Sport Topnews: Payton Fink Shines in Shufelberger Top City Classic
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| Sport Topnews: Payton Fink Shines in Shufelberger Top City Classic |
In a thrilling display of strategy and determination, Washburn Rural cross country standout Payton Fink clinched her first individual victory of the 2023 season at the Shufelberger Top City Classic. Fink, a junior at Washburn Rural, adopted a new racing strategy that paid off brilliantly. Instead of sprinting ahead early, she exercised restraint in the initial stages of the five-kilometer race. Her calculated approach proved effective, as she surged ahead in the final mile, securing a nine-second victory with a remarkable time of 18 minutes and 10.1 seconds. This triumphant performance not only marked her personal success but also contributed to her team's second-place finish.
Reflecting on her strategy, Fink explained, "We talked about this before the race how the last meets I've kind of gone out too fast and then fallen behind so I just tucked myself behind and about the two-mile where all the uphills were I decided to make my move and tried my best to hold it.''
The competition featured formidable opponents, with Junction City senior Lorna Rae Pierce taking the runner-up spot in 18:19.6, and Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller finishing third in 18:36.6. Fink's familiarity with the Washburn Rural course played a pivotal role in her victory, as she had been training on it for the past few weeks, meticulously planning her race strategy.
As the season progresses, Fink's confidence grows, and she looks ahead to the upcoming important meets. "There's definitely more preparation to be done, get faster in the workouts, but I think we're on the right track,'' she said. Her commitment to improvement and her latest victory make her a strong contender in the cross country circuit.
Rural's impressive showing also included sophomore Emily Graf and junior Rylee Ismert finishing ninth and tenth, respectively, solidifying the team's presence in the girls' top 10. Olathe West clinched the team title with a convincing 42-88 margin over Washburn Rural, while St. James Academy secured the third spot with 93 points.
In the boys' race, Seaman sophomore Brody Anderson and Hayden senior Aiden Amis delivered remarkable top-10 finishes, placing eighth and ninth, respectively. Washburn Rural sophomores Higgins Hawks and Brooks Kehoe led their team to a city-best fourth-place finish. Blue Valley West senior Brock Olsen emerged as the boys' individual champion, while Olathe West narrowly secured the team championship by a single point over Mill Valley.
The Shufelberger Top City Classic, held at Washburn Rural, pays tribute to the dedicated service of former Washburn Rural cross country coach Scott Shufelberger.
SHUFELBERGER TOP CITY CLASSIC - At Washburn Rural
**GIRLS**
*Team Scores*
1. Olathe West 42
2. Washburn Rural 88
3. St. James Academy 93
4. Mill Valley 117
5. Olathe South 118
6. Junction City 123
7. Seaman 139
8. Blue Valley West 207
9. Hayden 232
**Individual Results**
1. Payton Fink, Washburn Rural, 18:10.1
2. Lorna Rae Pierce, Junction City, 18:19.6
3. Ryin Miller, Seaman, 18:36.6
4. Anna Fontaine, Junction City, 18:54.9
5. Kate Miller, Olathe West, 18:56.4
6. Kalyn Willingham, Olathe West, 19:03.8
7. Amy Gotfredson, Olathe South, 19:05.5
8. Bree Newport, Olathe West, 19:17.2
9. Emily Graf, Washburn Rural, 19:22.8
10. Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural, 19:32.3
**BOYS**
*Team Scores*
1. Olathe West 67
2. Mill Valley 68
3. Junction City 93
4. Washburn Rural 111
5. Olathe South 121
6. St. James Academy 172
7. Seaman 173
8. Blue Valley West 190
9. Hayden 214
10. Topeka West 219
Individual Results
1. Brock Olsen, Blue Valley West, 15:50.9
2. Dylan Plath, Olathe South, 16:02.5
3. Carter Cline, Mill Valley, 16:04.2
4. Gunnar Hornung, Olathe West, 16:19.7
5. Dalamar Read, Mill Valley, 16:19.6
6. Michael Bianco, St. James Academy, 16:24.2
7. Braxton Theel, Olathe West, 16:30.8
8. Brody Anderson, Seaman, 16:33.1
9. Aiden Amis, Hayden, 16:40.8
10. Ethan Fontaine, Junction City, 16:45.1