By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Southeast of Saline Trojan track and field team has been rolling in 2021. The boys team has won each of their nine meets this season including a phenomenal performance at regionals last week, while the girls team has put up solid finishes all year.
Ten Trojan athletes have qualified for state, and the boys team is poised to make a run at what could be the third state title of 2020-21 for Southeast of Saline.
Before the 3A state track meet kicks off this weekend, here is a closer look at the ten participants that SES will be sending to Wichita this Friday.
Athlete: Chase Poague (Jr)
State experience: 1st appearance
Events: 110m hurdles, 300m hurdles, 4x1, 4x4
Notes: Poague has been excellent for SES this season, consistently picking up wins in both hurdle events and helping the Trojans collect big points in the relays as well. The junior had the fastest times in qualifying in both hurdle events at regionals and broke the school record for the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.96 earlier this season. The three year letterwinner will be instrumental in the Trojans bid for state on Saturday.
Athlete: Dylan Sprecker (Jr)
State experience: 2nd appearance
Events: 800, 1600, 4x4, 4x8
Notes: Sprecker has been one of the anchors on a distance team that has wreaked havoc on the state this season, and was also one of the key members of the cross country team that won state earlier this year. The junior set the school record in the 3200, then broke it again this season for good measure with an astounding time of 9:30:68. Sprecker also owns the school record in the 1600 (4:24.33) and 800 (1:55.47).
Athlete: Dominic Jackson (Sr)
State experience: 3rd appearance
Events: 1600, 3200, 4x8
Notes: Jackson brings senior leadership to a relatively young SES team and was another instrumental piece of the state-winning cross country team this season. With strong finishes all year long in the 1600 and 3200, the veteran runner has become a centerpiece of a distance team that has allowed few others onto the podium in 2021. The four time letterwinner will look to close out his career in the purple and white on a high note and give SES a boost in the 4x800 as part of a team that set a new school record in the event (8:06.30) earlier this season.
Athlete: Luke Gleason (Sr)
State experience: 3rd appearance
Events: 800, 1600, 4x4, 4x8
Notes: Gleason is another senior whose contributions in the distance runs have been huge to the Trojan’s success this season. With a number of first place finishes this year, the senior has plenty of experience picking up big points, both in individual events and as part of two relay teams. Gleason helped shatter the previous school records in both the 4x8 and 4x4 (3:26.69) earlier this season, and will be called upon one last time as a key player at state.
Athlete: Nakari Morrical-Palmer (So)
State experience: 1st appearance
Events: 200-meter dash, 400, 4x1
Notes: After a season with no competition last year, Morrical-Palmer burst onto the scene for SES in 2021, adding much needed depth to the team as a sprinter. The sophomore has consistently finished on the podium in both the 200 and 400 and will look to give SES a much needed boost as the only Trojan representative in a short sprint race at state.
Athlete: Grant Stumpf (Sr)
State experience: 1st appearance
Events: 110m hurdles, 4x1
Notes: Stumpf’s first appearance in the state track meet will also be his last, but the SES senior has a chance to make a major impact in the 110-meter hurdles and as a member of the 4x100 relay team.
Athlete: Kanin Elkins (Sr)
State experience: 1st appearance
Events: 400, 4x1, 4x4
Notes: Another senior making his state meet debut, Kanin Elkins has been a key contributor in the relays this season and has continued to improve as a runner in the 400. Elkins was able to win the 400 at regionals and will be looking to follow that with another strong performance at state on Friday.
Athlete: Drake Augustine (So)
State experience: 1st appearance
Events: 4x8
Notes: Another bright young star, Augustine will head to state as a member of the record-setting 4x800 meter relay team that has a real chance to collect a first place finish on the biggest stage.
Athlete: Jentrie Alderson (Jr)
State experience: 2nd appearance
Events: 1600, 3200
Notes: In just her junior year, Jentrie Alderson has established herself as one of the best runners in the state, helping her team win the state cross country meet and carrying that success into the 2021 track season. Alderson also holds the school record in the 1600 (5:13.7) and 3200 (11:30.56). The junior enters the state meet with the fastest times in 3A in both races and will be considered the distance runner to beat at state.
Athlete: Ashley Prochazka (So)
State experience: 1st appearance
Events: 1600, 3200
Notes: While Alderson has stolen many of the headlines this season, sophomore sensation Ashley Prochazka hasn’t been far behind, consistently finishing on the podium in both the 1600 and 3200 and qualifying in both races for the state meet.
The state meet will be held over three days this season with classes 3 and 4A competing at Cessna Stadium on Friday. Field events begin at 8am with track events to follow at 11am.
For more on the SES track team and for coverage of all our area athletes at state stay tuned to the Salina Post.