WICHITA — When Dylan Sprecker and Chase Poague have been freshmen at Southeast of Saline, neither left the state monitor and area meet with a medal. 

Quick ahead three years and the Southeast duo not solely mixed for 5 particular person championships and 7 medals, but additionally helped the Trojans win their second straight Class 3A workforce title Saturday night at Cessna Stadium.

Led by Sprecker and Poague, Southeast completed with 94 factors, 40 greater than runner-up Burlington.

“(That is) actually one thing that caught with us and made us work as arduous as attainable, simply so we could be state champions,” Poague mentioned of his and Sprecker’s state finishes as freshmen. “(We) carried this workforce as leaders in addition to good rivals.” 

Throughout his eighth-grade 12 months at Southeast, Sprecker took be aware of the environment across the Southeast program. He knew he was in good arms if he needed to have a profitable highschool profession.

“I used to be round individuals who actually needed to work arduous and who needed to be nice,” Sprecker mentioned. “That actually simply pushed me to need these issues for myself and to essentially perceive the best way to do one thing nice.

“There’s a whole lot of hours that goes into it that folks by no means see.”

Extra:Here is how Saline County athletes did on the KSHSAA state monitor and area championships

How Poague and Sprecker gained their particular person titles 

Poague efficiently defended his state championships within the hurdle races, profitable each the 110 meters in 14.71 seconds and 300 in 40.83. He additionally was third within the 100-meter sprint alongside teammate Michael Murray, who completed second.

Poague mentioned that even when his sophomore 12 months of monitor was canceled due to COVID-19, he was decided to get higher.

“I nonetheless saved my thoughts (on it) and acquired to the monitor as a lot as attainable and was simply very excited for me to be a two-time state champion in two occasions,” Poague mentioned. 

For Sprecker, his highway to 3 particular person championships within the 3,200-, 1,600- and 800-meter runs was a difficult one. 

On Friday, he gained the three,200 (9:39.81), after which on Saturday, he set a brand new 3A meet report within the 1,600 with a time of 4:14.88, topping it off taking the 800 in 1:58.37. The earlier meet report within the 1,600  was 4:16.10, held by Hesston’s Justin Rempel. 

“Going on the market and simply battling all the things, it simply makes it a lot extra candy in the long run as a result of I do know it is well-earned,” Sprecker mentioned. 

Sprecker additionally anchored the 1,600-meter relay to a runner-up end with Drake Augustine, Nakari Morrical-Palmer and Omar Calzada. They completed with a time of three:30.21. 

Extra:Elle Denning anchors Salina Central’s women at KSHSAA Class 5A state monitor and area meet

The following chapter 

Regardless that their Southeast careers are over, Sprecker and Poague will stay teammates in school.

Each are heading to Pittsburg State to proceed their monitor careers. They’re going to be a part of a Gorilla program that gained the NCAA Division II nationwide championship in Allendale, Michigan, on Saturday.  

“They caught with me,” Poague mentioned. “They actually confirmed me that Pitt State’s a terrific place to be and that I can compete together with them and hopefully turn out to be a nationwide champion.” 

Even whereas competing at nationals, Pittsburg State paid consideration to what Sprecker and Poague have been doing again in Kansas.

“I am actually excited to get down there,” Sprecker mentioned. “It is a terrific group of fellows which might be going to be down there and I am actually excited to be down there placing in these hours with these guys.”

Poague is glad that Sprecker might be his teammate for 4 extra years. 

“He is been there for me loads and I have been there for him loads,” Poague mentioned. “It is simply two good teammates that’ll be (collectively) for 4 extra years.” 

Sprecker added that he, Poague and Jentrie Alderson are going to take what they’ve realized at Southeast with them to Pittsburg State. 

“We’ll go to Pitt with that similar thoughts and all the things’s simply going to get higher,” Sprecker mentioned. 

Dylan Sherwood has been a sports activities reporter for the Salina Journal since August 2019. He could be reached at dsherwood@salina.com or on Twitter @DSherwoodSJ