What we learned from the KSHSAA state track and field championship

WICHITA, Kan. — The final spring sport of the high school season concluded on Saturday. The track and field state championship consisted of some incredible performances from all classes.

The Topeka area in particular impressed with 14 state titles. Here are the biggest storylines from the weekend at Wichita State’s Cessna Stadium

Seaman's Aaron Merritt and Hayden's Finn Dunshee dominant 100-meter dash

Jaws dropped, fans screamed, competitors clapped. Seaman’s Aaron Merritt provided great theatre for those in attendance of his 100-meter dash.

The KU commit got out of the blocks quickly and put down a few powerful steps. He was off, the senior was on a mission that felt impossible months ago. Merritt crossed the finish line as the Class 5A State Champion in a blazing time.

10.32

“I was ready, I was preparing for this race. I wasn’t expecting a 10.3, but I was ready for it,” Merritt said. “10.3 is a crazy time. Never would have thought that I could get that.”

Merritt’s time broke Wichita Southeast’s Mario Ponds’ 1996 record of 10.36 for fastest time in Kansas history. Sadly, the record books won’t read his name due to strong winds. Merritt’s run may have been wind aided, but he still crossed the finish line in that amazing time.

Earlier in the day, Merritt also won the 110-meter hurdles state title. He crossed the finish line in a time of 14.48.

“I ramped it up in the offseason big to prepare for this season,” Merritt said. “I thank God that I was able to do that today. I am so happy to come away with two.”

Minutes prior, Hayden’s Finn Dunshee stepped into the blocks. He started quickly and he achieved a long-time goal. He finished in a time of 10.60 which broke former NFL star and Kansas State wide receiver Jordy Nelson’s record of 10.63 set in 2003.

“This was my goal, I am just happy to have gotten it,” Dunshee said.

Dunshee won’t be able to hold the record either due to wind aid. But, the senior dazzled all day on the track. He also won a state title in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.99. Dunshee secured a preliminaries time of 21.43 on Friday. That mark also broke the Class 3A record set by Nelson.

Dunshee’s record in the 200-meter dash was legal and will stand the rest of time, until someone faster comes along.

“I am just glad that it will go down in 3A history,” Dunshee said. “Hopefully, mine will last as long as Jordy’s does. Actually, I hope some kid goes and beats it next year.”

'That's my goal': Hayden's Finn Dunshee looks to break Jordy Nelson's record at state

Seaman's Ryin Miller wins Class 5A 800 and 1600-meter run

Ryin Miller steps onto the track and all eyes lock on to her. The Seaman sophomore is tall, strong and fast. A deadly trio of attributes for a distance runner.

She used those traits and more to the best of her abilities on Saturday and walked away as a two-time champion. Miller grabbed first place in the 1,600 meter run with a time of 4:51.58. Later in the afternoon, took the title in the 800-meter run with a 2:10.80.

She wanted to set the tone early against the competition en route to a win, Miller accomplished that perfectly.

“I wanted to get out and run my race, I usually get out fast and I was trying not to let anyone anyone get in my head,” Miller said.

Miller also came in second place in Friday’s 3,200-meter run. The busy athlete also capped off the day with the 4x400-meter relay where she helped Seaman finish in second place. Along with Miller, Taylie Heston, Jaida Stallbaumer and Ally Steiner finished in a time of 4:02.39 to take silver.

“After yesterday, I was a little worried, I am not going to lie,” Miller recalled her second place finish in the 3200-meter run. “The big crowd definitely helped push me through it.”

The sophomore talked at length about how disappointed she was with Friday’s race, but that doesn’t take anything away from her successful Saturday. Two first place medals and a second-place in a relay is solid.

The distance runner agreed.

“I am proud of what I’ve done,” Miller said.

Seaman: Aaron Merritt's 'work ethic', Ryin Miller's drive push the track duo to success

Washburn Rural's Josh Sulzen-Watson takes javelin title

The senior stepped onto the javelin runway. He knew that winning was possible. The hard work that Josh Sulzen-Watson put in to get healthy and stronger has been at the forefront of his mind all season long.

His fifth throw was his best and against a strong headwind, distances could have been discouraging, but that didn’t bother him. Sulzen-Watson hit a mark of 188 feet, 7 inches to win the javelin by one foot. The title was his and the senior was practically speechless after taking the crown.

“I’ve been working for this all season and it finally paid off,” Sulzen-Watson said.

The win was even more satisfying especially after a frustrating performance in the discus. He took third place in the event with a throw of 162 feet, 3 inches. He was 18 feet off of the eventual champion from Mill Valley.

That’s what motived Sulzen-Watson in the javelin, he wanted to end his career on top. He certainly did and has etched himself in Washburn Rural history.

“Definitely a little sad, it’s surreal because I have been here for the last couple years and I remember my sophomore and I didn’t medal at all,” he recalled. “Nothing is going to come without challenges.”

Washburn Rural: Josh Sulzen-Watson remained patient through injury to become top thrower

Junior Blues win bizarre 4x400-meter relay championship

Inclement weather was expected to arrive in the Wichita area later in the evening. Track officials kept the meet going ahead of schedule to try and avoid an interruption.

The championship had one event left, the boys Class 6A 4x400-meter relay. Before starting it, lighting was in the area and the meet was postponed. Poor weather continued to surround the area. The delay lasted three hours until it was safe to run the race.

Under the lights and with no fans in attendance, the athletes took to the starting line. Washburn Rural came in ranked sixth with a time of 3:25.62 and they surprised the entire field. The team of Shane Jueneman, Liam Morrison, Draden Chooncharoen and Isaiah Terry secured the big upset.

The relay team hit the finish line of 3:19.56 and showed their toughness on the track and their mental fortitude after a three hour delay to become state champions.

Video: Hayden's Jensen Schrickel wins Class 3A long jump state title

Hayden boys take second in team standings

The Wildcats were the only Topeka-area team to challenge for the team title and finished with 61 points, which placed them second overall. Holcomb won the Class 3A state championship with 80 points.

Hayden clinched a top-three spot thanks to its 4x400-meter relay team winning the last event. Liam Stegman, John Strickland, Jensen Schrickel and Dunshee won the relay with a 3:26.01 to cap off a successful weekend.

Topeka-area medal winners from KSHAA State Track and Field Championship

Class 6A boys

400: 5th place, Isaiah Terry (Washburn Rural) 50.13

110 hurdles: 5th place, Liam Morrison (Washburn Rural) 15.07; 6th place, Cody Ingenthron (Washburn Rural) 15.20

300 hurdles: 8th place, Liam Morrison (Washburn Rural) 41.82

4x400 relay: 1st place, Washburn Rural (Shane Jueneman, Liam Morrison, Draden Chooncharoen, Isaiah Terry) 3:19.56

Long jump: 5th place, Titan Osburn (Washburn Rural) 21-5.25

Shot put: 6th place, Jamond Lane (Washburn Rural), 50-6.25; 7th place, Jacob Hawks (Washburn Rural) 50-0.50

Discus: 3rd place, Josh Sulzen-Watson (Washburn Rural) 162-3

Javelin: 1st place, Josh Sulzen-Watson (Washburn Rural) 188-7

Class 6A girls

100: 7th place, Keimara Marshall (Topeka High) 12.41

1600: 6th place, Rylee Ismert (Washburn Rural), 5:17.31; 7th place, Payton Fink (Washburn Rural) 5:17.66

3200: 5th place, Payton Fink (Washburn Rural) 11:14.85; 7th place, Emily Graf (Washburn Rural) 11:20.57

4x800 relay: 6th place, Washburn Rural (Payton Fink, Emily Graf, Brooklyn Nolte, Rylee Ismert) 9:47.16

Long jump: 4th place, Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton (Topeka High) 17-5.75

Triple jump: 2nd place, Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton (Topeka High) 38-5.25

Discus: 5th place, Raegen Petersen (Washburn Rural) 123-9

Javelin: 5th place, Aubrey Simpson (Washburn Rural) 126-2; 8th place Morgan Ray (Washburn Rural) 122-1

Class 5A boys

100: 1st place, Aaron Merritt (Seaman) 10.32

200: 3rd place, Payton Berry-Briggs (Shawnee Heights) 22.27

1600: 2nd place, Jackson Esquibel (Shawnee Heights) 4:19.11

3200: 1st place, Jackson Esquibel (Shawnee Heights) 9:21.31

110 hurdles: 1st place, Aaron Merritt (Seaman) 14.48

4x100 relay: 2nd place, Seaman (Peyton Holmes, Bryce Cochran, Jacob Anderson, Aaron Merritt) 42.50

High jump: 8th place, Tad McGee (Seaman) 6-0

Long jump: 6th place, Peyton Holmes (Seaman) 21-4.25

Discus: 3rd place, Alexander Dawkins (Washburn Rural) 164-9

Class 5A girls

800: 1st, Ryin Miller (Seaman) 2:10.80

1600: 1st, Ryin Miller (Seaman) 4:51.58

3200: 2nd, Ryin Miller (Seaman) 10:34.48

4x400 relay: 2nd place, Seaman (Taylie Heston, Jaida Stallbaumer, Ally Steiner, Ryin Miller) 4:02.39

Javelin: 3rd place, Maggie Lesmeister (Seaman) 128-1

Class 3A boys

100: 1st place, Finn Dunshee (Hayden) 10.60; 6th place, Evan Scheid (Silver Lake) 11.06

200: 1st place, Finn Dunshee (Hayden) 21.99; 4th place, Evan Scheid (Silver Lake) 22.73

400: 1st place, Jensen Schrickel (Hayden) 48.73; 8th place, Liam Stegman (Hayden) 53.74

4x100 relay: 1st place, Hayden (Jackson McGivern, Finn Dunshee, Liam Stegman, Jensen Schrickel) 42.52; 5th place, Silver Lake (Blake Redmond, Evan Scheid, Joel Miller, Trent Rollenhagen) 43.63

4x400 relay: 1st place, Hayden (John Strickland , Finn Dunshee, Liam Stegman, Jensen Schrickel) 3:26.01; 4th place, Silver Lake (Joel Miller, Allen Lees, Eli Ferguson, Evan Scheid) 3:30.82

4x800 relay: 7th place, Hayden (Jack Walker, Corbin Murrow, Kaelin Loy, Logan Townsend) 8:27.73

High jump: 7th place, Jared Johnson (Silver Lake) 6-0

Long jump: 1st place, Jensen Schrickel (Hayden) 23-1; 3rd place, Blake Redmond (Silver Lake) 22-3.75

Hayden baseball: Claims 'ultimate goal' in Class 3A State Championship

Class 3A girls

100: 7th place, Kielyn McDonnell (Rossville) 12.97

400: 7th place, Natalie Hillebert (Hayden) 1:00.82; 8th place, Shayla Rezac (Rossville) 1:01.57

4x400 relay: 1st place, Silver Lake (Ella Bolan, Kaibryn Kruger, Ali Gerber, Ava Rottinghaus) 4:06.64; 6th place, Hayden (Elliot Wrench, Natalie Hillebert, Rae North, Sofia Harper) 4:13.46

Javelin: 8th place, Ava Rottinghaus (Silver Lake) 124-3

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: KSHSAA state track: Topeka-area takeaways from 2024 meet