By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
ALA'JAH BROOKS, Topeka West
Brooks, a junior, picked up a Class 5A state medal in the 2021 state track meet as part of the Chargers' sixth-place 4x100 relay. An All-Shawnee County pick last season, Brooks was a regional champ in the 200-meter dash and finished third in the 100.
Washburn Rural junior Madeline Carter (left) was a triple medalist in last spring's Class 6A state track meet. [File photo/TSN]
MADELINE CARTER, Washburn Rural
A junior, Carter earned three Class 6A medals in the 2021 state track meet, posting a sixth-place individual finish in the 800 meters while also running on the Junior Blues' fourth-place 4x400 relay and fifth-place 4x800 relay. A returning All-Shawnee County pick in track, Carter has posted top-10 state finishes in cross country the past two seasons, including a seventh-place finish last fall after sweeping city, Centennial League and regional individual titles.
Seaman junior Bethany Druse (right) was a Class 5A state medalist in the 800 and 1,600-meter runs last season. [File photo/TSN]
BETHANY DRUSE, Seaman
Seaman junior Bethany Druse, a returning All-Shawnee County selection, picked up a pair of Class 5A state medals last spring, placing fifth in the 1,600 meters and fifth in the 800. Druse was a regional champ in the 800 and 1,600 and led Shawnee County in the 800 (2:19.20) and the 1,600 (5:19.89). Druse has placed in the top 10 in 5A cross county the past two seasons, including a sixth-place finish last fall after a ninth-place finish as a sophomore.
Shawnee Heights senior Nadia Emperley finished second in the Class 5A javelin last season. [File photo/TSN]
NADIA EMPERLEY, Shawnee Heights
A senior, Emperley earned All-Shawnee County recognition last spring after finishing second in the javelin in the Class 5A state track and field meet. Emperley also won the the United Kansas Conference title in the javelin and had a season best of 130 feet, 7 inches in the event.
JAIDYN PAIGE FALLEY, Hayden
A senior, Paige Falley earned All-Shawnee County track and field honors last season after earning a Class 4A medal in the state meet with an eighth-place showing in the girls shot put.
AMELIA FOSTER, Rossville
A junior, Foster was a double state medalist for the Bulldawgs in the Class 3A state track meet last spring, taking sixth in the 400-meter dash and seventh in the 800 and earning All-Shawnee County honors. Foster was a regional champion in the 400 and 800 and was also a state qualifier for the 3A cross country meet last fall.
BRIAR GILLUM, Rossville
Gillum, a senior, posted a third-place finish in the Class 3A girls shot put last season at state and added an eighth-place state finish in the discus. An All-Shawnee County pick, Gillum had a season-best throw of 41 feet, 2.50 inches in the shot put and had a best of 126-6 in the discus. Gillum was a regional champion in the shot put.
Washburn Rural sophomore Jada Ingram (right) won a pair of Class 6A medals in last spring's state track meet. [File photo/TSN]
NATALIE HILLEBERT, Hayden
Hillebert earned All-Shawnee County recognition as a freshman, earning a state medal in the Class 4A state meet. Hillebert finished fourth in 4A in the 400-meter dash for the Wildcats.
JADA INGRAM, Washburn Rural
Washburn Rural sophomore Jada Ingram took fifth in the Class 6A high jump as a freshman and ran on the Junior Blues' fourth-place 4x400-meter relay team. Also a standout for Washburn Rural in volleyball and on the Junior Blues' state championship basketball team, Ingram is a returning All-Shawnee County selection in track, tying for the county lead in the high jump at 5 feet, 4 inches.
MAKINSEY JONES, TOPEKA WEST
A junior, Jones was an All-Shawnee County pick last season after winning city and Centennial League titles in the high jump and qualifying for the Class 5A state meet in the high jump and triple jump. Jones tied for the county lead in the high jump at 5-4.
RAEGAN PETERSEN, Washburn Rural
A sophomore, Petersen was an All-Shawnee County selection last season after qualifying for the Class 6A state meet in the discus with a regional championship. Petersen was also the Centennial League champion in the discus. Petersen had a season best of 121-10.
VICTORIA REED, Highland Park
As a freshman at Topeka West Reed placed eighth in the Class 5A 100-meter dash last season and earned a second state medal as part of the the Chargers' sixth-place 4x100 relay. Reed was a regional champion in the 100 and 400 and finished second in the 200, earning All-Shawnee County honors. Reed led the county in the 100 with a time of 12.23.
TAYLOR ROTTINGHAUS, Shawnee Heights
T-Bird junior Taylor Rottinghaus earned All-Shawnee County recognition last spring after placing fourth in the 400-meter dash in the Class 5A state track meet. Rottinghaus was the Shawnee County leader in the 200 with a time of 25.98 seconds and in the 400 with a best of 57.64. Rottinghaus was a 5A regional champion in the 400.
Seaman sophomore Taylin Stallbaumer earned a pair of Class 5A state hurdles medals last spring. [File photo/TSN]
TAYLIN STALLBAUMER, Seaman
Taylin Stallbaumer finished seventh in the Class 5A 100 hurdles and placed eighth in the 300 hurdles in the 2021 state track meet. An All-Shawnee County pick last spring, Stallbaumer was the county leader in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.67 seconds and ranked second in the 300 in 47.34. Stallbaumer is also a standout for the Vikings in volleyball and basketball.
MIKAYLA WILKERSON, Topeka West
A sophomore, Wilkerson earned a Class 5A state medal last spring with a seventh-place finish in the discus, earning All-Shawnee County recognition. Wilkerson was also a 5A regional champion in the discus. Wilkerson had a best of 119-1.
