By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
Four meets into the regular season the Southeast of Saline track and field teams have looked strong, with some of the best athletes in the state vying to defend individual and team titles.
The girl's team has been anchored by All-State runner Jentrie Alderson, who has dominated in the distance events so far this spring, with Ashley Prochazka, Abby Commerford, and Cali Augustine rounding out a core of strong runners.
On the field side of things, the Lady Trojans have been led by Ivie Douglas, who has put together another strong throwing season in 2022.
Midway through their 3A state title defense, the boy's team has taken a top three spot in all four meets, winning the Salina Invitational and Marion Relays.
Individual state champions Chase Poague and Dylan Sprecker have anchored a loaded boy’s team, with Poague once again dominating in the hurdles and short sprints, and Sprecker cleaning up in the distance races.
The Trojan trio of Poague, Sprecker, and Alderson have won every single individual event that they have entered with one exception, as Poague tried his hand in the long jump and still managed silver on his first competitive attempt of the year.
“The leadership of those three has really been big for our team,” head track coach Wade Caselman said. “Our seniors are stepping up for us, Jude Golden has looked good in the javelin and Cayden Walker, Levi Allen, and Joel Kejr have been big for us in the distance races.”
Thanks to that stacked senior class, SES has been able to score big points in new areas which will only make the team more dangerous down the stretch.
“Our depth has really impressed me so far,” Caselman said. “We’re getting points in some events that we don’t always score in and seeing that from things like the pole vault and our throws has really added to our ability to put up big points.”
In addition to the seniors, athletes like Colton Bartholomew, Eli Jackson, and Tanner Schroeder have added another layer of talent to an already stout team.
It’s been great to see some of our younger kids finding success for us,” he said. “We want to continue improving our performances but we also want to see a little more consistency and we’d like to start seeing more points from our relays as we get back to full strength.”
Both teams will compete in four more meets before league on May 12 and regionals on May 22, both of which will set the tone for a potential Trojan repeat on the boys side.
“If we take care of business and stay healthy we’re not ruling ourselves out of a chance to compete for another state title,” Caselman said. “Our regional will be loaded so it will really all depend on what all we can get qualified there.”
The Trojan track season marches on with a meet in Abilene on Friday, April 22 before the team heads to Beloit on the 29th.