By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Before she ever stepped on the track for Friday's Class 5A track and field regional, it had already been a good week for Viking sophomore star Ryin Miller, who had helped Seaman's soccer team reach the state quarterfinals with a pair of wins, including a 4-1 win at Basehor-Linwood on Thursday that avenged a 1-0 loss nine days earlier.
Seaman sophomore star Ryin Miller posted three individual wins in Friday's Class 5A regional meet and also helped the Vikings qualify for state in the 4x400 relay. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"It was a good game for us,'' said Miller, who had a goal and two assists in the win. "I think it boosted our confidence. Obviously we have tough competition next game playing Blue Valley Southwest. They're pretty solid but I think Thursday was our best game overall.
"We played more as a team and it definitely showed.''
And the week got even better on Friday as Miller scorched her home track for three individual victories and qualified for a fourth state event in a relay in her tuneup for next week's state meet at Wichita State's Cessna Stadium.
Competing in four events for the first time in her career, the game plan for Miller was to try to save some energy throughout the night, but Miller still posted elite times in all three of her individual events.
Miller opened her night with a 21-second win in the 1,600 meters in 4 minutes, 55.24 seconds and she followed that up with a three-second-plus victory in the 800 in 2:12.99 and a 20-second win in the 3,200 in 10:57.40 before teaming with Taylie Heston, Jaida Stallbaumer and Ally Steiner to help the Vikings qualify for state in the 4x400 relay with a third-place finish in 4:04.44.
"I was actually a little sore, a little beat up in the beginning,'' Miller said. "After the mile I was like, 'Oh shoot,' because the mile hurt quite a bit so then I just decided I was going to race to qualify and not to PR (personal records).
"In the two mile I wanted to go, but I was like, 'Just get through this, state's what matters.' ''
Seaman's girls, who finished third as a team, qualified for next Friday and Saturday's state meet in a total of 10 events, with Stallbaumer qualifying in three events. Stallbaumer placed second in the 100 hurdles (16.42 seconds) and third in the 300 hurdles (49.30) before running on the 4x400 relay.
Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller leads the 3,200 in Friday's regional meet while Viking freshman Brynn Spencer qualified for state with a fourth-place finish. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Maggie Leismester was the runnerup in the javelin (130-9) while Rylee Hoffer was fourth in the discus (110-11), freshman Brynn Spencer was fourth in the 3,200 (11:52.14), Steiner added a fourth-place finish in the 100 dash (13.05) and the Vikings finished fourth in the 4x800 relay (10:15.97).
Other top performances Friday:
Seaman senior Aaron Merritt wins the 100-meter dash in Friday's Class 5A regional meet on the way to qualifying for state in four events. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
• Seaman boys hurdler/sprinter Aaron Merritt lost by a matter of inches in the 110-meter hurdles final but the Vikings' senior star was still all smiles after a regional performance that saw him qualify for state in four events.
Merritt (14.17) was edged by Piper senior Jayden Henry (14.15) in the 110s but came back to win the 100 dash (10.79) and helped the Vikings qualify in the 4x100 relay with a third-place finish (42.55) along with a fourth-place finish in the 4x400 relay (3:27.02).
Merritt teamed with Peyton Holmes, Bryce Cochran and Jacob Anderson in the 4x100 relay and with Cochran, Michael Hurla and Brody Anderson in the 4x400.
"I'm very happy with today,'' Merritt said. "I had a big PR in the hurdles and even though I didn't get him we were super close and we've been going back and forth all year. We don't know what's going to happen at state and I'm really excited to run with him again.
"I was not worried about the 100. I entered the meet first in the state and I'm determined to get a first-place medal at state.''
Holmes, a junior, also posted a win in the long jump with a career-best effort of 23 feet, 4.50 inches while Tad McGee finished third in the high jump (6-2), Hurla was third in the 300 hurdles (41.46) and Kaden Whitehurst was fourth in the triple jump (41-8.75) as the Vikings finished fourth as a team.
Shawnee Heights senior Jackson Esquibel won the 3,200 meters in Friday's Class 5A regional and also finished third in the 1,600. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
• Shawnee Heights senior distance star Jackson Esquibel's valliant effort to help the T-Birds get to state in the 4x800 relay came up just short, but Esquibel came back to qualify in both the 1,600 and 3,200 for the final meet of his outstanding prep career next Friday and Saturday in Wichita.
Esquibel came from behind to finish third in a loaded 1,600 field in a time of 4:27.49 and then posted a win in the 3,200 in 9:36.34.
"It was fun,'' Esquibel said about his regional performance. "I always just trust that God has a plan for me and I've felt like I've put so much pressure on myself the previous three years that my senior year I'm just having confidence and having fun.
"I'm just glad I got through today and I'm looking forward to next weekend.''
Esquibel's win gave him the opportunity to defend his 3,200 state title next Friday morning.
"I have confidence in my 3,200,'' Esquibel said. "I feel like I've gotten a lot stronger with the speed stuff and last cross country season (a 5A state title) gave me a lot more confidence going into this season.''
Shawnee Heights, which finished fifth as a team, also got wins in the throws from Alex Dawkins in the discus with a throw of 184 feet, 8 inches and from Alex Dittman in the javelin (165-1) while Rykan Carver made it to state in the shot put with a fourth-place finish in the shot put (50-4).
Payton Berry-Briggs finished second in the 200 dash (22.25) to advance to state in that event.
CLASS 5A TRACK AND FIELD REGIONAL
At Seaman
GIRLS
Team scores
St. James Academy 153, De Soto 93, Seaman 80, Basehor-Linwood 75, Piper 57, Lansing 39, Bonner Springs 32, Leavenworth 25, Shawnee Heights 4.
Individual results
100 -- 1. Mckenzie Hayse, Lansing, 12.43; 2. Kamdyn Wedel, De Soto, 12.76; Leah Phelps, St. James Academy, 12.76; 4. Ally Steiner, Seaman, 13.05.
200 -- 1. Mckenzie Hayse, Lansing, 25.22; 2. Reese Messer, St. James Academy, 25.34; 3. Beatrice Wiley, St. James Academy, 25.93; 4. Kamdyn Wedel, De Soto, 25.99.
400 -- 1. Evelyn Overlease, St. James Academy, 58.76; 2. Anneliese Lockwood, Piper, 59.39; 3. Katelyn Shockey, Basehor-Linwood, 59.46; 4. Leah Phelps, St. James Acadmey, 59.78.
800 -- 1. Ryin Miller, Seaman, 2:12.99; 2. Brooke Bundt, De Soto, 2:16.48; 3. Quinn Hays, St. James Academy, 2:20.39; 4. Annie Wilken, St. James Academy, 2:20.96.
1,600 -- 1. Ryin Miller, Seaman, 4:55.24; 2. Katie Price, St. James Academy, 5:16.77; 3. Quinn Hays, St. James Academy, 5:16.77; 4. Kelsie Kudzia, Leavenworth, 5:19.47.
3,200 -- 1. Ryin Miller, Seaman, 10:57.40; 2. Katie Price, St. James Academy, 11:17.26; 3. Abby Loos, St. James Academy, 11:42.32; 4. Brynn Spencer, Seaman, 11:52.14.
100 hurdles -- 1. Nora Turney, Piper, 15.62; 2. Jaida Stallbaumer, Seaman, 16.42; 3. Ellie Ochs, St. James Academy, 16.51; 4. Ellie Merz, St. James Academy, 16.98.
300 hurdles -- 1. Nora Turney, Piper, 46.43; 2. Reese Messer, St. James Academy, 46.62; 3. Jaida Stallbaumer, Seaman, 49.30; 4. Ellie Merz, St. James Academy, 49.49.
4x100 relay -- 1. St. James Academy, 48.20; 2. Piper, 49.40; 3. De Soto, 50.34; 4. Basehor-Linwood, 50.40.
4x400 relay -- 1. St. James Academy, 3:56.26; 2. De Soto, 4:03.84; 3. Seaman, 4:04.44; 4. Piper, 4:06.01.
4x800 relay -- 1. Basehor-Linwood, 10:03.56; 2. St. James Academy, 10:12.06; 3. De Soto, 10:13.75; 4. Seaman, 10:15.97.
High jump -- 1. Addison Cisneros, De Soto, 5-2; 2. Addison Theno, Basehor-Linwood, 4-10; 3. Anneliese Lockwood, Piper, 4-10; 4. Sophia Mateo, De Soto, 4-8.
Pole vault -- 1. Emma Thompson, Leavenworth, 10-6; 2. Alexandria Mabe, De Soto, 10-0; 3. Maia Dolinar, Piper, 10-0; 4. Emily Steinlage, Basehor-Linwood, 10-0.
Long jump -- 1. Ellie Wurtenberger, St. James Academy, 17-6.50; 2. Mckenzie Hayse, Lansing, 17-3.50; 3. Ziara Stowers, Lansing, 16-7; 4. Emily Steinlage, Basehor-Linwood, 16-6.
Triple jump -- 1. Beatrice Wiley, St. James Academy, 37-2; 2. Kimberlee Scott, Basehor-Linwood, 37-1; 3. Addison Vogel, Bonner Springs, 36-7.50; 4. Chasitee Sambol, Bonner Springs, 36-5.
Shot put -- 1. Aarion Pickens, Leavenworth, 39-10; 2. McKenzie Campbell, Bonner Springs, 38-0.75; 3. Cadence Shrout, De Soto, 36-4.50; 4. Julia Headley, St. James Academy, 36-0.75.
Discus -- 1. Brianna Hampton, Basehor-Linwood, 124-9; 2. Cadence Shrout, De Soto, 121-7; 3. Addyson Thompson, Bonner Springs, 117-7; 4. Rylee Hoffer, Seaman, 110-11.
.Javelin -- 1. Claire Vanderweide, Basehor-Linwood, 132-4; 2. Maggie Lesmeister, Seaman, 130-9; 3. Ashlyn Jennings, De Soto, 118-8; 4. Chasitee Sambol, Bonner Springs, 107-3.
BOYS
Team scores
De Soto 144, Piper 82, St. James Academy 76.50, Seaman 65, Shawnee Heights 62.50, Lansing 48, Leavenworth 33, Basehor-Linwood 30, Bonner Springs 17.
Individual results
100 -- 1. Aaron Merritt, Seaman, 10.79; 2. Carson Miller, De Soto, 10.83; 3. DyVair McCray, Leavenworth, 11.15; 4. Skyler Little, Piper, 11.18.
200 -- 1. Carson Miller, De Soto, 22.04; 2. Payton Berry-Briggs, Shawnee Heights, 22.25; 3. Jayden Lang, De Soto, 22.58; 4. Skyler Little, Piper, 22.70.
400 -- 1. Matthias Erickson, Lansing, 49.90; 2. Jackson Steger, Lansing, 50.06; 3. Riley Hartman, De Soto, 50.32; 4. Austin Archambault, Lansing, 50.32.
800 -- 1. Palmer O'Connor, De Soto, 1:53.36; 2. Noah Schowengerdt, St. James Academy, 1:54.17; 3. Luke Swarts, De Soto, 1:56.05; 4. Connor Jacober, De Soto, 1:56.15.
1,600 -- 1. Palmer O'Connor, De Soto, 4:26.33; 2. Vance Krudwig, De Soto, 4:26.77; 3. Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights, 4:27.49; 4. Michael Bianco, St. James Academy, 4:28.35.
3,200 -- 1. Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights, 9:36.64; 2. Jonathan Purvis, Leavenworth, 9:36.83; 3. Michael Bianco, St. James Academy, 9:46.48; 4. Vance Krudwig, De Soto, 9:51.70.
110 hurdles -- 1. Jayden Henry, Piper, 14.15; 2. Aaron Merritt, Seaman, 14.17; 3. Layton Lawson, De Soto, 15.52; 4. Davis Barr, De Soto, 16.12.
300 hurdles -- 1. Shinji Pollard, Piper, 40.27; 2. Jayden Henry, Piper, 41.23; 3. Michael Hurla, Seaman, 41.46; 4. Davis Barr, De Soto, 41.63.
4x100 relay -- 1. De Soto, 42.14; 2. Piper, 42.38; 3. Seaman, 42.55; 4. Leavenworth, 43.05.
4x400 relay -- 1. St. James Academy, 3:23.74; 2. De Soto, 3:24.34; 3. Lansing, 3:26.65; 4. Seaman, 3:27.02.
4x800 relay -- 1. Piper, 8:08.46; 2. De Soto, 8:10.42; 3. St. James Academy, 8:12.30; 4. Basehor-Linwood, 8:15.72.
High jump -- 1. Devin Karr, Piper, 6-4; 2. Eddie Wilson, Basehor-Linwood, 6-2; 3. Tad McGee, Seaman, 6-2; 4. Rylan Howard, Bonner Springs, 6-2.
Pole vault -- 1. Tyler Wedl, Shawnee Heights, 12-0; 2. (tie) Ty La Row, Seaman; Joseph Harris, De Soto, and Tyler Hoctel, Lansing, 11-0.
Long jump -- 1. Peyton Holmes, Seaman, 23-4.50; Ben Wheeler, St. James Academy, 22-7.50; 3. Dy'Vair McCray, Leavenworth, 22-3.75; 4. Carson Dixon, Basehor-Linwood, 21-2.25.
Triple jump -- 1. Eddie Wilson, Basehor-Linwood, 2. Tyrone Butler, Lansing, 42-11.25; 3. Rylan Howard, Bonner Sprngs, 42-2.25; 4. Kaden Whitehurst, Seaman, 41-8.75.4
Shot put -- 1. Spencer Dohm, St. James Academy, 55-10.25; 2. Chase Riedesel, De Soto, 53-3.75; 3. Aaron Henson, Piper, 50-6.75; 4. Rykan Carver, Shawnee Heights, 50-4.
Discus -- 1. Alexander Dawkins, Shawnee Heights, 184-8; 2. Chance Riedesel, De Soto, 166-6; 3. Nolan Noberto, Leavenworth, 161-2; 4. Charles Woleben, De Soto, 157-5.
Javelin -- 1. Alex Dittman, Shawnee Heights, 165-1; 2. Parker Chase, St. James Academy, 154-11; 3. Dominic Schierbaum, Bonner Springs, 150-0; 4. Jack Bevitt, St. James Academy, 149-8.
