By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- Seaman junior Ryin Miller was content to let her friendly rival, Salina Central senior star Katelyn Rupe, set the early face in Friday night's Class 5A girls 3,200 meters at Cessna Stadium.
And although there were times in the race where Miller thought she might be letting Rupe too far ahead, the Seaman star relied on her 57-second quarter mile speed when it counted the most, overtaking Rupe on the final lap, winning her first 3,200 title in 10 minutes, 19.53 seconds while three-time 3,200 champ Rupe was second in 10:22.11.
Seaman junior Ryin Miller crosses the finish line in the Class 5A 3,200 meters Friday night at Cessna Stadium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN] b]in cV
Ryin Miller and Salina Central's Katelyn Rupe exchange a hug after Friday night's Class 5A 3,200 race in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I didn't really want to lead too much,'' Miller said. "That takes a lot out of you when you lead, so I didn't really want to do that. I figured Katelyn would want to get out and push the pace just because she knows she's super fit and I know she's super fit so I thought her race strategy going into it would be to just be to try to run it out of me. And, honestly, I really thought she was going to do that.
"Going into the first mile she looked really strong and I was already struggling, so I was a little bit worried especially just knowing what a competitor Katelyn is and how much she really brings it at the state meet so I was just, 'Hang on, just hang on,' and trying to be positive about it, just like, 'You've got this, it's only four more laps.' ''
Miller began to gradually cut into Rupe's lead over the second mile and made her big move on the final lap, passing Rupe with about 200 meters remaining.
"(The gap) just kept getting smaller and smaller and I was, 'Ok, one lap, just give it everything you've got and see what happens,' and luckily it came out in my favor.''
A year ago Miller lost to Rupe in the 3,200 before coming back to post dominating wins in the 1,600 and 800.
Miller said that being able to turn the tables on Rupe Friday gives her a boost of confidence going into a busy day on Saturday.
Miller will be out to defend her titles in the 1,600 and 800 while also anchoring the Vikings' 4x400 relay team.
"It (Friday's win) definitely gives me confidence just because I knew that was going to be a really tough race with Katelyn in it.'' Miller said. "Last year I kind of used (the 3,200 loss) as motivation for the next day but this time I think I'll use it as like an adrenalin boost hopefully.''
Miller teamed with seniors Taylie Heston, Jaida Stallbaumer and Ally Steiner to qualify in the 4x400 relay in 4:03.42.
Other Friday highlights:
Topeka High sophomore Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton finished second in the Class 6A triple jump for the second straight season. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
• Topeka High sophomore Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton finished second in the 6A triple jump for the second straight season, posting a best jump of 37 feet, 4.25 inches. Mill Valley junior Kaidence Alston won the event at 38-5.
Washburn Rural senior Payton Fink finished fifth in Friday's Class 6A 3,200 meters in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
• Washburn Rural senior Payton Fink finished fifth and junior Emily Graf eighth in the 6A 3,200. Fink clocked a time of 10:59.39 while Graf ran a 11:06.77.
• Washburn Rural senior Molly Worley posted a seventh-place finish in the 6A long jump at 17 feet, 2.75 inches.
• Washburn Rural sophomore Kailyn Petersen placed seventh in the 6A shot put at 36-6.75.
• Silver Lake's Ellen Doty, Jaylie Whitehead, Ella Bolan and Ali Gerber qualified No. 6 for Saturday's 3A 4x400 relay (4:11.35) while Silver Lake freshman Karys Deiter qualified seventh for the final of the 3A 100 hurdles (15.83), Hayden senior Bella Reid was the No. 7 qualifier for the 3A 100 hurdles (15.96) and Rossville junior Rylee Dick qualified eighth in the 2A 100 hurdles (l6.77).
