It would be a mistake for the state's 3A boys cross country
teams to think that the well has finally run dry for two-time defending state
champion Southeast of Saline.
Truth is, that engine is revving mighty pretty these days.
Southeast of Saline returns all seven runners from its 2019
championship squad, including individual state champion Dylan Sprecker, now a
junior. Last year's win was the seventh state championship for Southeast of
Saline's boys.
The squad also brings back seniors Dominic Jackson and Luke Gleason, who finished fourth and fifth at last year's state meet. The three
runners make up what could be the best trio in Kansas cross country right now -
regardless of classification.
Southeast of Saline won the state title last year in a close
battle with upstart Silver Lake. Southeast of Saline scored 35 while Silver
Lake had 44 - more than 70 points ahead of third place Norton Community.
But while Southeast of Saline brings everyone back, Silver
Lake loses two of its top five, including 2019 state runner-up Kyler Kaniper.
Silver Lake may have enough to stay in the top 3, but their graduation losses
seem to leave no one to challenge Southeast of Saline.
Using Kansas MileSplit's virtual meets app, Southeast of
Saline is predicted to score 38 points for this year's state title. Silver Lake
leads a pack that includes Smoky Valley and Wichita Collegiate that is 200 or
more points back.
That's right...Two
Hundred Points!
It may not turn out to be so lopsided, but the point is clear.
Southeast of Saline is as big of a favorite to repeat as 3A state champs as
we've seen in Kansas cross country for a while.
In addition to the Southeast of Saline trio, the top
returners in class 3A boys this season include seniors Ryan Heline of Smoky
Valley and Cameron TenEyck of Silver Lake.
The race for the class 3A girls state title is likely to be
a lot more close than the boys' chase. The early favorites are familiar:
defending champion Norton Community,
runner-up Southeast of Saline and third-place Southwestern Heights.
Give the early edge to Southeast of Saline, which returns
its top five from a year ago, including defending state champion Jentrie Alderson, tenth place finisher Ashley Prochazka and junior
Mallorie Pearson.
Like its' boys team, the Southeast of Saline girls have won
seven state championships in its history, most recently back-to-back titles in
2014-2015.
Norton Community won by 18 points last year, but the squad
loses two of its top five from that team, including 2018 state champion Lexi
Kats, who finished fourth in 2019. Expected back for the Bluejays are senior
Hannah Bailey and sophomore Jaelyn Rumback.
Southwestern Heights was just three points behind Southeast
of Saline for second place last year, and that squad returns all seven who ran
at state. The squad's top returner is junior Ozia Trujillo, who was eighth at
state in 2019. Senior Arlin Testa and junior Yanely Puentes also return for
Southwestern.
But all three teams have questions to answer on the back end
of their lineup and until those sort themselves out, it's hard to say who will
climb to the top of the podium in October.
The individual race in class 3A girls is solid. Six of the
top 10 at the state meet last year are back this season. In addition to
Alderson, Trujillo and Prochazka, those include Silver Lake sophomore Mariah Farmer (sixth at state last year), Columbus sophomore Montana Ohmart (seventh)
and West Franklin sophomore Emma Bailey (ninth).
