By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
After a boys state championship and a top-ten finish for a girls team that sent just two athletes to state in 2021, the Southeast of Saline Track and Field teams are ready to run it back in 2022.
“Everybody is eager and ready to hit the ground running and we’re looking forward to the first week of competition,” Trojan head coach Wade Caselman said. “We’ve had some nice weather and the kids have been working hard to prepare.”
Both teams will return a wealth of talent, including several individual state champions in multiple events, complemented by a wave of freshmen and a few transfers.
Before SES hits the track on Tuesday, here is a quick look at some of the biggest names to know ahead of what should be another excellent season.
SES Boys (2021 3A State Champions)
Chase Poague returns as the defending 3A champ in both the 100m high hurdles and 300m intermediate hurdles. Poague will also lend his blazing speed to the 4x100 meter relay team and compete in open sprints.
Dylan Sprecker is on his way to becoming one of the most decorated athletes in SES history, adding an individual state cross country title to first-place finishes in the 800 and 1600 at last year’s state track meet. Sprecker will return to compete in the 1600, 800, and 4x4.
Drake Augustine returns as a member of the state-winning 4x800 meter relay team and will give the Trojans a boost in the 800 as well.
Damion Jackson and Joel Kejr return to bolster an already loaded distance running roster, which will feature Hillsboro transfer Levi Allen who looked good during cross country season.
The SES boys team will also see the return of open sprinter Michael Murray, who looked very quick before a broken arm brought an early end to his season. Murray will compete in the 100 and 200m dashes.
Finally in the field events, Jude Golden will look for another strong season in the javelin throw while newcomer Tate Nurnberg will look to steal some points in the triple jump and pole vault.
SES Girls (2021 8th place finish)
The SES girls team will be anchored by another highly decorated athlete in distance runner Jentrie Alderson. Alderson added an individual and team state cross country title in the fall to individual state wins in both the 1600 and 3200 at last year’s state track meet.
The Trojans will also welcome back All-State runner Ashley Prochazka, who placed third in last year’s state 3200 run, and finished just outside the top-ten at this year’s state cross country meet.
Alderson and Prochazka will be joined by another All-State runner in freshman Abby Commerford, who could be one of the few freshmen in Class 3A to punch a ticket to state this year.
On the field side of things, Southeast welcomes back Ivie Douglas, who should give the Trojans a big boost in the shot put and discus throws.
In addition to these returners, both teams will benefit from a wave of interest that has filled up the rosters of all three spring sports.
“Our depth is our biggest strength this season,” Caselman said. “We have good numbers out this year with 39 boys and 21 girls. I think our sprints and distance will be solid again but we’re hoping to sneak in some more points in field events on the boy's side.”
With so many athletes back for one last year, the boy's team looks primed and ready to defend their crown in Class 3A.
“The boys want to try to repeat as state champions,” he said. “Some early articles have us favored if things fall into place the way we hope it does and we’d love to repeat as league regional and state champs.”
On the girl's side, the Trojans know that state representation will be the name of the game as SES begins their quest to bring home more hardware.
“The girls were just a few points away from being a top-four team at state with just two girls competing at the state level,” he said. “We know that if we can qualify more athletes we can make a run and maybe be on the podium for a team trophy.”
Both teams will begin their season at the Salina Invitational on Tuesday, March 29th.
For continuing coverage of SES track and field in 2022, stay tuned to the Salina Post.