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TOPEKA — State titles are the goal for many individual athletes this season from the Topeka-area. From distance running and sprinting to field events, the capital city is full of top-tier athletes who can compete for championships in May.
Here are the top track and field athletes from Shawnee County to watch for this season.
One of the top distance runners in the state, the junior is coming off a strong cross country season where he took ninth place in the Class 5A State Championship. Anderson won the 1600-meter run with a 4:29.71 in last week's Topeka West Invitational.
The senior sprinter put together a strong season last year where he finished third in Class 5A's 200-meter dash with a time of 22.27.
The volleyball and basketball stand-out is primed for a big spring. The senior won the Class 3A 4x400-meter relay state title last season.
Girls soccer: Here are the top 12 Topeka-area players to watch for 2025
The junior was a part of the Junior Blues' 4x400-meter dash relay team that won the Class 6A State Championship with a 3:19.56. A stand-out soccer player for Washburn Rural, Chooncharoen had a personal record of 51.38 in the 400-meter dash in last year's Centennial League Championship.
The senior was a part of the 4x100-meter relay team that took second in the Class 5A State Championship. Last year, Cochran was one of the top sprinters in the city as he shined in the 200-meter and 400-meter dash along with the triple jump.
The junior distance runner competed in last fall's cross country state championship. He's started this year's track season strong with a sixth-place finish in the 800 and 1600-meter run in last week's Wabaunsee Invite.
The multi-sport athlete is coming off of a strong freshman season. She's also started 2025 well with a second-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles in last week's Wabaunsee Invite.
High school baseball: Here are the top 12 Topeka-area players to watch for in 2025
The senior is signed to run at Kansas State next year and is coming off of a strong cross country season. Fink took fifth place in last fall's Class 6A State Championship. Last spring, she earned fifth place in the 3200-meter run and seventh place in the 1600-meter run in the state meet.
The sophomore helped Silver Lake win the Class 3A 4x400-meter relay state title last year. Gerber put together a strong fall cross country season where she qualified for the state championship.
The senior qualified for the Class 3A State Championship in cross country last fall. Last spring, she earned a spot in the state meet in the 3200-meter run, too.
The junior took seventh place in last year's 3200-meter state championship run. Graf also helped Washburn Rural earn sixth place in the 4x800-meter relay in last year's Class 6A State Championship. She was a key member of the cross country team that took second place last fall.
The senior is coming off an impressive wrestling campaign where she took second place in Class 5A. She was a part of Seaman's 4x800-meter relay team that took second place last year.
The senior collected a sixth-place finish in the Class 5A State Championship long jump event. He was also a part of the 4x100-meter relay team that took second place at the state championship.
The senior put together a strong cross country season where she took second place in Class 6A. She was also a part of last year's 4x800-meter relay team that took sixth place in the state meet. Individually, Ismert earned sixth place in Class 6A's 1600-meter run.
The senior is coming off of an impressive basketball campaign. He can jump out of the gym with the best of them and will show it this spring. Johnson earned seventh place in last year's Class 3A high jump finals. He cleared the 6-0 mark for the first time in last year's state meet.
The senior distance runner has become one of the best in the city. He was the top boys cross country runner in the Class 5A State Championship last fall. Lehman won the 3200-meter run with a 10:09 in last week's Topeka West Invitational. He also finished in second place in the 1600-meter run.
Last year, the sophomore qualified for the Class 3A State Championship in high jump last year collecting 15th place. She had a big season where she took second place overall in the Joe Schrag City Meet.
The junior is one of the top sprinters in the Topeka-area. She showcased her quick burst throughout basketball season and now she's ready for a big spring. In the 100-meter dash, Marshall took seventh place in last year's Class 6A State Championship.
Seaman distance running: Ryin Miller pushes 'through the hard moments' to find success
The state's premier distance runner is back for her junior year campaign. During cross country season, Miller broke the state record for fastest 5k in history. She won state titles in the 1600-meter and 800-meter run in last year's Class 5A State Championship. Miller is also a multi-sport athlete, helping Seaman take second during basketball season and will feature on the soccer team this spring.
The junior was a part of the Class 6A State Championship-winning 4x400-meter relay team last year. He also earned fifth place in the 110-meter hurdles and eighth place in the 300-meter hurdles at the state meet.
The junior is coming off a strong football season where he consistently showed his athleticism. The 100 and 200-meter dash specialist will be pushing for a state championship berth this season. He took seventh place in the 100-meter dash last week at the Topeka West Invitational.
The sophomore was impressive last season in the triple and long jump. Rayton secured second place in the triple jump at last year's Class 6A State Championship. She also earned fourth place in Class 6A's long jump, too.
The senior is coming off a season where she qualified for the Class 3A State Championship. She earned eighth place in the 400-meter dash in the state meet.
The senior will be one of the leaders for the Scots this year on the track. She's started the new season well, taking fourth place in the Topeka West Invitational's 400-meter dash. Rice also earned fourth in the 300-meter hurdles.
The Cair Paravel student will participate under the Topeka High logo for the regular season, thanks to a co-op agreement between the two schools. Roeder has reached the state championship in the previous two years.
The senior was the lone Highland Park athlete to qualify for the state meet last year. He finished in 16th place in the 200-meter dash with a 23.85.
The senior reached the podium four times in last year's Class 3A State Championship. He was a part of the 4x400-meter relay team that took fourth place. He also enjoyed a fifth-place finish in the 4x100-meter relay while earning fourth in the 200-meter dash and sixth in the 100-meter dash.
The senior was one of the most explosive football players in the city last fall. He was also impressive last spring, winning the Class 3A long jump for the second time in his career. Schrickel also took the title in the 400-meter dash and 4x400-meter relay.
The senior was a member of the 4x400-meter relay team that took second place in last year's Class 5A State Championship. Stallbaumer qualified for the Class 5A State Championship in the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles, too.
The senior won the Class 3A state title in the 4x400-meter relay and was also on the 4x100-meter relay that took second place last season. Stegman qualified for the state meet as an individual, too. He took eighth place in the 400-meter dash.
The senior was a part of Seaman's second-place 4x400-meter relay team in last year's Class 5A State Championship. She also earned 12th place in Class 5A's 100-meter dash.
The senior returns as another key member from the state championship-winning 4x400-meter relay team. Strickland, along with numerous other athletes, was key in helping Hayden take second place in the team standings in last year's Class 3A State Championship.
The senior helped the Junior Blues win the Class 6A state title in the 4x400-meter relay last season. Terry also qualified for the state meet in the open 400-meter dash as he took fifth place.
The senior highlighted the Scots in the field this season. He won the Meadlowlark Conference Championship in discus and he's also an impressive javelin thrower. He picked up a second place finish in javelin in last week's Topeka West Invitational.
The senior took 12th place in the 1600-meter run of last year's Class 3A State Championship. Wrench finished in fourth place during cross country's Class 4A State Championship last fall, too.
Liam Keating covers high school sports for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: The 35 Topeka-area track and field athletes to watch for this year
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Here are the top track and field athletes from Shawnee County to watch for this season.
Brody Anderson, Seaman
One of the top distance runners in the state, the junior is coming off a strong cross country season where he took ninth place in the Class 5A State Championship. Anderson won the 1600-meter run with a 4:29.71 in last week's Topeka West Invitational.
Payton Berry-Briggs, Shawnee Heights
The senior sprinter put together a strong season last year where he finished third in Class 5A's 200-meter dash with a time of 22.27.
Ella Bolan, Silver Lake
The volleyball and basketball stand-out is primed for a big spring. The senior won the Class 3A 4x400-meter relay state title last season.
Girls soccer: Here are the top 12 Topeka-area players to watch for 2025
Draden Chooncharoen, Washburn Rural
The junior was a part of the Junior Blues' 4x400-meter dash relay team that won the Class 6A State Championship with a 3:19.56. A stand-out soccer player for Washburn Rural, Chooncharoen had a personal record of 51.38 in the 400-meter dash in last year's Centennial League Championship.
Bryce Cochran, Seaman
The senior was a part of the 4x100-meter relay team that took second in the Class 5A State Championship. Last year, Cochran was one of the top sprinters in the city as he shined in the 200-meter and 400-meter dash along with the triple jump.
Torin Culbertson, Rossville
The junior distance runner competed in last fall's cross country state championship. He's started this year's track season strong with a sixth-place finish in the 800 and 1600-meter run in last week's Wabaunsee Invite.
Rylee Dick, Rossville
The multi-sport athlete is coming off of a strong freshman season. She's also started 2025 well with a second-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles in last week's Wabaunsee Invite.
High school baseball: Here are the top 12 Topeka-area players to watch for in 2025
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Payton Fink, Washburn Rural
The senior is signed to run at Kansas State next year and is coming off of a strong cross country season. Fink took fifth place in last fall's Class 6A State Championship. Last spring, she earned fifth place in the 3200-meter run and seventh place in the 1600-meter run in the state meet.
Ali Gerber, Silver Lake
The sophomore helped Silver Lake win the Class 3A 4x400-meter relay state title last year. Gerber put together a strong fall cross country season where she qualified for the state championship.
Tessa Gerber, Silver Lake
The senior qualified for the Class 3A State Championship in cross country last fall. Last spring, she earned a spot in the state meet in the 3200-meter run, too.
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural
The junior took seventh place in last year's 3200-meter state championship run. Graf also helped Washburn Rural earn sixth place in the 4x800-meter relay in last year's Class 6A State Championship. She was a key member of the cross country team that took second place last fall.
Taylie Heston, Seaman
The senior is coming off an impressive wrestling campaign where she took second place in Class 5A. She was a part of Seaman's 4x800-meter relay team that took second place last year.
Peyton Holmes, Seaman
The senior collected a sixth-place finish in the Class 5A State Championship long jump event. He was also a part of the 4x100-meter relay team that took second place at the state championship.
Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural
The senior put together a strong cross country season where she took second place in Class 6A. She was also a part of last year's 4x800-meter relay team that took sixth place in the state meet. Individually, Ismert earned sixth place in Class 6A's 1600-meter run.
Jared Johnson, Silver Lake
The senior is coming off of an impressive basketball campaign. He can jump out of the gym with the best of them and will show it this spring. Johnson earned seventh place in last year's Class 3A high jump finals. He cleared the 6-0 mark for the first time in last year's state meet.
Adrian Lehman, Topeka West
The senior distance runner has become one of the best in the city. He was the top boys cross country runner in the Class 5A State Championship last fall. Lehman won the 3200-meter run with a 10:09 in last week's Topeka West Invitational. He also finished in second place in the 1600-meter run.
Journey Manhart, Silver Lake
Last year, the sophomore qualified for the Class 3A State Championship in high jump last year collecting 15th place. She had a big season where she took second place overall in the Joe Schrag City Meet.
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High
The junior is one of the top sprinters in the Topeka-area. She showcased her quick burst throughout basketball season and now she's ready for a big spring. In the 100-meter dash, Marshall took seventh place in last year's Class 6A State Championship.
Seaman distance running: Ryin Miller pushes 'through the hard moments' to find success
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Ryin Miller, Seaman
The state's premier distance runner is back for her junior year campaign. During cross country season, Miller broke the state record for fastest 5k in history. She won state titles in the 1600-meter and 800-meter run in last year's Class 5A State Championship. Miller is also a multi-sport athlete, helping Seaman take second during basketball season and will feature on the soccer team this spring.
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural
The junior was a part of the Class 6A State Championship-winning 4x400-meter relay team last year. He also earned fifth place in the 110-meter hurdles and eighth place in the 300-meter hurdles at the state meet.
Malachi Murph, Topeka High
The junior is coming off a strong football season where he consistently showed his athleticism. The 100 and 200-meter dash specialist will be pushing for a state championship berth this season. He took seventh place in the 100-meter dash last week at the Topeka West Invitational.
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka High
The sophomore was impressive last season in the triple and long jump. Rayton secured second place in the triple jump at last year's Class 6A State Championship. She also earned fourth place in Class 6A's long jump, too.
Shayla Rezac, Rossville
The senior is coming off a season where she qualified for the Class 3A State Championship. She earned eighth place in the 400-meter dash in the state meet.
Ke’Ahjahnae Rice, Highland Park
The senior will be one of the leaders for the Scots this year on the track. She's started the new season well, taking fourth place in the Topeka West Invitational's 400-meter dash. Rice also earned fourth in the 300-meter hurdles.
Ben Roeder, Cair Paravel
The Cair Paravel student will participate under the Topeka High logo for the regular season, thanks to a co-op agreement between the two schools. Roeder has reached the state championship in the previous two years.
Tremaine Savage, Highland Park
The senior was the lone Highland Park athlete to qualify for the state meet last year. He finished in 16th place in the 200-meter dash with a 23.85.
Evan Scheid, Silver Lake
The senior reached the podium four times in last year's Class 3A State Championship. He was a part of the 4x400-meter relay team that took fourth place. He also enjoyed a fifth-place finish in the 4x100-meter relay while earning fourth in the 200-meter dash and sixth in the 100-meter dash.
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Jensen Schrickel, Hayden
The senior was one of the most explosive football players in the city last fall. He was also impressive last spring, winning the Class 3A long jump for the second time in his career. Schrickel also took the title in the 400-meter dash and 4x400-meter relay.
Jaida Stallbaumer, Seaman
The senior was a member of the 4x400-meter relay team that took second place in last year's Class 5A State Championship. Stallbaumer qualified for the Class 5A State Championship in the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles, too.
Liam Stegman, Hayden
The senior won the Class 3A state title in the 4x400-meter relay and was also on the 4x100-meter relay that took second place last season. Stegman qualified for the state meet as an individual, too. He took eighth place in the 400-meter dash.
Ally Steiner, Seaman
The senior was a part of Seaman's second-place 4x400-meter relay team in last year's Class 5A State Championship. She also earned 12th place in Class 5A's 100-meter dash.
John Strickland, Hayden
The senior returns as another key member from the state championship-winning 4x400-meter relay team. Strickland, along with numerous other athletes, was key in helping Hayden take second place in the team standings in last year's Class 3A State Championship.
Isaiah Terry, Washburn Rural
The senior helped the Junior Blues win the Class 6A state title in the 4x400-meter relay last season. Terry also qualified for the state meet in the open 400-meter dash as he took fifth place.
Jamelle Wms-Sanders, Highland Park
The senior highlighted the Scots in the field this season. He won the Meadlowlark Conference Championship in discus and he's also an impressive javelin thrower. He picked up a second place finish in javelin in last week's Topeka West Invitational.
Elliot Wrench, Hayden
The senior took 12th place in the 1600-meter run of last year's Class 3A State Championship. Wrench finished in fourth place during cross country's Class 4A State Championship last fall, too.
Liam Keating covers high school sports for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: The 35 Topeka-area track and field athletes to watch for this year
Continue reading...
