These are the top Topeka-area girls swimmers heading to the KSHSAA state championship

The three-day Kansas State High School Activities Association swimming and diving state championships begin on Thursday and will conclude on Saturday. The Class 6A and the Class 5-1A state championships will be competed in the Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center in Lenexa.

Let's take a look at a few of the local standouts and the schedule of events.

Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural

The sophomore has shined for the Junior Blues having won the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle in the City Championship earlier this month. Appuhn also won the 200-yard IM and 500-yard freestyle in last week’s Centennial League Championship.

Appuhn enters the state championship with the fourth-best time in Class 6A for the 500-yard freestyle. She also holds the 10th-best time in the 200-yard IM.

Rhiannon Good, Washburn Rural

The diver ranks fifth best in Class 6A in the 11 dive category with a score of 399.80, which she scored in last week’s Centennial League Championship to place third. Good also holds the eighth-best score for the six-dive event.

Girls Soccer:How Washburn Rural will try to make its 10th consecutive final four trip

Joslynn Grace, Seaman

The junior is one of the best 200-yard IM swimmers in Class 5-1A. Grace won the United Kansas Conference Championship in the event and holds the fifth-best time in the class with a 2:12.83. Grace also ranks 10th best in Class 5-1A for the 500-yard freestyle with a 5:24.94.

Kaylee Gregg, Hayden

The junior is the best diver from the Topeka area after finishing second in the Centennial League Championship last week with a score of 433.50. That’s her top mark of the season and ranks second best in Class 5-1A for 11 diving competition.

Baseball:Why Topeka High is not 'succumbing to' pressure but welcoming it

Avery Walz, Seaman

The senior is primed to succeed in her final meet of her illustrious career. Walz won the 50-freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle in last week’s United Kansas Conference Championship.

Walz is the fastest 50-yard freestyle swimmer in Class 5-1A. The senior holds the second fastest time in the 100-yard freestyle and she also ranks third best in 200-yard IM. Lastly, Walz is the fifth-best 100-yard breaststroke in the class, too.

Tauren Walz, Seaman

Walz is one of the best in Class 5-1A in the 100-yard breaststroke and 100-yard butterfly. She won both events in last week’s United Kansas Conference Championship and senior ranks third in both events. She is less than a second off the best times entering the state championship.

State tennis:Cair Paravel's Fay reaches goal, Hayden's Blaser, Luke find 'connection'

Kansas swimming and diving state championship schedule

All times Central.

Thursday, May 16

9:30 a.m. - Diving prelims and semifinals for Class 5-1A

4:30 p.m. - Diving prelims and semifinals for Class 6A

Friday, May 17

9:00 a.m. - Swimming prelims for Class 5-1A

4:00 p.m. - Swimming prelims for Class 6A

Saturday, May 18

9:00 a.m. - Swimming and diving finals for Class 5-1A

4:00 p.m. - Swimming and diving finals for Class 6A

Liam Keating covers high school sports for The Topeka Capital-Journal. You can reach him at Lkeating@gannett.com.