Silver Lake
A senior, Kruger earned All-Shawnee County first-team recognition last season after placing sixth at state in the 3A triple jump (34-10). Kruger was the county leader in the triple jump with a season-best of 35 feet and tied for the county lead in the long jump with a season-best of 16-10.
MAGGIE LESMEISTER, Seaman
A senior, Lesmeister is a standout javelin thrower for the Vikings, earning All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season. Lesmeister ranked third in the county last spring with a season-best of 121-6 and took first place in Thursday's season-opening Topeka West Invitational (107-11).
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High
KEIMARA MARSHALL, Topeka High
A sophomore, Marshall established herself as one of the area's top sprinters last spring, earning first-team all-county honors. Marshall ranked No. 2 in the county in the 100 (12.74) and fourth in the 200 (26.70) in 2023 and opened the current season with second-place finishes in the 100 and 200 in the Topeka West Invitational.
Ryin MIller, Seaman
RYIN MILLER, Seaman
Miller, a sophomore, was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick in 2023, earning a pair of 5A state medals. Miller ran on Seaman's third-place 4x400 relay and the Vikings' sixth-place 4x800 relay team. Miller is one of the top cross country runners in 5A and is coming off a third-place 5A state finish last fall.
BROOKLYN NOLTE, Washburn Rural
A junior, Nolte earned All-Shawnee County first-team honors last spring after running on Washburn Rural's 4x800 relay team that finished fifth in 6A (9:52.27). Nolte ran on the Junior Blues' cross country team that finished fourth as a team in the 6A state meet last fall, placing 41st individually.
RAE NORTH, Hayden
A junior sprinter, North was a first-team All-Shawnee County first-team selection last season after earning a 4A state medal with an eighth-place individual finish in the 400-meter dash. North will also compete in relays for the Wildcats.
RAEGAN PETERSEN, Washburn Rural
Petersen, a senior, is one of Shawnee County's top throwers, earning all-county honorable mention last season. Petersen was the Shawnee County leader in the discus with a season-best of 119 feet, 2 inches. Petersen was also a standout for Washburn Rural's golf team, capping her career with a 17th-place state finish last fall.
AVA ROTTINGHAUS, Silver Lake
A senior, Rottinghaus placed sixth in the 3A girls javelin last spring (126 feet, 2 inches) and also ran on the Eagles' fourth-place 4x400 relay (4:11.98). A first-team All-Shawnee County pick in 2023, Rottinghaus ranked second in the county in the javelin, with her throw at state her personal best.
Jaida Stallbaumer, Seaman
JAIDA STALLBAUMER, Seaman
Stallbaumer, a junior, was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick in 2023 after finishing fifth in the 5A 100-meter high hurdles (16.04) and running on the Vikings' third-place 4x400 relay. Stallbaumer ranked No. 1 in Shawnee County last season in the 300 hurldes and was second in the 100 hurdles. Stallbaumer opened her 2024 season with a win in the 300 hurdles and ran on the Vikings' winning 4x400 relay.
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NOTE: Final statistics for city boys basketball teams for the 2023-2024 season were compiled by Seaman girls coach Matt Tinsley after receiving reports from city coaches.
SCORING
Name, school Gms. Pts. Avg
Robinson, Highland Park 25 545 21.8
Highland Park junior Ja'Corey Robinson (23) led the city in scoring and rebounding, averaging a double-double on the season. [File photo/TSN]
J. Sanchez, Shawnee Heights 19 366 19.3
Everhart, Cair Paravel 21 349 16.6
Dodge, Shawnee Heights 21 348 16.6
Williams, Highland Park 25 409 16.6
Bonner, Seaman 18 283 15.7
Foy, Topeka West 22 296 13.5
Anderson, Highland Park 23 291 12.7
Pavlik, Cair Paravel 21 265 12.6
Hales, Topeka High 20 244 12.2
Ballard, Washburn Rural 22 264 12.0
Durst, Washburn Rural 22 256 11.6
Finley, Seaman 21 234 11.1
Pomeroy, Shawnee Heights 21 233 11.1
Lyons, Topeka High 16 176 11.0
REBOUNDING
Name, school Gms. Total Avg.
Robinson, Highland Park 25 289 11.6
J. Sanchez, Shawnee Heights 19 171 9.0
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High's girls soccer team and senior standout Avery Zimmerman got their 2024 season off to a notable start Monday at Hummer Sports Park, with the Trojans rolling to a 9-0 win over USD 501 rival Topeka West while Zimmerman reached a milestone with her 50th career goal in the High romp.
Topeka High senior Avery Zimmerman (2) reached the 50-goal mark for her career in Monday's 9-0 season-opening win over Topeka West. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka High sophomore Raelee Shipley (10) recorded a three-goal hat trick in Monday's 9-0 Trojan win over Topeka West. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"Overall, I was pleased with the way we came out and we used what we had been working on in practice and what we wanted to do,'' Topeka High coach Derek Snook said. "We had a bunch of people we had to replace, especially on the defensive end and on the wings so now going forward we know a little bit more about what we have.
"I'm very pleased with the way we controlled the middle and looked to use one another.''
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By KEVIN HASKIN
TopSports.news
Musings at the mid-month:
• The whole run, or limp, through March for KU really leaves me thinking.
• How is it the Jayhawks did not recruit depth? They should be stacked and of course, we’re all led to believe they are by recruiting rankings.
• Injuries, however, have really exposed the Jayhawks’ mortality this season.
• I’m not sure I’m picking them to beat Samford in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
• So there, Bill Self. Not that you need motivation but let’s see what you’ve got as a 4-seed.
• KU beat UConn and Houston, so upside exists. I’m just not seeing it right now, at least not consistently.
• Could it be the fourth time in the last five dance cards the Jayhawks failed to reach the second weekend?
• A disclaimer: They would have been the favorite in 2020 when the pandemic prompted the NCAA tournament’s cancellation. And, KU won it all in 2022.
• All the more reason to believe in Self when KU is a trendy pick to get upset.
