By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It's probably about time for Ryin Miller to re-evaluate her goals for the 2022 cross country season.
The Seaman freshman has started off her high school career with a pair of outstanding performances, including her first individual championship in Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational at Kanza Park while helping lead the Vikings to the team title by 27-45 margin over Lee's Summit West, Mo.
Seaman freshman Ryin Miller finishes off her win in Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational, helping lead the Vikings to the team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Miller burst on the high school cross country scene with a third-place individual performance in the season-opening Manhattan Invitational on Sept. 3, blowing away her pre-race goal.
"I was shooting for like 15th place, so third definitely boosted my confidence,'' Miller said.
And Miller, who ran a five-kilometer time of 20 minutes, 32.6 seconds at Manhattan, took another big step forward on Saturday, knocking another 90 seconds off her personal-best with a winning time of 19 minutes, 01.22 seconds.
"My goal was to shoot for like 21 (minutes), so I'm definitely surprised,'' Miller said about her start to the season.
Miller ran second to Lee's Summit West senior Ella Cronhardt in the early stages of Saturday's race before taking the lead abut a mile and a half in en route to a 29-second victory.
"I was just going to stay where I could see her and within about like five feet,'' Miller said.
Miller, who also plays basketball and soccer, said she mainly took up the sport to stay in shape, but is starting to enjoy herself.
"I'm beginning to like it,'' she said.
Seaman put all of its top five runners in the top 10 on Saturday and six runners in the top 11.
Seaman senior Bethany Druse finished third in Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational at Kanza Park as the Vikings won the girls team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Bethany Druse finished third individually in 20:11.74 whie sophomore Stella Appelhanz placed fourth (20:20.04), sophomore Anna Becker ninth (20:45.48), junior Savannah Sampson 10th (20:45.55) and senior Leah Spurlock 11th (20:56.75).
Seaman sophomore Anna Becker finished ninth in Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational despite running a big chunk of the race without her right shoe, which she lost during the race. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Cair Paravel Latin junior Katherine Keys finished 26th (23:16.04) while Shawnee Heights senior Molly Busenitz placed 27th (23:24.08) and T-Bird sophomore Elizabeth Hogan 28th (23:26.77).
Senior Marilena Zuniga led Topeka High with a 36th-place finish (24:49.22).
JOE SCHRAG INVITATIONAL
GIRLS
Team scores
Seaman 27, Lee's Summit West, Mo. 45, Lansing 63, Leavenworth 100, Cair Paravel Latin 140.
Individual results
1. Ryin Miller, Seaman, 19:01.22; 2. Ella Cronhardt, Lee's Summit West, 19:30.19; 3. Bethany Druse, Seaman, 20:11.74; 4. Stella Appelhanz, Seaman, 20:20.04; 5. Madison Cross, Lee's Summit West, 20:20.94; 6. Sophie Kurz, Lansing, 20:25.40; 7. Addison Manley, Leavenworth, 20:41.85; 8. Reese Cannon, 20:43.54; 9. Anna Becker, Seaman, 20:45.48; 10. Savannah Sampson, Seaman, 20:45.55.
