By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman senior Brody Anderson is coming off an outstanding cross country season last fall, winning his second straight city and United Kansas Conference individual titles and finishing a strong second in Class 5A regional competition to qualify for his third straight state meet.
Seaman senior Brody Anderson posted individual wins in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters in Friday's season-opening Topeka High Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But the season didn't end the way the Viking star had envisioned, with Anderson putting himself in position for a state title before collapsing multiple times in the closing stages of the race and struggling to a 33rd-place finish.
But while that was a tough pill to swallow, it also made him even more determined entering his final high school track season, which he opened Friday with dominating victories in the boys 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs in the Topeka High Invitational at Hummer Sports Park.
"Rim Rock, my legs gave out for the second time at state, when I was in second, close behind with like 400 (meters) left to go,'' Anderson said. "It was disappointing, obviously, but it just creates more of a drive for me to pick myself back up and that's what running's about, honestly.
"You're going to have the lows, but it's how you pick yourself up from that. For the first couple of weeks it left a sour taste in my mouth but as I kept going I felt stronger in my training and I put together a lot of consistent weeks and that just helped with my mindset.''
Anderson said he couldn't wait to get another season under way on Friday.
"I like to break the rust for sure and the first meet just backs all my training that I've done so I definitely always enjoy the first meet, cross country or track,'' he said. "But this one, being my last track season, is special.''
Anderson opened his day with a 24-second win in the 1,600 meters in a time of 4 minutes, 23.82 seconds and followed that up with a win by more than 36 seconds in the 3,200 in 9:27.73.
Both of those times were within seconds of the Seaman school records, which Anderson will be taking aim on in upcoming meets.
"I'm ready to get them and I'm fit enough to,'' Anderson said. "And when the right day comes it will happen. I'm positive. Coach (Luke) Wiens helps me a lot with that and to have the mindset to let things come natural.''
Other meet highlights:
• Highland Park junior Rayshon Pollard swept the titles in the boys 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 16.02 in the highs and 43.28 in the 300s.
Pollard also finished third in the long jump with a best of 20 feet, 5.50 inches.
Hayden junior Sofia Parker won the girls 200 and 400-meter dashes in Friday's Topeka High Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
• Hayden junior Sofia Harper was a double champion in the girls division, winning the 200-meter dash in 27.00 seconds and the 400 in 62.39 seconds.
• Hayden junior Kelton Meier won the boys javelin championship by more than 49 feet, registering an outstanding throw of 197 feet, 2 inches.
Topeka High senior Adam Humphrey finished first in the boys discus with a throw of 131 feet, 3 inches.
• Hayden junior Alana Mitchell and Topeka High senior Jayana Washington went one-two in the girls long jump, with Mitchell winning the title by just three-quarters of an inch over Washington.
Mitchell jumped 16 feet, 3 inches while Washington had a best of 16-2.25.
Topeka West senior Jayden Lindsey won the 200 and finished second in the 400 in Friday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
• Topeka West senior Jayden Lindsey won the boys 200-meter dash in 22.50 seconds and finished second in the 400 in 52.40 seconds.
• Highland Park senior Jurnee Cole finished second in the girls 100-meter dash (12.72) and 200 (27.34) and third in the 400 (66.88).
• Topeka High freshman Marchayla White won the girls 100-meter hurdles (17.97) while Seaman sophomore Avery Villines won the 300 hurdles (58.40).
Hayden junior Brynn Spencer (5) posted second-place finishes in the girls 1,600 and 3,200 in Friday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
• Seaman junior Gage Geiger won the boys 800 meters (2:12.42) while Brynn Spencer finished second in the girls 1,600 meters (5:34.34) and the 3,200 (11:52.82).
TOPEKA HIGH INVITATIONAL
GIRLS
Individual results
100 -- 1. Gill, Manhattan, 12.45; 2. Cole, Highland Park, 12.72; 3. Oberreuter, Manhattan, 12.95.
200 -- 1. Harper, Hayden, 27.00; 2. Cole, Highland Park, 27.34; 3. Molleker, Seaman, 27.40.
400 -- 1. Harper, Hayden, 62.39; 2. McKinley, Manhattan, 65.54; 3. Cole, Highland Park, 66.88.
800 -- 1. Converse, Manhattan, 2:25.00; 2. Tindall, Manhattan, 2:35.17; 3. Robinson, Seaman, 2:36.84.
1,600 -- 1. Converse, Manhattan, 5:13.01; 2. Spencer, Seaman, 5:34.34; 3. Koehn, Manhattan, 5:35.62.
3,200 -- 1. Spreer, Manhattan, 11:31.90; 2. Spencer, Seaman, 11:52.82; 3. Villoria, Manhattan, 12:09.94.
100 hurdles -- 1. White, Topeka High, 17.97; 2. Gatewood, Seaman, 19.34; 3. Selby, Manhattan, 19.57.
300 hurdles -- 1. Villines, Seaman, 58.40; 2. Gatewood, Seaman, 59.65.
4x100 relay -- 1. Topeka High, 52.71; 2. Manhattan, 53.10; 3. Seaman, 56.44.
4x400 relay -- 1. Manhattan, 4:30.88; 2. Topeka High, 4:42.07; 3. Seaman, 4:43.61.
4x800 relay -- 1. Manhattan, 10:35.80; 2. Topeka High, 11:47.20.
High jump -- 1. Peabody, Manhattan, 5-2; 2. (tie) Ayres, Seaman, and Peabody, Manhattan,5-0.
Pole vault -- 1. Butler, Bishop Miege, 9-6; 2. Gish, Manhattan, 8-6; 3. Brown, Manhattan, 7-0.
Long jump -- 1. Mitchell, Hayden, 16-3; 2. Washington, Topeka High, 16-2.25; 3. Peabody, Manhattan, 15-6.
Triple jump -- 1. Robinson, Manhattan, 33-6.50; 2. Ingram, Manhattan, 33-2.50; 3. Porter, Manhattan, 3-3.00.
Shot put -- 1. Hall, Manhattan, 37-8; 2. McClinton, Bishop Miege, 36-2; 3. Hall, Manhattan, 29-8.
Discus -- 1. McClinton, Manhattan, 105-7; 2. Hall, Manhattan, 103-10; 3. Babcock, Topeka West, 95-3.
.Javelin -- 1. Hall, Manhattan, 121-7; 2. Clark, Manhattan, 105-11; 3. Curtis, Manhattan, 105-8.
BOYS
Individual results
100 -- 1. Mortsensen, Manhattan, 10.97; 2. Gonzales, Manhattan, 11.14; 3. Butler, Bishop Miege, 11.15.
200 -- 1. Lindsey, Topeka West, 22.50; 2. Gonzales, Manhattan, 22.56; 3. Sanders, Topeka High, 22.68.
400 -- 1. Combs, Bishop Miege, 51.40; 2. Jayden Lindsey, Topeka West, 52.40; 3. Young, Highland Park, 55.21.
800 -- 1. Geiger, Seaman, 2:12.42; 2. Overturf, Manhattan, 2:12.97; 3. Jones, Seaman, 2:13.34.
1,600 -- 1. Anderson, Seaman, 4:23.82; 2. Baldwin, Hayden, 4:47.68; 3. Newkirk, Hayden, 4:47.98.
3,200 -- 1. Anderson, Seaman, 9:27.73; 2. Bloemker, Bishop Miege, 10:04.52; 3. Wheeler, Manhattan, 10:04.80.
110 hurdles -- 1. Pollard, Highland Park, 16.02; 2. Pennington, Seaman, 16.81; 3. Lunkins, Topeka High, 16.86.
300 hurdles -- 1. Pollard, Highland Park, 43.28; 2. Pennington, Seaman, 43.97; 3. Saucier, Manhattan, 45.52.
4x100 relay -- 1. Topeka High, 44.30; 2. Manhattan, 44.39; 3. Bishop Miege, 44.49.
4x400 relay -- 1. Bishop Miege, 3:35.17; 2. Topeka High, 3:37.84; 3. Hayden, 3:42.65.
4x800 relay -- 1. Manhattan, 8:59.34; 2. Bishop Miege, 9:15.97; 3. Topeka High, 10:14.50.
High jump -- 1. Tesmer, Bishop Miege, 6-2; 2. Herzog, Manhattan, 6-0; 3. Strawn, Manhattan, 6-0.
Pole vault -- 1. Strawn, Manhattan, 12-0; 2. Hernandez-Rhea, Lawrence, 9-6; 3. McGee, Manhattan, 9-6.
Long jump -- 1. Tesmer, Bishop Miege, 21-3.25; 2. Johnson, Bishop Miege, 20-5.75; 3. Pollard, Highland Park, 20-5.50.
Triple jump -- 1. Tesmer, Bishop Miege, 45-2; 2. Durtschi, Manhattan, 44-8; 3. Amos, Manhattan, 43-7.
Shot put -- 1. Middleton, Manhattan, 51-9; 2. Davis, Bishop Miege, 48-1; 3. Dooley, Lawrence, 46-5.
Discus -- 1. Humphrey, Topeka High, 131-3; 2. Davis, Bishop Miege, 128-5; 3. Middleton, Manhattan, 127-2.
Javelin -- 1. Meier, Hayden, 197-2; 2. Haas, Hayden, 147-10; 3. Georgie, Lawrence, 144-4.
