By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Stella Appelhanz
Stella Appelhanz, Seaman
A sophomore, Appelhanz steadily developed throughout her freshman season and finished as the Vikings' No. 3 runner, earning first-team All-Shawnee County honor. Appelhanz placed seventh in the city meet, 13th in the Centennial League, fourth in a Class 5A regional meet and 34th at state.
Anna Becker
Anna Becker, Seaman
Becker was a solid performer throughout her freshman season, placing 11th in the city meet, 12th in the Centennial League, sixth in Class 5A regional competition and 47th in the 5A state meet, earning first-team All-Shawnee County honors.
Madeline Carter
Madeline Carter, Washburn Rural
Carter turned in an outstanding junior season for Washburn Rural, earning five individual wins in her nine races and never placing lower than ninth place. Three out of her five first-place finishes came in a sweep of the city, Centennial League and Class 6A regional meets. Carter earned her third All-Shawnee County selection, her third All-Centennial League recognition and second All-State honor. Carter led the Junior Blues to city, league and regional team championships and a fourth-place finish at state.
Bethany Druse
Bethany Druse, Seaman
Druse, a senior, is a three-time All-Shawnee County selection and a two-time All-Stater. Druse had a solid junior season, improving her best time by 20 seconds and establishing a new Seaman five-kilometer record of 18 minutes, 48 seconds. Druse placed fifth at Rim Rock, fourth in the city meet, second in a a Class 5A Regional and sixth in the 5A state championships, leading the Lady Vikes to a fourth-place team finish. Druse was the 5A state 800 meters champion in track.
Mariah Farmer
Mariah Farmer, Silver Lake
Farmer was a Class 3A state medalist as a freshman and sophomore before missing all of her junior cross country season due to stress fractures. Famer has qualified for the state track meet the past two seasons.
Payton Fink
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural
Fink turned in an outstanding freshman season for the Junior Blues, finishing third in four straight races, including city, Centennial League and Class 6A regional meets. Fink earned her All-Shawnee County, all-league and All-State honors, finishing the year with a 19th-place state finish.
Amelia Foster
Amelia Foster, Rossville
Foster, a senior, is a two-time state qualifier in Class 3A as well as a three-time All-Mid-East League honoree who earned TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season.
Joslynn Grace
Joslynn Grace, Seaman
A sophomore, Grace earned TSN All-Shawnee County first-team honors after placing fifth in the city meet, sixth in the Centennial League, third at regionals and 22nd individually in the Class 5A state meet. Grace's time of 19:30 in the 5A regional meet broke the Seaman freshman five-kilometer record.
Rylee Ismert
Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural
A sophomore, Ismert was an immediate contributor to the Junior Blues as a freshman, battling through health issues to score for the Junior Blues in their regional team championship and fourth-place state finish. Ismert earned All-Shawnee County first-team recognition.
Sydney Laster
Sydney Laster, Washburn Rural
Laster had a solid sophomore season for the Junior Blues last fall, earning All-Shawnee County honors for the second time. A highlight of Laster’s 2021 season was an eighth-place finish in the city meet.
Ryin Miller
Ryin Miller, Seaman
Veteran Seaman coach Rick Brading is counting on Miller to make an immediate impact for the Vikings this fall as a freshman. Miller joins an already strong Viking team that placed fourth in Class 5A last fall.
Elliot Wrench
Elliot Wrench, Hayden
A sophomore, Wrench returns for the Wildcats after posting a 29th-place finish in the 2021 Class 4A state meet. Wrench posted a ninth-place finish in the city championships, was 22nd in the Centennial League meet and was a runner-up in 4A regional competition. Wrench received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last fall.
