By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- Seaman senior shot-putter JahnAsia Anderson had been solid in her first and only track and field season, including a fourth-place finish in the city meet and a runner-up showing in Class 5A regional competition.
But the thought of winning a state championship was probably a pipe dream ... until Thursday that is.
Anderson surpassed her previous career-best by more than a foot and a half with a throw of 37 feet, 7 inches, taking the 5A title by nearly a foot over Great Bend junior Taryn Warren (36-8.25).
![Seaman senior JahnAsia Anderson won the Class 5A girls shot put championship with a personal-record throw of 37 feet, 7 inches. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]](/images/aa-images/E2e7Pe2XEAE3KNk.jpg)
Seaman senior JahnAsia Anderson won the Class 5A girls shot put championship with a personal-record throw of 37 feet, 7 inches. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I didn't expect this at all, but I'm just really happy that this is the outcome,'' Anderson said.
"My coach (Jayce Brack) was really enthusiastic throughout the whole process and he made me stay calm because I was really nervous, but for my first year, not too bad.''
That's quite the understatement, with Anderson making an improvement of nearly six feet since the Joe Schrag City Invitational to shock the state field.
"I was actually injured with my elbow, so I was out for like a week and a half,'' Anderson said. "(Coach Brack) just really encouraged me to stay strong and Mike Longhofer, who is our athletic trainer, did his best, to help me and make sure I was stabilized throughout the process, so I love him for that, too.
"I'm just excited overall.''
Seaman sophomore Bethany Druse picked up a pair of state medals, placing fifth in the 1,600 meters (5:19.89) and fifth in the 800 (2:22.96).
Viking freshman Taylin Stallbaumer finished seventh in the 5A 100 hurdles (15.75) and placed eighth in the 300 hurdles (47.73).
Shawnee Heights junior Nadia Emperley finished second in the Class 5A javelin at 125 feet, 4 inches. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Shawnee Heights junior Nadia Emperley came agonizingly close to joining Anderson as a 5A state champion, leading the javelin event for most of the competition before Sophia Gimino of Kapaun Mt. Carmel overtook her on her final throw of the competition.
Emperley took the lead with a throw of 124-1 before Gimino got off a heave of 128-5 on her final attempt. Emperley improved to 125-4 on her final throw, but was forced to settle for second place.
Heights senior Shelby Butterfield also picked up a state medal in the javelin, placing seventh at 112-11, and she finished fourth in the long jump at 16-7.50.
T-Bird sophomore Taylor Rottinghaus placed fourth in the 400 in 58.98.
Topeka West had three individual girls state medalists, with senior Adina Davis placing sixth in the triple jump (34-11), freshman Mikayla Wilkerson taking seventh in the discus (113-0) and freshman Victoria Reed eighth in the 100 (12.53).
The Charger foursome of Reed, Davis, sophomore Malayah Henderson and sophomore Ala'Jah Brooks also earned a state medal in the 4x100 relay, finishing sixth in 50.33.
