Alderson, Newkirk return to form, sweep Wamego XC Invitational titles

There's no official designation naming one of the biggest trees lining the right side of the eighth hole at Wamego Country Club.

Unofficially, however, it's Jentrie Alderson's Tree.

"Right after last year's state cross country meet, I went right over there and sat under that tree and bawled my eyes out," Alderson said, pointing across the fairway after the completion of Saturday's Class 4A girls race at the Wamego Invitational. "I sat under that tree and told myself, 'I'm never doing that again.'"

Coming off a tough 2020 cross country season in which Alderson never remotely resembled the runner she was during her Class 3A state championship season in 2019, the Southeast of Saline senior re-visited her tree Saturday. And this time, it was the whole new Alderson she vowed to be sitting under it following last year's state meet.

A rejuvenated Alderson proved she's once again performing at a championship-caliber level during Saturday's Wamego Invitational. Stepping up with her Trojan teammates to face better competition in the 4A race, Alderson left that competition far behind.

She pulled away from a loaded field that four of the top-six finishers at last year's Class 4A state race and won by more than a minute in 18 minutes, 51.9 seconds.

"It feels amazing," Alderson said. "I feel so much better. I just feel like me, back to my normal self."

Alderson was anything but herself a year ago, coming off capturing the 3A state title as a sophomore. She missed the Trojans' season-opening meet after testing positive for COVID-19 and after returning, couldn't finish two straight races, later learning she'd come down with mononucleosis.

Though she was able to fight back and compete at the state meet, she was a shell of her sophomore self and finished seventh.

The physical ailments also took their toll on Alderson's mental psyche.

"It was very mental last year," she said. "I just went through a rough patch with friends and stuff. It was just hard. … There was no love for running and I've always loved to run. Last year, I didn't even want to go on a run on my own. The love is back. I mentally got myself where I needed to be."

Alderson said she was a bit nervous for Saturday's race.

For starters, there was the unknown about the field, which included 2020 state runner-up Sydney Owens of Eudora, third-place state finisher Hayley Trotter of Clearwater, fifth-place finisher Riley Smith of Baldwin and sixth-place finisher Adeline Fulmer of Wamego. Of that group, Alderson said she only really knew Trotter, and that was through social media.

Furthermore, Southeast of Saline had opened its season just two days earlier at the Hesston Invitational, giving the Trojans two demanding races in a three-day span.

Alderson showed no effects of nerves or being tired. She and Trotter pulled away from the pack early and then Alderson steadily pulled away from Trotter, who wound up second in 20 minutes, 4.2 seconds.

"I wanted to lead the race," Alderson said. "But since we had a race Thursday, I had to have a back-up plan and if my legs were tired, I was just going to let someone else lead and sit on their shoulders. But I felt good and my mindset for this was it going to make me better for state."

Likewise, Trotter said the meet should prove beneficial as she goes after her first state cross country title this season.

"Especially with state being on this course, it's really nice getting a feel for it and the other competitors," she said. "You get a feeling of what it will be like in a couple months. It's a big confidence booster. Jentrie, she's amazing and having her to key off of to give me a feel for where I'm at was great."

Trotter finished more than 40 seconds ahead of a pair of Eudora runners with Cardinal freshman Hanna Keltner third in 20:45.9, just ahead of Owens, who was fourth in 20:50.8. Baldwin's Smith was fifth in 20:54.2.

Eudora, runner-up as a team to Baldwin at last year's state meet, sent an early message to their Frontier League rivals on Saturday. Led by the 3-4 finish from Keltner and Owens and also getting top-20 finishes from Phoebe Fletcher (ninth) and Liz Mueting (16^th), the Cardinals won the team title with 50 points, 29 ahead of Southeast of Saline and 38 ahead of Baldwin.

Hayden's Newkirk makes early statement

Fields don't get much more top heavy than the boys' Class 4A race at Wamego on Saturday.

Championship caliber everywhere.

Reigning Class 4A state champion Tanner Newkirk of Hayden. 2019 Class 3A champion Dylan Sprecker of Southeast of Saline. 2018 Class 4A state champion Tanner Lindahl of Buhler. 2021 Class 4A double state track champion Sawyer Schmidt of Augusta.

When the dust settled, well, it was courtesy of Newkirk, who left the star-studded field in his on his way to an impressive victory. After running a 15:53.32 to win last year's state title on the Wamego course, Newkirk blistered the trail to the tune of a 15:47.5.

That was good enough for a 14-second win over Lindahl, who was second in 16:01.7.

"This race here was a big confidence booster," Newkirk said. "I feel like I'm back on the right track."

Newkirk got off track last spring. Coming off his state cross country championship in the fall, he was looking to carry that success over to the track and field season.

But he dealt with some early illness and then had a flare up in his right hip. That lingered throughout the season and eventually moved to his left hip as well. After qualifying for state in three events, Newkirk was unable to compete at the state meet because the pain was too great.

"It really sucked," he said. "I lost a lot of confidence. I was able to run about a week and a half after state, but I thought it would affect the training I would be able to get in over the summer. But I was able to get in a full summer."

Newkirk certainly showed no lingering effects from the injury. After sticking with a pack that included his top challengers for the early part of the race, Newkirk put his plan in motion to find some separation.

"I know this course so well," he said. "Those back hills, I wanted to tire them out there. Keep pushing them on the hills until they couldn't any more and I lost them. It ended up working,"

On the back stretch, Newkirk separated from the pack and he maintained it the rest of the way.

The victory has extra meaning for Newkirk as well. Not only did it mark he was fully back in championship form, but it came in front of his 100-year-old great grandmother, Helen Olmsted, who lives in Beatty.

"I don't get to see her very much, so when I do it's a treat," he said. "I had to show out for her today."

A state champion as a freshman, Lindahl has spent the past two years trying to get the title back, finishing second to Girard's Cormick Logue at state in 2019 and third behind Newkirk and Bishop Miege's Micah Blomker last year.

Saturday's race shows he's still chasing Newkirk, but the Buhler senior took plenty away from their first meeting of the season.

"I actually was pretty happy with it," said Lindahl, who finished in 16:01.7. "I ran three seconds faster than last year, which isn't a lot, but it was a good race and I was happy with it.

"This course is a beast of a course and when you have four guys running together like we were, it was a lot of fun. It really gets you in the mode of racing and not just running fast. My main strategy was to hang for dear life. … (Tanner's) in really good shape right now and all I can do is keep training and give it the best I can."

Lindahl did lead Buhler to the team title. The Crusaders also put Kaden Lohrentz (12^th) and Austin Lindahl (18^th) in the top 20 and scored 76 points to edge Wamego by 10 points and Southeast of Saline by 12.

Schmidt, who swept the 4A 1,600 and 3,200 titles last spring at state and opened his season with a win at the Wichita State JK Gold Classic, was third in 16:15.8, while Sprecker was fourth in 16:31.6.

For Sprecker, his showing – like Newkirk's – was a sign that he's back to the form that made him a state champion in 2019. Coming off his state title as a sophomore, Sprecker was looking forward to building on that success last year.

Instead, he suffered a fracture in his left foot during Southeast's season-opening meet and missed the bulk of the season. He returned at the state meet and battled to a fourth-place finish, but was nowhere near where he had hoped to be.

"Last year, it was the most demoralizing and mentally draining season of my life," he said. "After I broke my foot, I was doing aqua-jogging every single day. Just me and my mind and when you do that and then go out and watch your teammates run, you sit there and just want to be with them. Once I got back, I just didn't have time to get back up to full strength and it showed.

"I had the biggest shift in my mentality and it transferred over to my track season. I won't say I'm grateful it happened, but it has made me a better person and better runner."

Sprecker was back in championship form during track season last spring, capturing three golds at the state meet.

"This year, it's all about redemption," Sprecker said.

Christ Prep dominates 3-2-1A races

Kansas City Christ Prep engineered a complete sweep in the Class 3-2-1A races at Wamego, taking the team and individual titles in both races.

Rachel Harpt won the girls race by more than a minute over West Franklin's Emma Bailey, finishing in 20:02.9. She was one of four Christ Prep runners in the top 20.

Remington, which finished second as a team, was led by third-place finisher Ellie Van Zelfden, while Colby's Kathie Chavez was fourth and Wabaunsee freshman Payton Wurtz took fifth.

In the boys' race, Christ Prep placed two in the top four and four in the top 15 to score 50 points and easily top runner-up West Franklin by 43 points for the title. Jayden Brethour led the charge, winning by nearly 12 seconds in 17:32.6.

Marysville's Silas Miller took second in 17:44.3, while Mission Valley's AJ Rubio was third, Christ Prep's Isaac Zitter fourth and Lyndon's Brayden Marcotte was fifth.

West Franklin was led by a 5-6 finish from freshman Hunter Bailey and junior Kyle Haner and also put Lucas Hassler (16^th) in the top 20.


WAMEGO INVITATIONAL
CLASS 4A
BOYS
Team scores
Buhler 76, Wamego 86, Southeast of Saline 88, Wichita Trinity 100, Hayden 128, Augusta 185, Eudora 217, Tonganoxie 241, Abilene 257, Louisburg 257, Clay Center 273, Chapman 321, Baldwin 343, Holton 344, Clearwater 370.
Individual results

1. Newkirk, Hayden, 15:47.5; 2. T. Lindahl, Buhler, 16:01.7; 3. Schmidt, Augusta, 16:15.8; 4. Sprecker, Southeast of Saline, 16:31.6; 5. Gilmore, Tonganoxie, 17:00.2; 6. Stegman, Wamego, 17:02.0; 7. Vohs, Louisburg, 17:02.1; 8. Shively, Wichita Trinity, 17:02.8; 9. Allen, Southeast of Saline, 17:04.7; 10. Jackson, Southeast of Saline, 17:04.9; 11. Williams, Wamego, 17:07.0; 12. Lohrentz, Buhler, 17:07.1; 13. Wolfe, Wamego, 17:09.0; 14. Smith, Clay Center, 17:10.0; 15. Arnold, Eudora, 17:20.6; 16. Hobson, Wichita Trinity, 17:24.3; 17. Tofteland, Wichita Trinity, 17:32.2; 18. A. Lindahl, Buhler, 17:32.2; 19. Elliott, Chapman, 17:36.4; 20. Keller, Buhler, 17:38.6.

GIRLS
Team scores
Eudora 50, Southeast of Saline 79, Baldwin 86, Winfield 148, Wamego 157, Louisburg 190, Buhler 228, Rose Hill 228, Tonganoxie 233, Circle 240, Wichita Trinity 247, Clay Center 263, Hayden 270, Augusta 312, Holton 352.
Individual results

1. Alderson, Southeast of Saline, 18:51.9; 2. Trotter, Clearwater, 20:04.2; 3. Keltner, Eudora, 20:45.9; 4. Owens, Eudora, 20:50.8; 5. R. Smith, Baldwin, 20:54.2; 6. Myers, Winfield, 20:57.5; 7. Messick, Baldwin, 21:01.3; 8. Fulmer, Wamego, 21:20.2; 9. Fletcher, Eudora, 21:23.7; 10. Commerford, Southeast of Saline, 21:26.1; 11. B. Smith, Baldwin, 21:36.4; 12. Vohs, Louisburg, 21:38.2; 13. Wrench, Hayden, 21:38.6; 14. Benavides, Winfield, 21:45.1; 15. Augustine, Southeast of Saline, 21:47.5; 16. Mueting, Eudora, 21:48.8; 17. Smith, Clay Center, 21:54.4; 18. Lind, Wamego, 21:53.0; 19. Scheufler, Wichita Trinity, 21:58.5; 20. Warner, Buhler, 22:01.3.

CLASS 3-2-1A
BOYS
Team scores
KC Christ Prep 50, West Franklin 93, Bennington 171, Marysville 181, Sabetha 184, Riley County 199, Rock Creek 247, Hutchinson Trinity 253, Silver Lake 257, Republic County 269, Ellinwood 273, Osage City 278, Wellsville 319, Santa Fe Trail 327, Northern Heights 331, Rossville 370, Mission Valley 376 Lebo 387, St. Marys 397, Wabaunsee 537.
Individual results

1. J. Brethour, Christ Prep, 17:32.6; 2. Miller, Marysville, 17:44.3; 3. Rubio, Mission Valley, 17:51.3; 4. Zitter, Christ Prep, 17:53.7; 5. Marcotte, Lyndon, 17:56.2; 6. Bailey, West Franklin, 18:11.8; 7. Haner, West Franklin, 18:13.9; 8. Evans, Sabetha, 18:25.2; 9. Bishop, Sabetha, 18:29.7; 10. McDaniel, Wellsville, 18:37.5; 11. R. Brethour, Christ Prep, 18:50.2; 12. Brokaw, Silver Lake, 18:55.2; 13. Yoder, Hutchinson Central Christian, 19:00.2; 14. Sharp, Riley County, 19:02.8; 15. House, Christ Prep, 19:03.8; 16. Hassler, West Franklin, 19:04.8; 17. Smith, St. John, 19:08.4; 18. Smith, Osage City, 19:16.7; 19. Hahn, Northern Heights, 19:20.3; 20. Clennan, Hutchinson Trinity, 19:21.0.

GIRLS
Team scores
KC Christ Prep 44, Remington 63, Santa Fe Trail 111, Wabaunsee 137, Rossville 165, Norton 167, Hutchinson Trinity 171, Bishop Seabury 176, Osage City 187, Bennington 222, Clifton-Clyde 255, Republic County 298, Ellinwood 312.
Individual results

1. Harpt, Christ Prep, 20:02.9; 2. Bailey, West Franklin, 21:03.4; 3. Van Zelfden, Remington, 21:17.6; 4. Chavez, Colby, 21:19.4; 5. Wurtz, Wabaunsee, 21:19.5; 6. Brown, Remington, 21:22.1; 7. Sharp, Riley County, 21:29.0; 8. Gerber, Silver Lake, 21:41.0; 9. Harbaugh, Bennington, 21:45.9; 10. Nippert, Rock Creek, 21:47.9; 11. Williams, Doniphan West, 21:50.3; 12. Funk, Hillsboro, 22:04.0; 13. Crow, Flint Hills Christian, 22:11.6; 14. Kurtz, Chris Prep, 22:17.8; 15. Judd, West Franklin, 22:26.3; 16. Rumback, Norton, 22:31.0; 17. Cole, Doniphan West, 22:32.7; 18. Essex, Christ Prep, 22:36.3; 19. Lukert, Sabetha, 22:37.3; 20. Ballou, Christ Prep, 23:04.7.