By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
JACKSON ESQUIBEL, Shawnee Heights
Esquibel, who has won Class 5A state titles in track and field and cross country, opened his senior track season with a sweep of the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs in last Friday's Free State Early Bird Invitational. Esquibel, a Kansas State signee, won the 1,600 in 4 minutes, 36.23 seconds and took the 3,200 win in 9:44.51.
JOSLYNN GRACE, Seaman
Grace opened her junior swimming season with four gold medals in last Thursday's Topeka West Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natorium. Grace won the 200-yard individual medley (2:15.94) and the 100 breaststroke (1:11.27) and swam on the Vikings' winning 200-yard medley relay (1:58.69) and 200 free relay (1:49.24).
ASHLEY HEAVNER, Washburn University
Heavner, a sophomore from Frisco, Texas, broke a 44-year-old Washburn University track and field program record at the Fort Hays State Spring Invitational in the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 1 minute, 3.21 seconds. Heavner broke her own personal best in the event while breaking Pam Blackwell's WU record of 1:03.64.
AARON MERRITT, Seaman
A senior track and field standout, Merritt turned in a dominating performance in last Thursday's season-opening Topeka West Invitational, posting three individual wins whils also helping the Vikings set a school relay record. Merritt won the 100-meter dash (10.77 seconds), the 200 dash (22.08) and the 110 hurdles (14.90) and helped Seaman clock a school-record time of 43.23 seconds in the 4x100 relay while finishing second.
AHSIEYRHUAJH RAYTON, Topeka High
A freshman, Rayton won two gold medals and added a third-place finish in her high school track and field debut in last Thursday's Topeka West Invitational. Rayton won the girls triple jump with a best jump of 34 feet, 4 inches, finished third in the long jump at 16-2 and anchored the Trojans' 4x100 relay team to a win in 52.78 seconds.
AVERY ZIMMERMAN, Topeka High
Zimmerman opened her senior girls soccer season with a pair of goals in Topeka High's 9-0 win over USD 501 rival Topeka West last Monday, registering the 50th goal of her high school career. Zimmerman has signed a letter of intent to play collegiately at Emporia State.