By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
Following another successful season that saw a girl’s state championship and a boy's runner-up finish, the Southeast of Saline Cross Country dynasty is retooled and ready to go for 2022.
“The kids have come into the season excited and most of them put in some really good miles over the summer,” SES head coach Wade Caselman said. “We ran at 6:15 in the morning and I didn’t hear any complaints, they were just eager to get started.”
Each team will have massive shoes to fill with the graduation of multi-time individual state champions Dylan Sprecker and Jentrie Alderson, but despite losing both of the fastest runners in Class 3A, their impact lives on in those taking up their mantle.
“Dylan and Jentrie did a great job helping us build a foundation for when they were gone,” Caselman said. “They showed our runners what it takes to succeed and what kind of work ethic it takes to compete at a high level.”
With a new generation of runners taking center stage at Southeast of Saline, new names will be etched into the record books of one of the most storied programs in the state.
“We’ve built a strong cross country culture here at SES and we don’t take anything for granted,” he said. “The kids see all the banners hanging in the gym and they want to help us carry on the tradition of being a cross country powerhouse.”
The girl's team will enter the 2022 season as favorites to repeat as state champs according to KansasMileSplit.com, and will return a great deal of talent to defend their title.
The team will be anchored by senior star Ashley Prochazka and sophomore standout Abby Commerford, backed up by strong returners like Cali Augustine, Brookelyn Adams, Sadie Franklin, and Savannah Sutton, as well as a promising newcomer in freshman Breckyn Alderson.
“On the girl's side we are the favorites to win again but it’s going to take a lot of work to live up to that,” Caselman said. “We have a target on our backs but if this group shows improvement each day and if we run like we’re capable of I think we can make another state title run.”
On the boy's side, the new anchor of the team will be three-time all-state runner Damion Jackson, who will be pushed by fellow senior Nakari Morrical-Palmer.
The team also returns Cayden Walker and Levi Allen, who helped SES to a state track title along with Jackson and Morrical-Palmer last spring.
On top of a strong core of returners, the Trojans add a loaded freshman class, with the trio of Jacob Bircher, Isaiah Kejr, and Brayden Walker expected to have an impact right out of the gate.
“We have some freshmen coming in that had a nice junior high track season,” he said. They’ve already embraced the culture here and want to help us fulfill our goals.”
The boy’s team has also set their sights high but will have their work cut out for them as they try to chase down a Wichita Trinity team that returns every member of their state-winning 2021 squad.
“We had the kids fill out their individual and team goals and both teams without hesitation said they wanted to repeat as league and regional champions and to win at state,” Caselman said. “This is a fun group to work with and I’m excited for another great season.”
The 2022 campaign will kick off on Thursday, September first at the Abilene Invitational.
For more coverage of SES cross country all season long stay tuned to the Salina Post.