By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman junior Ryin Miller had plans to celebrate her 17th birthday with family and friends later on Saturday.
But the Viking star gave herself a present to start off her day, winning the girls individual title in Washburn Rural's Shufelberger Top City Classic by just over a minute, 15 seconds in a five-kilometer time of 17 minutes, 00.8 seconds.
Seaman junior Ryin Miller posted her third straight individual victory on Saturday, winning the Shufelberger Top City Classic by 1 minute, 15 seconds. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Miller, who set the state five-kilometer record in her previous race, fell behind Washburn Rural senior star Payton Fink early in Saturday's event, but Miller quickly took over the lead and pulled away for the decisive win.
Miller wasn't surprised when Fink, the Class 6A state runnerup last fall, gave her a battle early on.
"I knew she would,'' Miller said. "They go out hard in the mile with me so I was prepared for that. I knew she was going to be there, but she went out faster than I thought she would, though. I was trying not to go with her because I didn't want to wear myself out, but I wanted to stick close enough to where I didn't give her a confidence boost, but Payton ran a really good race.
"She's a great runner and it's fun running against her.''
Washburn Rural senior Payton Fink, the Class 6A state runnerup in 2023, finished second in Saturday's Shufelberger Top City Classic. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
And Fink, a three-time state medalist, had nothing put praise for her friendly rival.
"She's been killing it all season,'' Fink said. "It's been insane. It's been so fun watching her, but going into today I just wanted to go out and put down a decent time and use it as a good workout.''
Washburn Rural also got a fourth-place finish from senior Rylee Ismert (18:52.3) while Seaman sophomore Brynn Spencer and Hayden senior Elliot Wrench posted top-15 finishes and Washburn Rural senior Brooklyn Nolte, Seaman senior Stella Appelhanz and Hayden sophomore Sofia Harper finished in the top 20.
Spencer posted an 11th-place showing (19:45.9) while Wrench finished 13th (19:50.5), Nolte 16th (20:08.5), Appelhanz 17th (20:27.1) and Harper 18th (20.31.7).
Mill Valley won the girls team title by a 49-57 margin over St. James Academy while Seaman finished third with 81 points.
Seaman junior Brody Anderson finished third in Saturday's Shufelberger Top City Classic at Washburn Rural. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Topeka West senior Adrian Lehman posted a fourth-place finish in Saturday's Shufelberger Top City Classic. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Seaman junior Brody Anderson paced the city boys contingent with a third-place finish in 15:46.3, just ahead of Topeka West senior Adrian Lehman, who finished fourth in 15:58.0.
Washburn Rural freshman Henry Laubach posted a seventh-place finish (16:22.3) while Hayden junior Connor Baldwin finished 11th (16:53.5).
Rural finished third in the team standings, with senior Chris Quarles (16:59.1) placing 13th (16:59.1), senior Bodie King 15th (17:02.6), freshman Clayton Fink 16th (17:03.0) and junior Brooks Kehoe 19th (17:15.5).
Saturday's meet is named in honor of former longtime Washburn Rural cross country coach Scott Shufelberger.
Up next for Hayden, Seaman, Topeka West and Washburn Rural in next Saturday's multi-state Rim Rock Classic north of Lawrence.
SHUFELBERGER TOP CITY CLASSIC
At Washburn Rural
GIRLS
Team scores
Mill Valley 49, St. James Academy 57, Seaman 81, Olathe South 87, Junction City 87.
Individual results
1. Ryin Miller, Seaman, 17:00.8; 2. Payton Fink, Washburn Rural, 18:16.2; 3. Ani Allen, Olathe South, 18:46.9; 4. Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural, 18:52.3; 5. Anna Fontaine, Junction City, 18:55.1; 6. Audrey Howard, Mill Valley, 19:02.9; 7. Quinn Hays, St. James Academy, 19:09.9; 8. Linden Pickler, Junction City, 19:26.5; 9. Charlotte Caldwell, Mill Valley, 19:32.6; 10. Abby Loos, St. James Academy, 19:37.3.
Other Seaman -- 11. Brynn Spencer, 19:45.9; 17. Stella Appelhanz, 20:27.1; 39. Kinley Robinson, 22:50.4; 40. Hannah Wempe, 22:53.6.
Other Washburn Rural -- 16. Brooklyn Nolte, 20:08.5; 36. Kate Muir, 22:36.0.
Hayden -- 13. Elliot Wrench, 19:50.5; 18. Sofia Harper, 20:31.7; 44. Ryann Newkirk, 23:29.0.
Topeka West -- 41. Phelps, 23:14.7.
BOYS
Team scores
Mill Valley 46, Junction City 55, Washburn Rural 65, St. James Academy 96, Olathe South 141, Hayden 155, Seaman 159.
Individual results
1. Carter Cline, Mill Valley, 15:08.0; 2. Dalamar Read, Mill Valley, 15:31.2; 3. Brody Anderson, Seaman, 15:46.3; 4. Adrian Lehman, Topeka West, 15:58.0; 5. Michael Bianco, St. James Academy, 16:02.9; 6. Ethan Fontaine, Junction City, 16:16.8; 7. Henry Laubach, Washburn Rural, 16:22.3; 8. Luke Swearengin, Olathe South, 16:28.3; 9. Jordan Schierbaum, Mill Valley, 16:33.3; 10. Anthony Testa, Junction City, 16:36.2.
Other Washburn Rural -- 13. Chris Quarles, 16:59.1; 15. Bodie King, 17:02.6; 16. Clayton Fink, 17:03.0; 19. Brooks Kehoe, 17:15.5; 27. Connor Olsen, 17:27.5; 38. Duke Graf, 17:47.2; 44. Anders Leinwetter, 18:01.5.
Hayden -- 11. Connor Baldwin, 16:53.5; 33. Jonah Stewart, 17:35.6; 34. Nick Newkirk, 17:38.2; 49. Derek Ahlstedt, 18:55.1; 52. Luke Franklin, 18:57.7; 57. Ethan Rochford, 19:56.0; 58. Nathaniel Augustine, 20:11.6; 59. Matthew Harmer, 20:29.9.
Other Seaman -- 41. Conner Bloom, 17:57.7; 42. Alex Newell, 17:58.4; 46. Drake Spurlock, 18:22.1; 53. Corbin Murrow, 19:05.6.
Other Topeka West -- 30. Mark Wilkie, 17:32.6; 45. Jayden Sigle, 18:11.4; 51. Ezra Phelps, 18:56.5.
