By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Michael Christopher
Michael Christopher, Topeka High
Christopher, a junior, earned All-City honorable mention recognition in 2020 for Topeka High, placing eighth in the city meet. Christopher opened his current season with a 35th-place finish out of 76 runners in last Saturday's Manhattan Invitational at Warner Park.
Jackson Esquibel
Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights
A sophomore, Esquibel placed in the top five in five of the seven meets he competed in as a freshman en route to earning All-City recognition. Esquibel took third place in the city meet and was a runner-up in Class 5A regional competition, helping the T-Birds qualify for state as a team. Esquibel finished 30th in the state meet. Esquibel opened his 2021 season with a second-place finish in Basehor-Linwood's Bobcat Invitational.
Spencer Haddock
Spencer Haddock, Washburn Rural
Haddock, a senior, earned All-City honorable mention last season after placing 11th in the city meet for the team-champion Junior Blues and taking 17th place in the Centennial League championships. Haddock placed 18th among 76 runners in the season-opening Manhattan Invitational as Rural placed third as a team.
Alex Holmes
Alex Holmes, Washburn Rural
A senior, Holmes received All-City honorable mention recognition last season for the Junior Blues. Holmes placed 10th in the city meet to help Rural win the city team championship. Holmes had surgery over the summer and is likely to be sidelined until at least late September or early October.
Hayden Keller
Hayden Keller, Washburn Rural
Keller, a sophomore, finished 13th in the city meet last season and placed 19th in the Centennial League championships. Keller opened his 2021 season in impressive fashion at last Saturday's Manhattan Invitational, leading the Junior Blues with a 17th-place individual finish.
Jace Moore
Jace Moore, Seaman
Moore, a senior, was an All-City pick last season for the Vikings, taking 12th individually in the city meet and 15th in the Centennial League before finishing seventh in 5A regional competition as Seaman earned a team berth for the 5A state meet. Moore opened the season with a 13th-place finish in last Saturday's Manhattan Invitational.
Tanner Newkirk
Tanner Newkirk, Hayden
A senior, Newkirk is the defending 4A state champion and is a three-time state medalist, finishing 12th as a freshman before a runner-up finish as a sophomore. Newkirk, who had a season-best time of 15 minutes, 31 seconds, won seven of the nine races he competed in last season, including city and regional titles. Newkirk finished second in the Centennial League to 6A champion Daniel Harkin.
Lenny Njoroge
Lenny Njoroge, Topeka West
Njoroge, a junior, was a 5A state placer as both a freshman and sophomore, placing 12th and 11th. Njoroge was second in the city meet, fourth in the Centennial League and won a regional title last season. Njoroge is questionable for the 2021 season after suffering a broken leg this past spring in a club soccer game.
Kory Sutton
Kory Sutton, Shawnee Heights
After placing 20th in the 5A state meet as a freshman, Sutton fought through an injury-plagued sophomore season, but returned late in the year to finish fifth at regionals and help the T-Birds qualify for state as a team. Sutton opened his 2021 season with the individual title in Basehor-Linwood's Bobcat Invitational.
Cameron TenEyck
Cameron TenEyck, Silver Lake
A senior, TenEyck is a two-time 3A state medalist for Silver Lake, including a sixth-place finish last fall after winning a regional championship. TenEyck is a three-time state qualifier and is the defending Mid-East League champion. He began the season ranked No. 3 on the Eagles' all-time list for fastest time.
