Katelyn Rupe & St. James Both Notch Three-Peat
In her last trip through the hills of Rim Rock Farm, Salina Central's Katelyn Rupe cemented her legacy with the three-peat. However, compared to the last two victories, her final title was easily the most challenging. Not only did Rupe have to fend off her sophomore teammate Kaylie Shultz, but also Topeka-Seaman's Ryin Miller, one of the fastest girls in the country.
In September, the trio caught a glimpse of one another at the Rim Rock Farm Classic, where Miller pulled away from Shultz and Rupe, as the trio finished 1-2-3 in 17:09, 17:17, and 17:20.
On Saturday, Rupe showed us why she's one of the best, surging past Miller ahead of the Jim Ryun Skyline.
Rupe crossed the line in an eye-popping 17:09, a new course record, with Miller and Shultz rounding out the top three in 17:26 and 18:13.
Andover's Madelyn Wallace and St. James' Quinn Hays finished fourth and fifth, running 18:32 and 18:44, respectively.
For the third-straight year, the Thunder hoisted the 5A state trophy, this time doing so after moving from fourth to first over the last mile.
Hays and her Thunder squad held off Kapaun Mt. Carmel and Blue Valley Southwest, 77-93-97.
