TRACK-FIELD

Perfect finish: Chapman's Taylor Briggs caps undefeated state career with 4A distance sweep

Topeka Capital-Journal

Chapman’s Taylor Briggs finishes her last few strides before completing the 3200 meter run at the Class 4A state track and field meet in Cessna Stadium at Wichita State on Friday. Briggs finished in first place with a time of 11:00.93 to become a three-time champion.

WICHITA — Taylor Briggs never set out to go undefeated in every postseason race she ever competed in during her four-year career at Chapman.

"I never tried to let that kind of stuff get in my head," Briggs said. "I just love to run and I'm just thankful God gave me the passion to run."

Not only was there a passion, but also a gift. And a work ethic to match.

That combination allowed Briggs to finish her career as one of the best distance runners the state has ever seen. After becoming one of only six girls' runners in state history to complete a four-year sweep of state cross country titles in the fall, Briggs put the finishing touches on a stellar track career Friday at Wichita State's Cessna Stadium that saw her go a perfect 6 for 6 in state track races.

Briggs completed the career sweep of the Class 4A 3,200 and 1,600 titles with runaway victories in both. She began the day with a win by nearly 54 seconds in the 3,200, finishing in 11 minutes, 0.93 seconds, and then capped her career with a five-plus second win in the 1,600 in 5:01.75.

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Both times were just off her season-best marks, but allowed her to easily overcome not only the competition but any emotions she had about Friday being her final high school races.

"Our coach talked about, you know how horses have those blinders on? Having that blinder focus on what I had to do," she said. "It was just blank out everything else and focus on today and get through it."

Chapman’s Taylor Briggs leads the pack during the 3200 meter run at the Class 4A state track and field meet in Cessna Stadium at Wichita State on Friday. Briggs finished in first place with a time of 11:00.93 to become a three time champion.

Briggs' double-gold performance helped Chapman to a strong team showing at the Class 4A meet. The Irish got multiple top-eight placings from Maya Kirkpatrick and Elyssa Frieze to go with Briggs and finished fourth as a team with 56 points.

A distance runner like Briggs, Frieze credited her big state debut — a runner-up finish to Briggs in the 1,600 and a third-place showing in the 800 — to Briggs' influence.

"She's my whole inspiration," Frieze said. "Nobody will ever push me in practice like she has. She's an awesome person, an awesome runner, as we all know. I'm really going to miss her next year."

Frieze had hoped to challenge for the 800 title, coming into the state meet with the fastest regional time and the second-best time in Class 4A this season behind Clearwater's Hayley Trotter. And had she been full strength, she very well might have.

But three weeks ago, she was diagnosed with a stress fracture in her fibula. That wiped out pretty much all her training time, relegating Frieze to only compete on meet day, and she didn't quite have the stamina to finish off the race strong after a big finish in the 1,600.

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"I haven't been able to practice for two weeks," Frieze said. "I just come out here and do me and do what I love."

Frieze finished third in the 800 in 2:24.11, nearly six seconds behind Trotter, who won with a season-best 2:18.84. That came after she had overtaken Trotter late in the 1,600 for the runner-up spot to Briggs, crossing in 5:07.38.

"It's been a lot of fun running with her," Briggs said. "I'm just so proud of her and can't wait to see what she does the next few years."

Trotter had challenged Briggs for three laps of the 1,600, tucked just behind her until Briggs steadily pulled away on the final lap for the runaway win.

"I know Hayley personally and she's a great runner and even better person," Briggs said. "But I knew what I was out there to do and whoever was going to run with me, 'C'mon, let's go.'"

Chapman’s Taylor Briggs rounds the first corner during the 3200 meter run at the Class 4A state track and field meet in Cessna Stadium at Wichita State on Friday. Briggs finished in first place with a time of 11:00.93 to become a three-time champion.

Kirkpatrick picked up three medals led by a runner-up finish in the triple jump. Kirkpatrick had a best jump of 35 feet, 11 inches, finishing 6.25 inches behind champion Emery Keebaugh of Ottawa.

She also placed fifth in the long jump at 16-7 and finished sixth in the 100 hurdles in 16.31 seconds

Sophia Cavanaugh finished in a tie for second in the 4A high jump, matching the 5-4 clearance by eventual champion Ava Jones of Nickerson, but settling for runner-up with Eudora's Chloe Thakker based on misses.

For the Irish boys, Eli Winder finished runner-up in the triple jump with a best of 43-4.75, more than two feet behind champion Carson Key of Miege (45-7.5). He also was sixth in the long jump (20-10.25) and fourth in the 400 (50.89).

Trevor Erickson had a trio of top-eight finishes, taking fourth in both the 110 hurdles (15.34) and 300 hurdles (40.63) and seventh in the 100 (11.36).