By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
There's no doubt that Bethany Druse's favorite event is the 800 meters.
But the Seaman sophomore distance star knows the only way she's going to reach her true potential in that event is by pushing herself in other events.
So that's why Druse ran 5 kilometers throughout cross county season, pushing herself to a ninth-place state finish, and that's why she put herself through the difficult 1,600 meters/800 double in Friday's Bob Camien/Claudia Welch Seaman Relays.
Continuing an outstanding season in her first high school track and field campaign, Druse won the 1,600 in a personal-best 5 minutes, 19.90 seconds and came back later to take the 800 in 2:22.64.
Seaman sophomore Bethany Druse (right) duels with Olathe North's Shea Johnson during Friday's 1,600-meter run in the Camien/Welch Seaman Relays. Druse won the 1,600 in 5:19.90 and came back to double up in the 800 in 2:22.64. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN].
Druse said last fall's cross country season helped pave the way for her success this spring.
"I really like track and I did cross country because I wanted to keep up my endurance for track,'' she said. "And that race especially, cross country, helped me because it helped me push even when I was tired.''
Something else that has motivated Druse in track is the fact that she didn't get to compete as a freshman due to COVID-19.
"I'm having a blast,'' she said. "I'm going a lot faster this year to make up for last year's loss.''
Druse is undefeated in her individual races and said her goal is to continue to keep making improvement.
"I really want to improve because then I won't be mad at myself after the race,'' Druse said. "I maybe go too fast on my first lap, but it always ends up paying off because I get a PR (personal record).''
And after each race, Druse sets her goals just a little bit higher as she tries to build for the Class 5A state meet.
"I'm definitely a goal-setter,'' Druse said. "After each race I go to my mom and dad and we talk about my race and then after that we talk about next week's race and how it should look and what my time should be.''
Next up is next Friday's Joe Schrag City Invitational, followed by Centennial League, regional and state competition.
CAMIEN/WELCH SEAMAN RELAYS
GIRLS
Team scores
Olathe North 100.5, Manhattan 94, SM Northwest 78, Leavenworth 67, Lansing 57, Washburn Rural 51, SM North 38, Junction City 31, Emporia 30.5, Rossville 28, Seaman 25, Hiawatha 25, Santa Fe Trail 19, Holton 19, Jefferson North 13, Wamego 10, Burlingame 8, Topeka High 3, Silver Lake 3, Perry-Lecomtpon 1.
Individual results
High jump — 1. Mackiewicz, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 5-2; 2. Manville, Jefferson County North, 5-2; 3. Ingram, Washburn Rural, 5-0.
Pole vault — 1. Klusman, Olathe North, 10-6; 2. Neighbour, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 10-0; 3. Caravello, Shawnee Mission North, 10-0.
Long jump — 1. Larson, Manhattan, 16-9; 2. Johnson, Manhattan, 16-8; 3. Gardner, Leavenworth, 16-7.75.
Triple jump — 1. A. Pixton, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 35-9; 2. O. Pixton, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 35-7.5; 3. Larson, Manhattan, 34-8..
Discus — 1. Toala, Junction City, 126-4; 2. Hinterweger, Santa Fe Trail, 125-11; 3. Gillum, Rossville, 125-6.
Shot put — 1. Gillum, Rossville, 40-7; 2. Toala, Junction City, 38-11; 3. Ilalio, Manhattan, 36-10.
Javelin — 1. Tanking, Holton, 140-8; 2. Glessneer, Manhattan, 134-5; 3. Sogaard, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 124-5.
4x800 relay — 1. Shawnee Mission North, 9:55.74; 2. Washburn Rural, 10:04.82; 3. Manhattan, 10:19.76.
110 hurdles — 1. McKie, Olathe North, 15.02; 2. Pixton, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 16.04; 3. Geiger, Hiawatha, 16.12.
100 — 1. McGinnis, Olathe North, 11.81; 2. Ramos, Leavenworth, 12.06; 3. Blake, Leavenworth, 12.07.
1,600 — 1. Druse, Seaman, 5:19.90; 2. Johnson, Olathe North, 5:22.16; 3. Willhite, Emporia, 5:31.14.
4x100 relay — 1. Olathe North, 49.22; 2. Leavenworth, 49.26; 3. Lansing, 49.89.
400 — 1. Blake, Leavenworth, 57.48; 2. Ritchhart, Lansing, 58.42; 3. Foster, Rossville, 59.91.
300 hurdles — 1. Klusman, Olathe North, 49.64; 2. Lierz, Hiawatha, 49.66; 3. Arasmith, Manhattan, 50.29.
800 — 1. Druse, Seaman, 2:22.64; 2. Stewart, Olathe North, 2:24.40; 3. Foster, Rossville, 2:24.94.
200 — 1. Blake, Leavenworth, 25.57; 2. Ramos, Leavenworth, 26.13; 3. Ritchhart, Lansing, 26.75.
3,200 — 1. Mullen, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 11:23.22; 2. Dockstader, Olathe North, 11:27.04; 3. Tyrrell, Shawnee Mission North, 11:37.51.
4x400 relay — 1. Shawnee Mission Northwest, 4:05.09; 2. Leavenworth, 4:06.40; 3. Olathe North, 4:10.39.
BOYS
Team scores
Manhattan 115.5, Washburn Rural 75, Lansing 67, Olathe North 67, Silver Lake 53, Perry-Lecompton 47, Junction City 46, Shawnee Mission North 39, Leavenworth 37, Emporia 32, Seaman 30.5, Santa Fe Trail 22, Holton 22, Wamego 16, Rossville 15, Shawnee Mission Northwest 9, Jefferson County North 3, Burlingame 3, Hiawatha 3.
Individual results
High jump — 1. Shonka, Washburn Rural, 6-6; 2. Paul, Olathe North, 6-4; 3. Patrick, Lansing, 6-2.
Pole vault — 1. Quarles, Olathe North, 12-6; 2. Goering, Washburn Rural, 12-0; 3. Huber, Emporia, 12-0.
Long jump — 1. Benson, Lansing, 23-5; 2. Butler, Lansing, 22-6.5; 3. Sipple, Washburn Rural, 21-9.25.
Triple jump — 1. Sipple, Washburn Rural, 44-1.75; 2. Renfro, Silver Lake, 43-9; 3. Jones, Manhattan, 43-7.
Discus — 1. Schwartz, Santa Fe Trail, 183-11; 2. Magana, Manhattan, 174-2; 3. Z. Sulzen-Watson, Washburn Rural, 165-8.
Shot put — 1. O'Connell, Manhattan, 61-3; 2. Harris, Leavenworth, 55-7; 3. Schwartz, Santa Fe Trail, 53-1.
Javelin — 1. Moran, Manhattan, 188-5; 2. Welch, Perry-Lecompton, 165-8; 3. Karn, Holton, 151-10.
4x800 relay — 1. Wamego, 8:28.48; 2. Shawnee Mission North, 8:30.72; 3. Washburn Rural, 8:32.37.
110 hurdles — 1. Russell, Washburn Rural, 15.23; 2. Parrish, Olathe North, 15.51; 3. Walltower, Leavenworth.
100 — 1. Benson, Lansing, 10.55; 2. Rezac, Rossville, 10.89; 3. Renfro, Silver Lake, 10.91.
1,600 — 1. Laudie, Emporia, 4:40.88; 2. Howell, Lansing, 4:41.05; 3. TenEyck, Silver Lake, 4:41.61.
4x100 relay — 1. Lansing, 43.73; 2. Junction City, 43.48; 3. Perry-Lecompton, 43.59.
400 — 1. Parrish, Olathe North, 49.99; 2. Bussey, Junction City, 50.63; 3. Dowling-Burnett, Manhattan, 51.54.
300 hurdles — 1. Johnson, Silver Lake, 41.67; 2. Purcell, Holton, 42.77; 3. Obermeyer, Emporia, 42.81.
800 — 1. Avila-Vargas, Manhattan, 1:57.55; 2. Mosier, Manhattan, 1:57.72; 3. Stuke, Seaman, 2:06.66.
200 — 1. Benson, Lansing, 21.97; 2. Renfro, Silver Lake, 22.76; 3. Hess, Perry-Lecompton, 22.78.
3,200 — 1. Harkin, Manhattan, 9:11.31; 2. Blomker, Shawnee Mission North, 9:15.32; 3. Maxville, Shawnee Mission North, 9:45.97.
4x400 relay — 1. Manhattan, 3:27.94; 2. Olathe North, 3:28:16.; 3. Leavenworth, 3:30.80
