With the postseason on the horizon, things are starting to get interesting. As the pressure builds, which athletes will crumble, and which will shine? We are starting to get a few answers. There's one team in particular that is looking to shine brighter than anyone thought:
Guys, it's time we start talking about Wamego.
Most experts have had Andale penciled in to take home the 4A trophies this year, but with the season the Red Raiders are having, I'm having serious doubts. The middle-distance squad is going crazy. In Topeka Seaman's Bob Camien/Claudia Welch Invitational, they took 1st in both the 4x400 and 4x800, clocking school records of 3:25 and 7:56. Harrison Cutting and Emery Wolfe went 1-2 in the 800m, both breaking 2:00, and Jon Cutting broke 50 in the 400 to place second. Add in Drew Pettay in the jumps and Brady Stegman in the distance events, and this is an all-time Wamego roster.
They didn't just do this at a small meet, either. Seaman played host to 26 schools on Friday, making this the most competitive meet in the state this week. Defending 6A champs, Olathe North, won both team titles, but Wamego's boys finished 4th, defeating traditional powers Bishop Carroll and Shawnee Mission Northwest.
Seaman Bob Camien/Claudia Welch Results | 4A Boys Rankings
There were plenty of other notable performances. Olathe North's Parrish brothers continued to dominate the hurdle events. Sprinter KaLiyah Jordan posted 6A-leading times in the 100 and 200 at 11.92 and 24.49, defeating Manhattan's Harli Omli in the latter event.
Seaman's Bethany Druse has become one of the state's most fierce 800 runners. She has now won back-to-back major meets with Barrier Breakers and now at her home meet. Another local, Topeka West's Lenny Njoroge, had a major breakthrough, winning the 1600 and 3200 over some remarkably tough competition that included Henry Born, Micah Blomker, and Kaiden Esfeld.
Tyrell Reed became the fastest sprinter in Lawrence history, clocking 10.47 to win the 100m. Meanwhile, 1A Burlingame has produced a star in Matthew Heckman, who won the high jump at 6-10. That could set up a 1A showdown for the ages with Pawnee Heights multi-event superstar Alec Carlson in Wichita.
1A Boys High Jump Rankings | 1A Girls 100m Rankings
Speaking of 1A, there were a few other noteworthy athletes in action at Quinter this week. Wallace County's Evan Pearce has become the new face of 1A distance running. Over the past two weeks, he's grabbed the top 1600 and 3200 times, along with the #2 800 time. Additionally Ness City's Taegin Liggett is emerging as a candidate for the sprints titles, with her 100m of 12.77 challenging the dominance of Hanover's undefeated Anna Jueneman.
At the Medicine Lodge Invitational, Meade has become a noteworthy team in 2A. Elite hurdler Grayden Stapleton has added the 100m to his arsenal, winning that in addition to breaking 40 seconds in the 300m hurdles. His teammate Logan Keith also grabbed the top 800m time in 2A with a victory in 1:56.
At Hutchinson, Salthawk Annalisa Cullens had a surprising challenge in the 100m hurdles from Adryana Shelby. The Wichita Northwest junior edged out Cullens' time in their separate prelim heats, and just about hunted Cullens down in the final. Cullens ran 14.09 to Shelby's 14.11. Check out the video for that below.