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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- Seaman senior shot-putter JahnAsia Anderson had been solid in her first and only track and field season, including a fourth-place finish in the city meet and a runner-up showing in Class 5A regional competition.
But the thought of winning a state championship was probably a pipe dream ... until Thursday that is.
Anderson surpassed her previous career-best by more than a foot and a half with a throw of 37 feet, 7 inches, taking the 5A title by nearly a foot over Great Bend junior Taryn Warren (36-8.25).
![Seaman senior JahnAsia Anderson won the Class 5A girls shot put championship with a personal-record throw of 37 feet, 7 inches. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]](/images/aa-images/E2e7Pe2XEAE3KNk.jpg)
Seaman senior JahnAsia Anderson won the Class 5A girls shot put championship with a personal-record throw of 37 feet, 7 inches. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I didn't expect this at all, but I'm just really happy that this is the outcome,'' Anderson said.
"My coach (Jayce Brack) was really enthusiastic throughout the whole process and he made me stay calm because I was really nervous, but for my first year, not too bad.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- As a freshman back in 2018, Washburn Rural hurdler Marquel Russell flashed his potential, placing second in Class 6A in the 110-meter hurdles.
Russell delivered on that potential Thursday at Cessna Stadium in his final state meet, claiming a state championship in the 110s in 14.79 seconts.
And although it might not have shown on the outside, Russell was thriilled to finally claim a state title.
"I felt the excitement inside me, but I know it's kind of rude to like go, 'Yeah,' or something like that, so I've always kept my excitement inside me,'' Russell said.
Washburn Rural's Marquel Russell finished off his senior season with a Class 6A state championship in the 110-meter hurdles Thursday at Wichita's Cessna Stadium. [File photo/TSN]
Russell had burst on the state scene when he claimed the state runner-up position his freshman season in 14.91 and viewed Thursday's race as a chance to show how much he's improved since then.
Russell finished fourth in the 110s as a sophomore (15.22) and posted a personal-best Thursday while Hutchinson's Stephon Hunter was second in 15.00
"I knew I've come a long ways from my freshman year and I've always felt it's better to go against fast competitors,'' Russell said. "That pushes me to get better.''
Russell was one of two Junior Blues to celebrate a state title Thursday, with junior Zsamar Sipple winning the long jump with a leap of 22 feet, 0 inches, as Washburn Rural finished fourth as a team with 40.50 points.
Washburn Rural junior Zsamar Sipple won the Class 6A long jump title Thursday at Wichita's Cessna Stadium.. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sipple notched what proved to be his state-winning jump on his first attempt and then held on to get the win by a mere one and one-half inches over Centennial League rival Chales Jones of Manhattan, who jumped 21-10.50.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University freshman softball star Marrit Mead has been named a third-team NCAA Division II All-American at third base as voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Washburn softball star Marrit Mead, a Santa Fe Trail product, has been named a third-team NCAA Division II softball All-American. [File photo/TSN]
Mead, a Santa Fe Trail product, is the first All-American selection for the Ichabod softball team since 2002.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights sophomore Alex Valdivia turned in an impressive performance in his first state tournament, finishing sixth in the 36-hole Class 5A event at Sand Creek Station in Newton.
Valdivia shot a 4-over-par 76 in Monday's first round and was five shots better in Round 2, carding a 1-under 71 on Tuesday to finish with a two-day total of 147, eight shots behind senior state champion Nicklaus Mason of Mill Valley (71-68).
Shawnee Heights sophomore Alex Valdivia (right) earned a sixth-place medal in the Class 5A state golf tournament at Newton Tuesday. [Submitted]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural's girls soccer team worked all season to put itself in the position it was in Tuesday night at McElroy Field.
And with a seventh straight Class 6A final four berth on the line, the top-seeded and heavily-favored Junior Blues took advantage of that envious position, romping to a 10-0 state quarterfinal victory over Wichita North to earn a spot in Friday's 5 p.m. state semifinal against Blue Valley West at Hummer Sports Park.
Washburn Rural junior Reagan Allen advances the ball in Tuesday's 10-0 Class 6A quarterfinal win over Wichita North while teammate Brooklyn DeLeye looks for a pass. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural, which improved to 16-2-1 on the season, put 8-11-0 North away with five goals in the first 17:43 of the game and went on to build a 7-0 halftime cushion before ending the game via the 10-goal spread rule with 16:17 remaining.
"The goal all year was to be the No. 1 seed because the No. 1 seed gets some advantages by being at home and getting the best draw possible, all those things,'' said Washburn Rural coach Brian Hensyel, whose Junior Blues have outscored their three postseason foes by a 24-0 margin. "So we worked hard all year to get that, to create a situation where we would have the best path for ourselves.
"The best part is the girls didn't just take advantage of the path, they destroyed the path. They've played as well as they could and we've got off to fast starts the past three games and to win a quarterfinal like that is pretty amazing.''
