By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Triple gold medalist Tanner Newkirk is one of three state champions on the TopSports.news 2022 All-Shawnee County boys track and field team.
All-Shawnee County track and field picks, from left: Jake Muller, Hayden; Jensen Schrickel, Hayden; Tanner Newkirk, Hayden; Aaron Merritt, Seaman; Zach Sulzen-Watson, Washburn Rural; Alex Holmes, Washburn Rural, and Tre Richardson, Highland Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Shawnee Heights junior Jeremiah Smith missed the 2022 state meet with an injury after winning three state Class 5A titles in 2021. [File photo/TSN]
Newkirk, a Shawnee Heights sophomore, turned in a dominating performance in his final Class 4A state meet at Wichita State's Cessna Stadium, going three for three in his individual events with wins in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs and setting 4A state meet records in the 1,600 and 3,200.
And while Newkirk was undoubtedly the biggest star of Shawnee County's state boys contingent, he wasn't the only star, with Highland Park junior Tre Richardson and Hayden freshman Jensen Schrickel also making it to the top of the podium and 15 members of the All-Shawnee County team earning state medals.
Richardson won the 5A 200-meter dash, finished second in the triple jump and fith in the long jump while Schrickel won the 4A long jump and was a three-time state medalist.
Hayden junior Jake Muller was the runner-up in the 4A 300-meter hurdles, finished seventh in the 110 high hurdles and was part of the Wildcats' third-place 4 x 400 relay team along with Schrickel.
Silver Lake senior Carson Johnson was the 3A runner-up in the 300 hurdles while Washburn Rural senior thrower Zach Sulzen-Watson finished second in the 6A discus and added a third-place finish in the shot put.
Topeka West senior Zsamar Sipple finished third in the 5A long jump and fourth in the triple jump while Charger junior Lenny Njoroge took fourth in the 3,200.
Silver Lake senior Brogan Renfro captured four 3A state medals for the second straight season, placing fourth in the 200-meter dash, sixth in the 100, seventh in the triple jump and sixth as part of the Eagles' 4 x 400 relay. Johnson was also part of the Eagles' 4 x 400 relay and the Eagles' seventh-place 4 x 100 relay.
Highland Park junior Tyrell Reed finished seventh in the 5A 100 while Scot senior Keijuan Johnson placed seventh in the 300 hurdles.
Shawnee Heights junior Jordan Garvin finished fourth in the 5A 300 hurdles while senior Ja'Laven January took fourth in the 200 and sophomore Jackson Esquibel was sixth in the 3,200. T-Bird star junior sprinter and hurdler Jeremiah Smith missed the state meet with an injury after winning three events in the 2021 state meet.
Washburn Rural senior Alex Holmes joined teammate Sulzen-Watson on the all-county team for the Junior Blues while sophomore hurdler Aaron Merritt represents Seaman on the all-county team.
ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
Name, school Class Events
Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights So. Distance
Jordan Garvin, Shawnee Heights Jr Hurdles
Alex Holmes, Washburn Rural Sr. Distance
Ja'Laven January, Shawnee Heights Sr. Sprints
Carson Johnson, Silver Lake Sr. Hurdles, sprints
Keijuan Johnson, Highland Park Sr. Hurdles
Aaron Merritt, Seaman So. Hurdles
Jake Muller, Hayden Jr. Hurdles, Sprints
Tanner Newkirk, Hayden Sr. Distance
Lenny Njoroge, Topeka West Jr. Distance
Tyrell Reed, Highland Park Sr. Sprints
Brogan Renfro, Silver Lake Sr. Sprints, jumps
Tre Richardson, Highland Park Jr.. Sprints, jumps
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden Fr. Sprints, jumps
Zsamar Sipple, Topeka West Sr. Jumps
Jeremiah Smith, Shawnee Heights Jr. Sprints, Hurdles
Zach Sulzen-Watson, Washburn Rural Sr. Throws
Honorable mention
Hayden: JC Cummings, Ethan Florence, Daniel Funk, Nick Lloyd, Sean McConnell, Joe Otting, Nick Padilla, Ryan Rochfford. Highland Park: Gabe Davis, Christian Howell, Prince McMillion. Rossville: Pedro Arantes, Hunter Broce, Braiden Hensley, Hunter Webb. Seaman: Jacob Anderson, Sean Miller, Branen Moore, Jace Moore, Jaxson Thomas, Adonis VanLeeuwen. Shawnee Heights: Maddox Moten. Silver Lake: Connor Adams, Mason Brokaw, Eli Ferguson, Kale Frehe, Troy Heiman, Kamryn Kaniper, Koltyn Kaniper, Cameron TenEyck. Topeka High: Dylan Blankenship, DeKestair Matlock, V'Ante Peoples, Siah Scott. Topeka West: Alescio Batson, Caleb Noonoo, Elijah Phelps, Mark Wilkie, Louis Wilson. Washburn Rural: Ben Buesing, Easton Dial, Grayson Fink, Reece Godby, Spencer Haddock, Cody Ingenthron, Davin Johnson, Hayden Keller, Conner Olsen, Josh Sulzen-Watson, Walker Thompson.
