By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
ALESECIO BATSON, Topeka West
After advancing to the Class 5A state track and field championships as a freshman, the Topeka West sophomore captured a Class 5A state championship in the triple jump Friday at Wichita State's Cessna Stadium. Batson took the event lead on his first jump and went wire to wire for the title, jumping a best of 48 feet, 4.25 inches.
FINN DUNSHEE, Hayden
The Wildcat sophomore won three Class 4A gold medals Saturday at Cessna Stadium, helping Hayden finish fifth as a team. Dunshee won the 100-meter dash in 10.84 seconds and also ran on the Wildcats' winning 4x100-meter and 4x400 relay teams. Hayden won the 4x100 relay in 42.65 seconds and the 4x400 in a 4A state meet-record time of 3:20.99.
BRINLEY DYCHE, Rossville
A senior, Dyche picked up the pitching win in all three games as Rossvillle won its first Class 3A state softball title since 2000, capped by Friday's 2-0 win over Santa Fe Trail in the championship game. Dyche was credited with the victory in a 19-7 first-round win over Columbus, pitched the Bulldawgs to a come-from-behind 6-4 win over Southeast-Saline in the semifinals and twirled a complete-game two-hitter In the title game while striking out 10 and not allowing a walk.
JACKSON ESQUIBEL, Shawnee Heights
A junior distance star, Esquibel captured his first Class 5A track and field state championship Friday at Cessna Stadium, winning the 3,200 meters in a personal-record time of 9 minutes, 18.67 seconds. Esquibel added a second-place finish in the 1,600 on Saturday, clocking a time of 4:15.26. Esquibel led the T-Birds to a seventh-place team finish in 5A.
JAKE MULLER, Hayden
Muller, a senior, was a Class 4A state champion in three events Saturday at Cessna Stadium, giving him four state titles for his career. Muller won his second 300-meter hurdles championship in a time of 38.41 seconds and ran on Hayden's winning 4x100-meter and 4x400 relay teams. Hayden won the 4x100 relay in 42.65 seconds and the 4x400 in a 4A state meet-record time of 3:20.99.
TRE RICHARDSON, Highland Park
A senior multi-sport star, Richardson scored 33 points in the Class 5A track and field championships at Cessna Stadium to out-score 22 5A schools by himself. Richardson won the state title in the 100-meter dash in 10.73 seconds and the long jump at 23 feet, 4.50 inches while also posting a runnerup finish in the triple jump at 46-5.75 and fourth in the 200 at 22.49.