A Brief Pre-League Recap📖
a recap before the rest of this weekend's league championships
Unlike the typical crickets we hear during the weekend leading up to league championship week, last Thursday and Saturday gave us plenty of talking points and highlights to consider when heading into the most important part of the fall.
Rupe, Shultz Go 1-2 Again🥇🥈
On the western(ish) front, the Salina Invitational was home to a lot of breakout performances, highlighted by none other than freshman phenom Kaylie Shultz of Salina Central. For the first time this season, there was just 19 seconds separating Shultz and the best runner in the state, her teammate Katelyn Rupe. The defending 5A champ ran 17:24.0 for the win, which is her fifth time under 17:45 this year. However, it was Shultz who stole the show in my eyes, lowering her previous PR by 22 seconds, from 18:05.8 to 17:43.7.
Junction City’s Lorna Rae Pierce had a breakout race of her own, running 17:56.1 in 3rd, a 29 second PR.
Championship Week in the Capital🏛️
In the state’s capital, the annual Topeka City Championships came and went, as Topeka-Seaman’s Ryin Miller and Shawnee Heights’ Jackson Esquibel picked up the city title.
Miller erupted for a new lifetime best, running 17:24.3 as a sophomore, shaving 17 seconds off her previous PR she ran earlier last month. Behind her was the new 6A lead, junior Payton Fink of Washburn Rural, also earning a huge PR along the way. Fink previously had a best of 18:10.1, but now becomes just the second Jr. Blue to ever break 18:00. Fink led her squad to the city title for the fifth year in a row. Washburn Rural edged out Topeka-Seaman 27-36.
On the boys’ side, Esquibel continued his winning ways, running 15:16.7 for his fifth win of 2023. Esquibel solo’d the bulk of this effort, finishing with 34 seconds between him and Topeka-Seaman’s Brody Anderson in 15:50.1.
For the 17th straight year, the Jr. Blues are city champions, beating out Topeka-Seaman 35-63, highlighted by their 18-second pack time. If you’re traveling out to Topeka next fall for the 2024 edition of the city championships, don’t forget your tissues, because if the Jr. Blues win again, the streak is going off to college and it might get emotional.
Osage City = 🔥
At the Osage City Invite, Ellei McCrory somehow topped what she had already done this season, running her way to an unprecedented 17:48.0. Obviously, she won the race as well, keeping her undefeated on the year. Holton’s Eva Cortes and Central Heights’ Emma Cubit were second and third in 19:06.0 and 19:15.2.
While McCrory torched the course to get the morning started, West Franklin junior Hunter Bailey ran 15:49.0, leading three other guys under 16:00. Central Heights’ CodyHammond (15:50.0), Council Grove’s KodiDownes (15:50.1) and Hammond’s teammate ConnorBurkdoll who was 4th in 15:57.3.
Wild & Windy💨
Down in Wichita at the Wild Wind Festival, the Knights of Trinity Academy had themselves a day on both sides. Sophomore Emily Hein defended her home course, winning by 82 seconds in 18:35.6. However, Valley Center just edged out Trinity, 61-70, as Jasmine Calvo led the way with a 6th place finish. On the boys’ side, Sam Ferguson and Caleb Tofteland went 1-2, running 15:44.8 and 16:12.2 respectively. In the team race, Eisenhower beat out the Knights 72-91, with Owen Dent’s 5th place finish leading the way.
Mcgown, Onelio Break 16⚔️
What a day for Girard’s 1-2 punch, Houston Mcgown and Gabe Onelio. Out in Pleasanton, the Trojan duo went 15:51.13 and 15:51.30, two big PR’s for both boys. Mcgown had run 16:38 a week prior on a tough Baldwin City course. Technically, it’s not an overall PR for Onelio, after he ran 15:39.7 last November at NXR Heartland. But, it is a PR for his time at Girard, so we’ll count it.
Really quickly, I just want to apologize for the inconsistency from the newsletter over the last few weeks. Until the end of the season, expect these consistently, at least once a week.
As always, thanks to all of you readers for tuning in even if it’s just for a few meet recaps in a short newsletter.
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