By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Eleven athletes who had a hand in 10 state titles, including three multiple-event state champs, headline the 2024 All-Shawnee County boys track and field team.
Hayden senior Finn Dunshee and junior Jensen Schrickel took home three Class 3A gold medals apiece, posting two individual wins to go with a relay victory, while also running on a runnerup relay.
Finn Dunshee, Hayden
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden
Dunshee won the 100-meter dash in 10.60 seconds and the 200 in 21.99 while Schrickel took the 3A gold in the long jump at 23 feet, 1 inch and won the 400 dash in 48.73 while Dunshee and Schrickel teamed with juniors Liam Stegman and John Strickland to win the 4x400 relay in 3:26.01 and with Stegman and sophomore Jackson McGivern to finish second in the 4x100 relay (42.52).
Aaron Merritt, Seaman
Seaman senior Aaron Merritt was a double individual gold medalist in 5A and also helped the Vikings post a second-place relay finish.
Merritt won the 110-meter hurdles in 14.48 seconds and the 100 dash in 10.32 seconds and teamed with juniors Peyton Holmes and Bryce Cochran and senior Jacob Anderson to finish second in the 5A 4x100 relay (42.50 seconds).
Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights
Shawnee Heights senior Jackson Esquibel won the 5A state title in the 3,200 meters for the second straight season, with Esquibel also recording a second-place finish in the 1,600 as both a junior and senior.
Esquibel won Friday's 5A 3,200 in 9:21.31 and was second in the 1,600 in 4:19.11.
Josh Sulzen-Watson, Washburn Rural
Washburn Rural senior Josh Sulzen-Watson won the 6A state championship in the javelin with a throw of 188-7 after finishing third in the discus at 162-3 while the Junior Blues' foursome of senior Shane Jueneman, sophomores Liam Morrison and Draden Chooncharoen and junior Isaiah Terry sat through a weather delay before winning the title in the 4x400 relay in 3:19.56 in the final event of the 2024 state meet.
Esquibel is joined on the all-county team by senior teammate Alex Dawkins, third in the 5A discus (164-9), and by T-Bird junior Payton Berry-Briggs, third in the 200 (22.27).
Blake Redmond, Silver Lake
Silver Lake senior Blake Redmond placed third in the 3A long jump (22-3.75) while Eagles junior Evan Scheid was a four-event state medalist in the 100, 200, 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay. Redmond also ran on the 4x100 relay.
Also earning berths on the All-Shawnee County boys first team were Seaman sophomore distance standout Brody Anderson and sophomore sprinter Malachi Murph, a two-time all-county pick.
All-Shawnee County picks were based on meeting minimum performance standards as well as coaches' recommendations and postseason performances.
ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY 2024 BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
Name, school Class Events
Brody Anderson, Seaman So. Distance
Jacob Anderson, Seaman Sr. Relays
Payton Berry-Briggs, Shawnee Heights Jr. Sprints
Draden Chooncharoen, Washburn Rural So. Sprints, relays
Bryce Cochran, Seaman Jr. Sprints
Alex Dawkins, Shawnee Heights Sr. Throws
Finn Dunshee, Hayden Sr. Sprints, relays
Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights Sr. Distance
Peyton Holmes, Seaman Jr. Jumps, relays
Shane Jueneman, Washburn Rural Sr. Relays
Jackson McGivern, Hayden So. Relays
Aaron Merritt, Seaman Sr. Sprints, hurdles
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural So. Hurdles, relays
Malachi Murph, Topeka High So. Sprints, relays
Blake Redmond, Silver Lake Sr. Jumps, sprints
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden So. Sprints, jumps, relays
Evan Scheid, Silver Lake Jr. Sprints
Liam Stegman, Hayden Jr. Relays
John Strickland, Hayden Jr. Relays
Josh Sulzen-Watson, Washburn Rural Sr. Throws
Isaiah Terry, Washburn Rural Jr. Sprints, relays
Honorable mention
Cair Paravel: Ben Roeder. Hayden: Aiden Amis, Connor Baldwin, Carter Charvat, Zach Moore, Jonah Stewart. Highland Park: Genesis Cooper, Tremaine Savage, Jamelle Williams-Sanders. Rossville: Barret Lietz. Seaman: Brogan Brown, Michael Hurla, Tad McGee, Kaden Whitehurst. Shawnee Heights: Rykan Carver, Alex Dittman, Tyler Wedl. Silver Lake: Eli Ferguson, Jared Johnson, Joel Miller, Trent Rollenhagen. Topeka High: Jaxon Cowdin, Te'Vante Ewing. Topeka West: Adrian Lehman, Jayden Lindsey, Elijah Phelps, Mark Wilkie. Washburn Rural: Jacob Hawks, Cody Ingenthron, Jamond Lane, Titan Osburn.
