By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Three different city swimmers took a combined six first-place finishes on Wednesday in the Topeka West Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natatorium.
Topeka West swimmer Kadence Jeffries took first place finishes in both the 100 and 500-yard freestyle events and has yet to lose an individual event in swimming competition in 2022.
“I prepare myself mentally the night before each event,” Jeffries said. “As soon as I get on those blocks the day after, nerves kick in just a bit. When I get in, that adrenaline helps me do the best I can. The training that I’ve had also helps me compete and do the best that I can every single day.”
Topeka West senior Kadence Jeffries continued her undefeated swimming season Wednesday with a pair of wins in the Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
“Watching our girls swim is amazing,” Topeka West coach Courtney Johnson said. “With Kadence swimming three events in a row and Blanca (Espinosa) swimming two events in a row, and everyone else swimming in separate events is great to watch. With Kadence, she just always wants to go and be in events. I’m proud of our team.”
Seaman swimmers Avery Walz and Gabby Grace also took two first-place finishes in their respective individual events and won four gold medals overall. The Viking swimmers helped their team finish in second place.
Seaman sophomore Avery Walz posted a pair of individual wins and four gold medals overall in Wednesday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Seaman senior Gabby Grace captured four gold medals, two individual wins and two relays, in Wednesday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
A. Walz was the first place finisher in both the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard breaststroke. Grace won both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke events
.“I’m proud of the day we had,” Seaman coach Bernie Tuck said. “The drive and the determination the girls had was great to see today. Seeing our girls continue having great meets is something I would like to see carry over to city, league and state.”
Hayden finished in fifth place as a team in the Topeka West Invitational. The Wildcats had a top-five finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay. As a team, Hayden finished 35 points higher than the sixth-place finisher, Topeka High.
Topeka High's Brianna Delvin was the one-meter diving champion while Caroline Toland took two top-five finishes on Wednesday. Toland finished third in the 100-yard backstroke and fifth place in the 100-yard breaststroke.
While Washburn Rural’s eighth-place finish didn’t stack up the points column, Rural was able to see young talent develop right in front of their eyes. The Lady Blues competed with their junior varsity team on Wednesday as Washburn Rural’s varsity team competed the day prior at Shawnee Mission.
While Washburn Rural competed with a young junior varsity team, 15-year-old Sienna Hamilton took a fifth-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle event.
The overall winner of the Topeka West Invitational was Centennial League school, Manhattan. The Tribe finished 113 points higher than second place, giving Manhattan wins in four out of its last five meets.
“We had great swims today and we have been happy with the success so far this season,” Manhattan coach Alex Brown said. “Both of our 200 and 400 relays dropped time, which was amazing. Both Sophia (Steffensmeier) and Ruth (Perez) dropped time from last week. Our junior varsity kids even had some time drops today which is great to see. I love how our team embraces every day with a positive attitude and being team-first competitors.
“We are trying to build success every day and see the bigger picture.”
Hayden and Seaman will compete in a varsity meet next Wednesday at Bonner Springs while other city schools will be back at the Natatorium next Wednesday.
TOPEKA WEST INVITATIONAL
At Capitol Federal Natatorium
Team scores
Manhattan 484, Seaman 371, De Soto 326, 4. Junction City 254, 5. Hayden 215, Topeka High 180, Topeka West 161, Washburn Rural 143, Southeast of Saline 30.
Individual results
200 medley relay — 1. Seaman, 1:55.63, 2. De Soto, 2:14.81, 3. Manhattan, 2:16.68, 4. Junction City, 2:25.09, 5. Seaman, 2:29.51.
200 freestyle — 1. Steffensmeier, Manhattan, 2:04.40, 2. J. Grace, Seaman, 2:06.32, 3. Perez, Manhattan, 2:06.95, 4. Richardson, Southeast-Saline, 2:08.41, 5. Espinosa, Topeka West, 2:16.63.
200 individual medley — 1. A. Walz, Seaman, 2:15.21, 2. T. Walz, Seaman, 2:18.44, 3. Swarts, De Soto, 2:36.12, 4. Inman, Manhattan, 2:40.75, 5. Overturf, De Soto, 2:51.72
50 freestyle — 1. G. Grace, Seaman, 25.71, 2. Butler, De Soto, 28.20, 3. Hines, Junction City, 28.61, 4. Conley, Manhattan, 28.96, 5. Tarter, Manhattan, 29.26.
One meter diving -- 1.Delvin, Topeka High, 252.75; 2. Grauberger, Washburn Rural, 157.65; 3. Gregg, Hayden, 154.45.
100 freestyle — 1. Jeffries, Topeka West, 54.49, 2. T. Walz, Seaman, 57.25, 3. Swarts, De Soto, 58.62, 4. Balman, Manhattan, 1:02.62, 5. Tait, De Soto, 1:07.70.
500 freestyle — 1. Jeffries, Topeka West, 5:21.00, 2. Espinosa, Topeka West, 5:46.66, 3. Butler, De Soto, 5:59.00, 4. Inman, Manhattan, 6:21.89, 5. Hamilton, Washburn Rural, 7:02.75.
200 freestyle relay — 1. Manhattan,1:50.32, 2. Junction City, 1:59.10, 3. Topeka West, 2:01.88, 4. Manhattan, 2:02.07, 5. De Soto, 2:02.30.
100 backstroke — 1. G. Grace, Seaman, 1:02.66, 2. Conley, Manhattan, 1:15.28, 3. Toland, Topeka High, 1:17.21, 4. Tarter, Manhattan, 1:18.28, 5. Ippel, De Soto, 1:20.00.
100 butterfly – 1. Steffensmeier, Manhattan, 1:02.91, 2. Rodriguez, Manhattan, 1:18.55, 3. Herrera, Hayden, 1:29.47, 4. Marquis, De Soto, 1:32.13, 5. Schlicht, Junction City, 1:46.77.
100 breaststroke — 1. A. Walz, Seaman, 1:08.31, 2. Perez, Manhattan, 1:11.26, 3. J. Grace, Seaman, 1:14.69, 4. Richardson, Southeast of Saline, 1:21.72, 5. Toland, Topeka High, 1:24.83.
400 freestyle relay — 1. Seaman, 3:49.48, 2. Manhattan, 4:07.30, 3. De Soto, 4:16.42, 4. Topeka West, 4:36.98, 5. Hayden, 4:44.32.
