By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
JACKSON ESQUIBEL, Shawnee Heights
A sophomore, Esquibel finished seventh in the Class 5A 3,200 meters last spring as a freshman, earning All-Shawnee County honors. Esquibel turned in a season best of 9 minutes, 41.18 seconds in the 3,200 and had a best of 4:32.48 in the 1,600. Esquibel also finished 13th last fall in the 5A state cross country meet.
ALEX HOLMES, Washburn Rural
A senior, Holmes bounced back from hip surgery to turn in a strong cross country season for the Junior Blues last fall and he will be counted on to be a leader in the distance events for Washburn Rural this spring. Holmes was an All-Shawnee County selection in cross country, finishing 13th in the Class 6A state meet.
CARSON JOHNSON, Silver Lake
Johnson, a senior, took home three Class 3A medals last season, finishing third in the 300-meter hurdles, seventh in the 110 hurdles and running on Silver Lake's eighth-place 4x100 relay as the Eagles finished fourth as a team. Johnson recorded a season-best off 40.72 seconds in the 300 hurdles and had a best o 16.18 in the 110s.
Topeka West senior Javion Lee had a Shawnee County-best long jump of 23 feet, 9 inches last season. [File photo/TSN]
JAVION LEE, Topeka West
A senior, Lee was the Centennial League champion in 100-meter dash and ended his 2021 season as the Shawnee County leader in the long jump with a best of 23 feet, 9 inches.
Hayden junior Jake Muller was the Class 4A state champion in the 300-meter hurdles last spring. [File photo/TSN]
JAKE MULLER, Hayden
A junior, Muller won the Class 4A 300-meter hurdles championship last spring and also picked up a second state medal when he helped the Wildcats to a fifth-place finish in the meet-ending 4x400 relay. An All-Shawnee County pick, Muller had a county-best time of 39.92 seconds in the 300s and had a best of 15.92 in the 110 highs.
Hayden's Tanner Newkirk, one of the state's premier distance runners, returns for his senior season for the Wildcats. [File photo/TSN]
TANNER NEWKIRK, Hayden
A four-time state medalist in cross country, the Kansas signee will be looking for a big senior season in track after missing last year's state meet with an injury. A three-time top-three state finisher in cross country with an individual title, Newkirk earned All-Shawnee County track honors last season, ranking No. 1 in the county in the 800 (2:02.52), 1,600 (4:25.54) and 3,200-meters (9:38.19).
LENNY NJOROGE, Topeka West
Njoroge, a junior, is a two-time Class 5A boys state cross country medalist but missed his entire junior season after suffering a broken leg last spring. Njoroge, an All-Shawnee County pick in track, was the city champion in the 3,200 meters last season before missing the Centennial League, regional and state meets with his injury. Njoroge had a best time of 9:48.70 in the 3,200 and a top time of 4:36.31 in the 1,600.
TYRELL REED, Highland Park
A junior, Tyrell Reed finished third in the Class 5A 100-meter dash last spring for Topeka West before transferring to Highland Park last fall. An All-Shawnee County pick as a sophomore, Reed had a top time of 10.74 seconds in the 100.
BROGAN RENFRO, Silver Lake
Renfro, a senior, captured four Class 3A state medals in the 2021 state meet, placing second in the triple jump, fourth in the 200, fifth in the 100 and eighth as part of the Eagles' 4x100 relay. Renfro had a top time of 10.90 in the 100, 22.27 in the 200 and 44 feet, 1.50 inches in the triple jump. An All-Shawnee County pick, Renfro helped Silver Lake finish fourth in 3A as a team.
Highland Park junior Tre Richardson was a double state medalist in Class 5A last season, including a third-place finish in the triple jump. [File photo/TSN]
TRE RICHARDSON, Highland Park
A junior, Richardson earned a pair of Class 5A state medals in the 2021 state meet, finishing third in the triple jump and fourth in the 200-meter dash. Richardson had a best time of 22.28 seconds in the 200 while posting a best triple jump of 46 feet and a top long jump of 22-3.
Topeka West senior Zsamar Sipple won the Class 6A state long jump championship last season for Washburn Rural. [File photo/TSN]
ZSAMAR SIPPLE, Topeka West
A senior, Sipple won the Class 6A long jump title last season while competing for Washburn Rural and added an seventh-place finish in the triple jump. An All-Shawnee County selection, Sipple had a county-best of 46-1 in the triple jump and a best of 22-4.50 in the long jump.
Shawnee Heights junior Jeremiah Smith swept Class 5A titles in the 100-meter dash, the 200 and the 110-meter hurdles last spring. [File photo/TSN]
JEREMIAH SMITH, Shawnee Heights
Smith, a junior, turned in a dominating performance in his first Class 5A state meet last spring, going three for three with titles in the 110-meter high hurdles and the 100 and 200-meter dashes. An All-Shawnee County selection, Smith had county-best times of 10.36 seconds in the 100, 21.85 in the 200 and 14.34 in the 110 high hurdles.
ZACH SULZEN WATSON, Washburn Rural
A senior, Sulzen Watson took fifth in the discus in the Class 6A state meet last spring en route to earning All-Shawnee County recognition. Sulzen Watson recorded a county-best effort of 50-1.50 in the shot put and 165-8 in the discus for the Junior Blues.
KORY SUTTON, Shawnee Heights
Sutton, a junior, will be looking for a big track season after a banner cross country season for the T-Birds last fall. Sutton was the United Kansas Conference individual champion and also claimed an individual win in a 5A regional meet. In track last spring Sutton had a season-best of 4:30.80 in the 1,600 and 9:58.46 in the 3,200.
CAMERON TENEYCK, Silver Lake
TenEyck, a senior, placed seventh in the boys 3,200-meter run in the 2021 Class 3A state meet and he ran on the Eagles' 4x800 relay team that finished third in 3A. TenEyck was also a cross country standout for Silver Lake, qualifying for the state meet.
