By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Southeast of Saline boys track and field team secured back-to-back state titles for the first time in program history, cruising to a 3A state championship in dominant fashion.
One or more Trojans found the podium in nine different events, as Dylan Sprecker and Chase Poague combined for five huge individual wins.
Sprecker defended his state title in both the 800 and 1600, throwing in a win in the 3200 to earn a rare distance triple crown.
Poague’s title defense went smoothly as well as the senior standout breezed to wins in the 110 and 300m hurdles, remaining undefeated in both for the length of the entire season.
Poague would also join teammate Michael Murray on the 100m dash podium as Murray took second as part of a 2-3 Trojan finish.
Murray added a bronze medal in the 200m dash, ahead of Nakari Morrical Palmer who finished that race in seventh, but ran a strong 400 missing the gold by just half a second.
Levi Allen tacked on some big points in the 1600 and 3200, finishing both races in sixth place.
Top-ten finishes were also had by Tate Nurnberg (9th-triple jump) and Damion Jackson (10th-1600), with Nurnberg (11th-high jump) and Cayden Walker (11th-3200) rounding out the field.
SES entered just one relay at state but made the most of it, taking second in this year’s 4x400 to cap off a historic run.
On the girl's side, it was a double title defense for Jentrie Alderson who defended her crown in both the 1600 and 3200.
Abby Commerford took the other top-ten finish for the Lady Trojans placing ninth in the 3200, with Ashley Prochazka finishing 12th and 13th in the 1600 and 3200 respectively.
Southeast qualified a relay team on the girl’s side as well and finished 11th in this year’s 4x800, to wrap up an 8th place team finish, the sixth-best among all area schools in all classes.
The Trojans will say goodbye to one of the most loaded senior classes in school history with names like Dylan Sprecker, Chase Poague, Jentrie Alderson, Mallorie Pearson, and Joni Schroeder set to graduate at the end of this year.
SES will however, return a great deal of talent next season, and should be a strong contender in 2023.