By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West senior cross country star Lenny Njoroge continued his red-hot start to the 2022 season on Saturday, recording his third individual victory of the year in the Rim Rock Classic,
Njoroge bested a field of 270 runners to win the title in the Crimson division, winning by over 14 seconds in a time of 16 minutes, 00.10 seconds.
David Flaig of Regis Jesuit placed second in 16:14.60.
Njoroge has inished first or second in all four of his starts this fall.
Shawnee Heights junior Jackson Esquibel and senior Kory Sutton finished sixth and eighth in the Crimson division, with Esquibel clocking a time of 16:37.30 and Sutton 16:39.00.
Washburn Rural finished second as a team in the girls Gold division, just eight points behind Blue Springs South, Mo. (144-152).
Washburn Rural sophomore Payton Fink placed seventh among 152 runners in 19:06.20 to pace the Junior Blues.
Sophomore Rylee Ismert placed 27th for Rural (20:06.70) while senior Madeline Carter was 29th (20:10.50) and freshman Vilde Tronstad 35th (20:22.40).
Seaman freshman Ryin Miller placed fourth among 247 runners in the Crimson division in 19:35.60 to lead the Vikings to a third-place team finsh while senior Bethany Druse finished 20th in 20:31.10.
Seaman will host its annual invitational tournament on Saturday at the Shawnee North Community Center (9 a.m.).
City schools Seaman, Shawnee Heights, Topeka High, Topeka West and Washburn Rural are scheduled to compete in Saturday's meet.
Rural volleyball dominates home tournament
Washburn Rural posted a perfect 6-0 record with six straight-set victories to win the championship in Rural's home tournament on Saturday.
The Junior Blues opened their day with a 25-16, 25-18 win over Gardner-Edgerton and followed with wins over Free State (25-13, 25-18), Manhattan (25-15, 25-15), Blue Valley (25-20, 25-22), Mill Valley (25-19, 25-17) and Kapaun Mt. Carmel (25-20, 25-17).
Washburn Rural is now 15-1 on the season with 14 staight victories since a loss to St. James Academy in the Junior Blues' second match of the season.
Rural will compete in the Centennial League tounament on Saturday at Junction City (9 a.m. start) along with Emporia, Hayden, Junction City, Manhattan and Topeka High.