By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A case could be made for any of Shawnee County's 11 state championship teams to garner the No. 1 spot on the TopSports.news Best of the Best girls cross country Top 10.
After all, the county's cross country pedigree goes way back to Silver Lake's Class 3A state crown in the second year of state competition in 1978, and has continued with Hayden's run of seven 4A championships, Seaman's 6A and 5A titles and a dominating season by Washburn Rural en route to a 6A crown.
Washburn Rural notched its lone Class 6A girls cross county championship in 1996, including a perfect score in the city meet and a sweep of league, regional and state titles. [Submitted photo to KSHSAA.org]
But in the end, a 1996 Washburn Rural team that put together what is arguably the best postseason performance in county history got the slight nod for the top position.
Scott Shufelberger's Junior Blues began their late-season push with a perfect team score in the city meet, followed by Centennial League and regional titles and capped by the 6A championship by a 59-64 margin over Olathe South as the Blues were paced by oustanding individual performances from Cate Holston and Michelle Simecka.
Both Holston, who finished third, and Simecka, who placed sixth, easily eclipsed the 12-minute barrier in the two-mile state event, with Holston clocking a time of 11 minutes, 34.8 seconds and Simecka a time of 11:40.4.
Hayden's girls cross country team won the 1990 Class 4A state championship by a 67-point margin while placing three runners in the top eight places. [Submitted photo to KSHSAA.org]
Hayden put six teams in the Top 10, including the No. 2-ranked 1990 team, while the Wildcats' seventh state title team received support in Reader's Choice balloting.
Hayden's girls cross country team won the 1992 Class 4A state championship by a 22-point margin, led by individual state champ Bridget Deghand. [Submitted photo to KSHSAA.org]
Hayden's '92 team was tapped for the No. 5 spot on the Top 10, while the Wildcats' '89, '94, '12 and '86 teams are ranked seventh through 10th.
Rick Brading's Seaman team won the Class 5A girls cross country championship in 2005, putting three runners in the top eight spots individually. [Submitted photo to KSHSAA.org]
Seaman won the Class 6A girls cross country championship in 1984, led by Julie Howerton and Marge Eddy.[Submitted photo to KSHSAA.org]
Rick Brading's '05 championship team in 5A is listed No. 3 in the Best of the Best while Bob Camien's 6A title team in '84 is ranked fourth.
Ken Darting coached Silver Lake to the Eagles' lone girls cross country championship in 1978. [Submitted photo to KSHSAA.org]
Ken Darting's '78 Silver Lake team, the Eagles' lone state championship cross country squad, is No. 6 on the Top 10.
Rural's '96 team also earned the No. 1 spot in Reader's Choice balloting, followed by Seaman's '05 team and Hayden's '93 squad, while Hayden's '90 team and Seaman's '84 team tied for the fourth position.
Here's a look at the Top 10 and Reader's Choice Awards:
TSN TOP 10 BEST OF THE BEST GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS
1. Washburn Rural (1996) -- Scott Shufelberger's Junior Blues captured Rural's lone girls state championshp by a 59-64 margin over Olathe South as Cate Holston and Michelle Simecka finished third and sixth at state after the Blues recorded a perfect score in the city meet and added Centennial League and regional titles.
2. Hayden (1990) -- Kathy Strecker's Wildcats dominated the Class 4A state meet by a 67-point margin (41-108) over runnerup Wamego as Christine Silovsky (fourth place), Carrie Warner (seventh) and Josette Gomez (eighth) paced Hayden.
3. Seaman (2005) -- Rick Brading's Vikings rolled to the Class 5A state championship by a 57-90 margin over Blue Valley West as Hannah Law finished fourth, Mallory Brading seventh and Sydney Messick eigth. Seaman had four state medalists.
4. Seaman (1984) -- Bob Camien coached the Vikings to the Class 6A state championship by a 61-76 margin over Shawnee Mission East as Julie Howerton and Marge Eddy posted seventh and eighth-place individual finishes.
5. Hayden (1992) -- Individual state champion Bridget Deghand led the way as Kathy Strecker's Wildcats won the Class 4A state title by a 58-80 margin over Abilene.
6. Silver Lake (1978) -- Ken Darting's Eagles garnered Shawnee County's first girls cross county team title in only the second year of state meets as Connie Brumbaugh finished fourth, Linda McClure eighth and Tammy Hartter 10th.
7. Hayden (1989) -- Christine Silovsky finished third and Lisa Comstock sixth to pace Hayden to a 65-93 win over Wamego in the Class 4A team race.
8. Hayden (1994) -- The Wildcats won their third straight Class 4A crown on a tiebreaker over Labette County, with Andi Simecka leading Hayden with a fourth-place individual finish.
9. Hayden (2012) -- Kathy Strecker's Hayden team garnered their seventh and most recent Class 4A state title by a 69-92 margin over Winfield as Mary Kate Franklin and Peyton Finley finished fourth and fifth individually.
10. Hayden (1986) -- The Wildcats won the first of their seven Class 4A state championships by a 69-86 margin over Marysville, led by individual runner-up Lisa Lieber.
READER'S CHOICE GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY AWARDS
1. Washburn Rural (1996) -- No. 1 on Best of the Best Top 10 (see capsule above).
2. Seaman (2005) -- No. 3 on Best of the Best Top 10 (see capsule above).
3. Hayden (1993) -- Bridget Deghand finished eighth to lead the Wildcats to the second of three straight Class 4A state titles by a 71-85 margin over Andover.
4. (tie) Hayden (1990) -- No. 2 on Best of the Best Top 10 (see capsule above).
4. (tie) Seaman (1984) -- No. 4 on Best of the Best Top 10 (see capsule above).
6. (tie) Hayden (1986) -- No. 10 on Best of the Best Top 10 (see capsule above).
6. (tie) Hayden (1992) -- No. 5 on Best of the Best Top 10 (see capsule above).
6. (tie) Hayden (2012) -- No. 9 on Best of the Best Top 10 (see capsule above).
9. (tie) Hayden (1989) -- No. 7 on Best of the Best Top 10 (see capsule above).
9. (tie) Hayden (1994) -- No. 8 on Best of the Best Top 19 (see capsule above).
9. (tie) Silver Lake (1978) -- No. 6 on Best of the Best Top 10 (see capsule above).
Next up: Boys cross country Best of the Best Top 10 teams and Reader's Choice awards.
