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Trinity Academy Boys And Southeast Of Saline Girls Hoping To Keep The Streak Alive
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After learning first-hand from arguably the greatest runner in Kansas history, Trinity Academy's Caleb Tofteland is hoping to keep the hardware in Wichita. The senior ran 15:06.6 at Olathe Twilight, and has only broken 16:00 one time since. Granted, the Knights are known for taking their foot off the gas at points throughout the season, so fully expect Tofteland to be primed and ready to go.
However, he'll have more than a few guys at his hip, with Holcomb's Brody Deniston heading into Saturday's clash on a seven race winning streak. Deniston, a junior, has also ran as quick as 15:22.5 this season, and has broke 16:00 on two other occasions.
Girard's Houston McGown, Caney Valley's Simeon Sanchez, and Lakin's Austin Ritsema have all broke 15:30 as well, meaning this is going to be a barn burner.
Teamwise, Holcomb is the pre-race favorite in part to their upperclassmen leadership and experience, as well as their 1-2 punch of Deniston and Landen Leonard.
Trinity Academy is definitely in the mix again this year, but instead of having four guys in the top 11 this year, they'll rely on their 2-5 split of 13 seconds to get the job done.
Southeast of Saline is unshockingly right there in the hunt again, but after losing a few to graduation it won't be a walk in the park for the 3A power.
In 2022, Prairie View's Bree Allen cruised to a state title, and in 2023, Trinity Academy'y Emily Hein took down Allen en route to her first state title.
This year, both girls are heading into the state meet with a recent PB in their back pocket and vengeance on the brain. At regionals last weekend, Hein broke 18:00 for the first time in her career, running 17:51.5, breaking 18:10 for the fourth time this season. Though Allen hasn't ran sub-18 yet, she has seemed to find her rhythm after an uncharacteristic start to the season, running 18:22.8 last Saturday for a 22 second PB.
The pair have only raced head-to-head eight times, with Allen winning six meetings, while Hein has picked up the las two wins.
With adverse conditions expected tomorrow, the race is more than likely going to be purely tactical, and that's something that plays to both girl's advantage.
Behind the two frontrunners, Smoky Valley's Esther Clark and Girard's Natalia Onelio are the only other two girls to break 19:00, but Hesston's Ashley Lehman isn't far back, and she has the strength to close that gap when the stakes are this high.
After losing one of the greatest senior classes to have ever graced the state to graduation, many people (including myself) were expecting a down year from the three-time defending champions, Trinity Academy.
Well, I'm happy to say that I was wrong and that the Knights are still very much a 3A contender, just not in the same way they were in the previous three years.
Just like last year, the team race is primarily between Southeast of Saline and Trinity Academy, but the only difference is that the Knights closed that gap quite a bit and sit within striking distance of the Trojans.
A young group led by sophomore Piper Brown is shooting for their fifth straight state title, and the program's 12 overall.
Both squads already got a glimpse of their biggest threat a week ago at regionals, with Saline winning in the end, 70-76.
Hesston, who finished third at that same region, is eyeing a podium finish, but will need to make sure they keep Cheney and Norton Community at an arm's length.