40 Topeka-area high school track and field athletes to watch this season

TOPEKA — The Topeka area is one of the track and field hotbeds in the state. Fast times, long jumps and furious throws are expected throughout the season.

Many track and field athletes return this season after competing in last year’s state championship. Some are hoping to break through and make their mark at the state meet.

Here are 40 track and field athletes to watch this spring.

Cair Paravel Ben Roeder competes in the 200 meter dash on Saturday May. 27, 2023, during the state track meet at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kan.

Ben Roeder, Cair Paravel

The junior rose to the occasion in the Class 2A State Championship last year. He finished in fourth place in the 200-meter dash and fifth in the 400-meter dash.

Hayden Natalie Hillebert races in the girls 400 meter at last year's Kansas Relays Saturday at Rock Chalk Park.

Natalie Hillebert, Hayden

The Washburn commit returns for the Wildcats after securing second place in the Class 4A State Championship 400-meter dash. She notched a time of 58.83 in the final meet of last season.

Hayden Finn Dunshee reacts after competing in the 100 meter dash on Saturday May. 27, 2023, during state track at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kan.

Finn Dunshee, Hayden

The senior is the returning Class 4A State Champion in the 100-meter dash. His time of 10.84 last season dominated the competition as he looks to defend his title. Dunshee was also a part of Hayden's state championship-winning 4x100 and 4x400-meter relay teams.

Hayden's Jensen Schrickel races to the finish in the boys 400 meter in the Kansas Relays at Rock Chalk Park Saturday.

Jensen Schrickel, Hayden

The junior is coming off of a great 2023 where he took third place in the 400-meter dash of the Class 4A State Championship. Schrickel was also a key leg of the state title-winning 4x100 and 4x400-meter relay teams.

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Ke’Ahjahnae Rice, Highland Park

The junior qualified for the Class 5A State Championship in the 400-meter dash last season and finished in 16th place.

Genesis Cooper, Highland Park

The sophomore had a great freshman campaign. The sprinter will look to qualify for the state championships in the 100 and 200-meter dashes.

Jordan De La Torre, Highland Park

The senior distance runner will look to make an impact for the Scots this season. They will need his points on the distance side to move up the team standings this spring.

Artie Fletcher, Highland Park

The 400-meter runner finished in 17th place in regionals last year. The senior will try to lower his time of 58.16 this season.

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Shayla Rezac, Rossville

The junior finished in sixth place in the 400 and 200-meter dash in last season’s regional championship.

Kameron Badura, Rossville

The junior finished in 16th place in the long jump at last year’s regional meet. He will look to improve and try to make a run at this year’s state meet.

Barret Lietz, Rossville

Although he did not qualify for state, Lietz secured seventh place in the shot put and eighth in javelin in last year’s regional meet.

Verena Trollman, Shawnee Heights

The junior distance runner will try to improve upon last season’s 16th-place finish in the 800-meter run of the regional championship.

Shawnee Heights Payton Berry-Briggs competes in the 4x400 meter relay Saturday May. 27, 2023, during state track at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kan.

Payton Berry-Briggs, Shawnee Heights

The junior returns for the Thunderbirds after taking 11th place in the 200-meter dash of the Class 5A State Championship meet.

Alex Dittman, Shawnee Heights

The senior secured fifth place in the javelin throw of the Class 5A State Championship.

Shawnee Heights' Jackson Esquibel celebrates after winning the Class 5A State Cross County Championship.

Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights

The senior and Kansas State signee is back and ready to dominate the distance side of Class 5A again. Esquibel won the state title in cross country last fall. He is also the defending state champion in the 3200-meter run where he clocked a time of 9:18.67 in last year’s state meet.

Tyren Parker, Shawnee Heights

The sophomore was busy in last year’s Class 5A State Championship. He secured eighth in the 100-meter dash and 13th place in high jump.

Silver Lake sophomore Tessa Gerber runs through a wooded area at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence during the 2022 3A girls cross country state championship.

Tessa Gerber, Silver Lake

The junior distance runner is back for the Eagles after taking 15th place in the 3200-meter run of the Class 3A State Championship.

Kaibryn Kruger, Silver Lake

The senior scored points for the Eagles in last season's Class 3A State Championship. Kruger took sixth place in the triple jump to lift Silver Lake.

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Ava Rottinghaus, Silver Lake

The senior finished in sixth place in last year’s Class 3A State Championship javelin competition.

Jared Johnson, Silver Lake

The junior comes into the new season as one of the top jumpers in the area. Johnson took ninth place in the high jump of the Class 3A State Championship meet.

Blake Redmond, Silver Lake

The senior secured fourth place in the long jump of last year’s state championship.

Seaman Taylie Heston competes in the 800 meter run Saturday May. 27, 2023, during state track at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kan.

Taylie Heston, Seaman

The junior distance runner qualified for last year’s Class 5A State Championship in the 800-meter run. Heston took 15th place in the race and will try to improve this year.

Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller claims Saturday's 5A regional cross country meet at Shawnee North Community Center with a time of 18:20.89.

Ryin Miller, Seaman

The sophomore is coming off of a great cross country season where she took third place in the Class 5A State Championship. As a freshman, Miller was a part of the 4x400 and 4x800-meter relays that both placed in the state meet.

Seaman Brody Anderson competes in the 4x800 Saturday May. 27, 2023, during state track at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kan.

Brody Anderson, Seaman

The sophomore is coming off of a great cross country season where he helped Seaman qualify for the state championship. During cross country, Anderson hit a time of 15:50 which was the fastest time in Seaman history.

Peyton Holmes, Seaman

The junior long jumper was one of the top in the area last season. He finished in sixth place in the regional championship and he will be aiming for a state championship berth this season.

Seaman junior Aaron Merritt places first in the 110 meter hurdles at the Lansing Invitational with a time of 15.79 Thursday, April 7, 2023.

Aaron Merritt, Seaman

The senior hurdler qualified for the 110-meter hurdles in the Class 5A State Championship. Merritt finished in 16th place in the event.

Topeka High's Aubreona Torres-Hill sets a personal record and second place in the 100 meter hurdles at the Lansing Invitational with a time of 17 seconds Thursday, April 7, 2023.

Aubreona Torres-Hill, Topeka High

The junior is back for the Trojans after a great sophomore season. Torres-Hill ended her season in 10th place in the 100-meter hurdles and 11th place in the 300-meter hurdles in the Class 6A State Championship.

Jaxon Cowdin, Topeka High

The junior finished in 15th place in the high jump of last season’s Class 6A State Championship meet.

Te’Vante Ewing, Topeka High

The junior was another Topeka High athlete to reach last year’s state championship. He finished in 15th place in the long jump competition.

Malachi Murph, Topeka High

The sprinter is aiming for a big season for the Trojans. The sophomore finished in 13th place in last year’s Class 6A State Championship 200-meter dash.

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Alesecio Batson, Topeka West

The junior is returning for the Chargers and he is one of the best athletes in the state. Batson won the long jump in the Class 5A State Championship last year by almost two feet. Batson will try to defend his title this spring.

Rebecca Bearman, Topeka West

The senior thrower brings experience to the Topeka West ring this season. Bearman took ninth place in shot put in last year’s regional championship. She also finished in 13th place in regional discus.

Topeka West's Payton Rice during last fall's Class 5A State Championship.

Payton Rice, Topeka West

The sophomore is coming off a solid cross country season where she qualified for the state championship. Last year, she finished in fifth place in the 1600-meter run and the 3200-meter run of the regional championship.

Treyvion Barr, Topeka West

The sprinter is back for his junior season after taking ninth in the 100-meter dash and 14th in the 200-meter dash in last year’s regional championship.

Elijah Phelps, Topeka West

The senior ended in 17th place in the 1600-meter run of last season’s regional championship.

Washburn Rural Payton Fink competes in the 4x800 Saturday May. 27, 2023, during state track at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kan.

Payton Fink, Washburn Rural

The junior has burst onto the distance running scene this season. She finished in second place in last fall’s Class 6A State Cross County Championship. Last spring, Fink took 10th place in the 3200-meter run of the state title.

Washburn Rural Rylee Ismert competes in the 1600 meter race Saturday May. 27, 2023, during state track at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kan.

Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural

The junior returns after taking 13th place in the 1600-meter run of last season’s Class 6A State Championship.

Raegen Petersen, Washburn Rural

Petersen is coming off of a strong junior year where she took ninth place in the discus event of the Class 6A State Championship.

Jamond Lane, Washburn Rural

The senior is poised for an incredible final season with the Junior Blues. He is one of the premier throwers in the area. He finished in second place in the discus of the Class 6A State Championship. Lane took 12th place in shot put at the state meet, too.

Washburn Rural Liam Morrison competes in the 4x400 meter relay Saturday May. 27, 2023, during state track at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kan.

Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural

The hurdler took eighth place in the 300-meter hurdles of last year’s Class 6A State Championship. He also took 12th place in the 110-meter hurdles in the state meet.

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: 40 Topeka-area HS track and field athletes to watch this season