By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After opening her junior cross country season with the fourth-fastest five-kilometer time in Kansas history last week at Manhattan, Seaman star Ryin Miller set her sights on a higher goal in Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational at Kanza Park -- the state record.
Seaman junior cross country star Ryin Miller moved into the top spot on Kansas' all-time five-kilometer list in Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational with a time of 16:32.62. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Miller then went out and shattered that mark by more than 13 seconds in a blazing time of 16 minutes, 32.62 seconds while winning her third straight Schrag Invitational title by 2 minutes, 28 seconds.
With Saturday's performance Miller moved past one of the most accomplished runners in Kansas history, former Girard superstar Cailie Logue of Girard, who clocked a time of 16:45.75 at Baldwin in 2016 before going on to earn multiple All-American honors and Big 12 Conference titles for Iowa State.
Miller said she upgraded her goals after eclipsing the 17-minutes mark for the first time in her career at Manhattan's Warner Park to taking a run at Logue's record on a Kanza Park course that is regarded as one of the state's faster layouts.
"It definitely became a goal today,'' Miller said. "I'm trying to enjoy it now because I know that Twilight's still tonight (in Olathe) so it could easily go down tonight but it was definitely a goal. That was on my mind for sure.''
As it turned out, Miller's record time easily held up, with Salina Central stars Katelyn Rupe and Kaylie Shultz, who finished ahead of Miler in the 2023 Class 5A state meet, finishing one-two in the Twilight event in 16:52.70 and 17:28.50.
Saturday's Schrag race was Miller's from the opening gun, with Miller jumping out to an early lead and steadily building on it the rest of the way, with junior Eva Garlich of Lee's Summit West a distant runnerup in 19:13.87.
"The goal was just to get after it,'' Miller said. "I wanted a fast mile and obviously you've just got to race the middle and then I knew the last mile was going to hurt but you've just got to push through and that was kind of the plan, to go out hard and try to keep it.''
While Miller entered Saturday thinking about Logue's mark, veteran Seaman coach Rick Brading said he and Miller didn't discuss it.
"We did not,'' Brading said. "Actually I was kind of hoping today would be kind of a no-pressure race because next week there's going to be some good teams at Washburn Rural. I was hoping today would be just a run free race but Ryin never does that.
"But at least I don't think she was stressing before the race or during the week and she likes this course. It's obviously fast.''
Seaman sophomore Brynn Spencer (117) posted a fourth-place individual finish in Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman senior Stella Appelhanz recorded a top-five finish in Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman sophomore Brynn Spencer (19:34.66) and senior Stella Appelhanz (19:48.50) finished fourth and fifth individually as the Vikings finished second to Lee's Summit West in the team standings by three points (32-35).
Topeka West junior Payton Rice finished 10th in Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka West junior Payton Rice also posted a top-10 finish, placing 10th in 20:59.51.
JOE SCHRAG INVITATIONAL
At Kanza Park
GIRLS
Team scores
Lee's Summit West, Mo. 32, Seaman 35, Blue Valley Northwest 82, Lansing 96, Leavenworth 120, Topeka High 180, Jefferson County North 181.
Individual results
1. Ryin Miller, Seaman, 16:32.62; 2. Eva Garlich, Lee's Summit West, 19:13.87; 3. Kelsie Kudzia, Leavenworth, 19:15.30; 4. Brynn Spencer, Seaman, 19:34.66; 5. Stella Appelhanz, Seaman, 19:48.59; 6. Morgan Thacker, Lee's Summit West, 20:02.85; 7. Madison Cross, Lee's Summit West, 20:10.45; 8. Juliana Brown, Lee's Summit West, 20:42.35; 9. Violet Grine, Lee's Summit West, 20:45.51; 10. Payton Rice, Topeka West, 20:59.51.
Other Seaman -- 12. Kinley Robinson, 21:18,16; 15. Hannah Wempe, 21:20.01.
Other Topeka West -- 26. Chloe Phelps, 22:26.14; 35. Jordyn McKinzie, 23:28.05.
Topeka High -- 32. Juliahnna Savago, 23:01.27; 38. Victoria Reynaga, 23:52.01; 51. Cecelia Richards, 31:30.29; 52. Mackynzie Murray, 31:50.68; 53. Kimberly Cortez, 32:23.26.
Shawnee Heights -- 33. Abigail Lewis, 23:05.28; 37. Elizabeth Hogan, 23:48.84; 44. Adelaide Davis, 25:30.63.
Highland Park -- 47. Breanna Maldonado, 26:36.32.
