By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
LAWRENCE -- After Friday’s exciting races to kick off the Kansas Relays, the performances on Saturday did not disappoint.
Seaman junior Ryin Miller, anchoring the Vikings' 4x400 relay, won the 1,600-meter run Saturday in the Kansas Relays, her second win in as many days. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Seaman junior Ryin Miller picked up where she left off on Friday. In what might have been the race of the day, Miller won the 1600-meter run in a personal-best time of 4:46.03, which is the 16th fastest in the United States this year.
Her strategy was different from Friday’s race.
“I had planned to lead and get out in front from the start, but I could tell that we were going hot, so I decided to let the girls lead,'' Miller said.
As the final lap began, Ryin and the eventual second-place finisher -- senior Elyse Wilmes of Father Tolton Catholic School in Columbia, Mo. - took the lead from senior Kinley Wolfe of Cherry Creek High School of Colorado.
With about 300 meters remaining, Miller made her move and took a brief lead over Wilmes. However, Wilmes immediately responded and took a 10-15 meter lead going into the final 200 meters. As both runners arrived at the top of the stretch, Miller began her amazing charge and overtook Wilmes right before the finish to win by 0.3 seconds.
“I had watched the lead runner (Wilmes) in the 800 on Friday and knew she had a good kick, so I thought if I went early, it would take a little from her kick, but she brought it,'' Miller said. I just hung on, telling myself that I could do it, and in the last 100, I gave it all I had and luckily it was enough.”
Other Saturday highlights:
• The girls 4x800 team from Washburn Rural -- seniors Emily Graf, Payton Fink, Brooklyn Nolte and junior Kenzie Maddox -- finished in 5th place with a time of 9:44.07.
• Washburn Rural senior Isaiah Terry finished in 3rd place in the final of the 400 meters in a time of 48.41.
Washburn Rural senior Isaiah Terry finished third in the Kansas Relays 400 dash and helped the Junior Blues take fourth in the 4x400 relay. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
• The boys 4x400 relay team from Washburn Rural -- juniors Draden Chooncharoen and Liam Morrison along with seniors Ben Buesing and Terry finished 4th with a time of 3:22.21.
• The boys 4x100 relay team from Silver Lake -- juniors Braxton Rupp, Evan Schied, Joel Miller and senior Trent Rollenhagen -- finished 8th in the Sunflower Showdown with a time of 44.47 seconds.
• The girls 4x100 relay team from Washburn Rural -- juniors Adriana Raub, Maddi Blanco and Emme Blanco and senior Molly Worley -- finished 7th in the Sunflower Showdown with a time of 50.75 seconds.
Saturday’s Results
Girls
Seaman
4x800 Relay - 10:31.16; Ryin Miller - 1600 meters - 4:46.03; 4x400 Relay - 4:09.21.
Silver Lake
4x200 Relay - 1:51.59.
Washburn Rural
4x800 Relay - 9:44.07; Sunflower Showdown 4x100 Relay - 50.75.
Boys
Seaman
Peyton Holmes - Long Jump - 21’5.5”; 4x800 Relay - 8:55.56; Brody Anderson - 1600 meters - 4:22.37.
Silver Lake
Sunflower Showdown 4x100 Relay - 44.47.
Topeka West
Adrian Lehman - 1600 meters - 4:25.38
Washburn Rural
4x200 Relay - 1:32.86; 4x800 Relay - 8:11.74; Isaiah Terry - 400 meters - 48.41; 4x400 Relay - 3:22.21.
