Clay Shively has been a runner on a mission through his high school cross country career.

The Wichita Trinity senior has been fueled by the need to overcome every adversity, big or small.

But as he competed in the Class 3A boys state race Oct. 28 at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Shively ignored all his impulses to try to create a record-setting day as he had so many times before.

This year, his goal became to enjoy the moment running alongside his teammates.

It just so happens that when Shively, who set the all-time state record with his 14:42.60 at the Olathe Twilight Classic earlier in the year, competes for the pure joy of the sport, he’s still able to finish No. 1.

Shively won his second straight individual state title while also leading Wichita Trinity to a third straight team title. His time of 15:48.00 was far away from the sub-15 time he seemed determined to earn after watching Shawnee Mission East’s Wyatt Haughton break the state course record in the 6A race last year.

"I felt (at state) was just that I'm going to do what I need to do and do everything that I need to do for my team," Shively said. "Not necessarily try and make history or anything. Set a record that would get broke in the next couple of years anyways."

His time could have been faster, but in addition to taking a less aggressive approach throughout the race, Shively purposefully let off the gas to allow senior teammate Samuel Ferguson to finish right by his side with a nearly identical time of 15:48.10.

A stumble from Shively, or a clever late push from Ferguson, could have resulted in him missing out on back-to-back titles. But neither of those hypotheticals was ever a concern for this version of Shively, who said he sees the sport much differently this season.
 

“The coolest thing about my journey with cross country over the last four years is every year I realize how much of a team sport it actually is,” Shively said. “It becomes less of an individual sport. Yes, there are big races where I want to go out and get a win.

“But really, on a day like (state), my whole process going through the race was just about what can I do to set my team up for the best success.”

And if Ferguson decided to lunge for first place? Shively would not have minded.

“Not really,” Shively said. “Because that’s kind of my mindset as well. I’ve got one, I would love to see Sam have one as well. So if he would’ve gone for it, I think I would’ve been just as happy. It’s just three points no matter how you look at it. That was the way I was thinking of it.”

Not that Wichita Trinity head coach Eric Carroll could ever imagine that scenario happening.

“Those two are the most selfless individuals you’ll ever meet,” Carroll said. “One of the secrets of this team is their selflessness. They truly run for one another. That’s some of the secret sauce.”

The team’s secret sauce is probably not a great addition to food, considering it has actually removed so much of the spiciness from 3A team race over the last few years.

The Knights not only took first for the third straight season, the team did so with a sizable gap of the next best all three times.

This year, Wichita Trinity delivered a low-score 49, giving them a 24-point advantage over state runner-up Southeast of Saline. It was similar story last year as the same two teams had a 23-point gap at the top of the team leaderboard. Wichita Trinity’s first title in the three-peat was the closest when the Knights only finished with a 16-point lead over Southeast.
 

The Trojans have finished with a score of 58 or lower in three of the last four years, and yet they only have one state championship to show for it.

Despite the recent stretch of dominance, Wichita Trinity did enter state looking a little vulnerable as injuries started to mount up late in the season. The Knights ended up taking four of the top five spots at regionals, although spectators’ eyes widened when Wichita Collegiate junior Will Meyer narrowly edged out Shively for first place.

“We weren’t so sure coming into the day,” said Dr. Randy Mijares, Wichita Trinity assistant coach. “We’ve had a lot of banged up kids. We actually pulled a kid off the soccer pitch to start running with us a few weeks ago.

“Really very solid, courageous performances today, so we’re incredibly pleased.”

Senior Jacob Hobson, who finished state runner-up behind Shively last year, finished about 10 seconds behind his top two teammates as he took fifth place. Junior Caleb Tofteland ended up just outside of the top 10, finishing with a time of 16:21.90 to take 11th.

Junior Grayson Payne landed in 44th with a time of 17:46.40 to round out the team’s top five runners who contributed to the team score. Junior Jaren Martinson ended up 57th with a time of 18:12.70 while junior Brice Wills finished in 76th with a time of 19:00.30 as the team's final two state competitors.
 

Ferguson, Tofteland and Wills are all members of the team’s soccer team, which is a perennial state title contender. But Wills is the newcomer from the team who Mijares was referring to as being pulled from the pitch. Wills had previous track experience, but this was his first year running cross country. He helped fill the void left after junior Wes Ferguson suffered a season-ending injury just one race into the year.

“To be able to put it together with the remaining guys on the team was really great,” Carroll said. “To see them step up and deliver.”

It all made for the perfect conclusion to the high school cross country careers for Shively, Hobson and the older Ferguson.

“It feels really cool this time,” Shively said. “State is always a big deal, but just the fact that each year I get to go into it with a little more confidence and a little more peace about it. To be able to just get the job done on the day is always great. 

“But most of all, the work that my team did, it feels super cool and super proud of that part.”

Adding to the enjoyment was Shively and the rest of the boys team got to watch the girls team achieve a similar level of success.
 

Wichita Trinity sophomore Emily Hein pulled off an upset in the 3A girls race, running a time of 18:37.90 to take first and dethrone the reigning champ in Prairie View junior Bree Allen. Not only that, but Hein ended up with time to spare as Allen did not cross until the 19:24.00 mark.

Hein felt ecstatic getting to celebrate with her teammates, coaches and family after the race. 

“It feels amazing,” Hein said. “It was so much fun and a super awesome experience to be able to do that and do it for the Lord.”

This was Hein’s first opportunity to race against Allen since last year’s state meet. In that race, Hein shaved nearly a minute off of her PR at the time to finish 24th with a time of 21:02.49.

Hein already had her share of successes this season, including re-setting her PR with a 18:09.00 time at the Olathe Twilight Classic early in the year. But she really started to pick up late in the season as she won two of three races heading into state, including winning a regional title.

Carroll called Hein a special talent, so he was not entirely surprised by her results at state.

“We knew if Emily stayed controlled and measured throughout that first mile, we knew that she was going to be in contention,” Carroll said.

Hein did not get to celebrate a team state title like the boys team did, but she did help lead the Knights to a state runner-up finish.
 

Hein enjoyed getting to hold up their team trophy with her teammates.

“We worked so hard this year and we’ve really grown as a team,” Hein said. “We’ve been able to bond and grown our relationships with each other. It was insane to be able to do that with them.

“This summer we got up every day at 6 a.m. and I really think the hard work paid off.”

Their performance impressed their teammates on the boys side. Shortly after Shively had clinched his second straight title, he made his way to the media section to film video of Hein racing to the finish line for her first state title. He stayed to capture the moment for the entire squad as they earned a second-place team finish.

Shively said that knowing the amount of hours all of Wichita Trinity runners put in this year, he knew he wanted to use whatever energy he had left to cheer them on throughout the race.

“I’ve seen so much growth from our whole team this year,” Shively said. “Not just the guys, but the girls and the guys became a tight-knit group, just dedicating to the grind together.

“To be able to see them have such a great race, it brought a ton of joy to me.”

Shively also has a unique insight into the runner who will likely be Hein’s top challenger heading into next season. Shively’s state accomplishments started with his experience of mixed emotions of finishing runner-up, which Allen has now experienced twice.
 

So Shively’s advice for Hein trying to hold off an even more determined Allen during the 2024 cross country season?

“Success is never guaranteed and that first place is never guaranteed,” Shively said. “You can have great workouts, you can have great races in the past, but make sure that you’re still willing to bring it on the day, every time.

“Be willing to hurt.”

Hein already sounds like she understands that lesson.

“I know Bree is going to make (repeating) not the easiest thing to do,” Hein said.

Hein also still has multiple goals that will drive her to keep sharpening her skills. Near the top of the list is finally breaking the 18-minute mark. Then she just wants to keep pushing the number as far down as she can go.
 

SE OF SALINE CHANGES STRATEGY MIDSEASON ON WAY TO 4-PEAT

Southeast of Saline completed the four-peat, one away from the best stretch for the girls team in a storied cross country program. The team put together a low-score 52, giving the team a 60-point advantage over state runner-up Wichita Trinity.

The Trojans made it business as usual with the final result, but how they put together its low-score 52 was a little different than in years past. None of their runners landed in the top 10 at state.

That was not necessarily unexpected. SE of Saline head coach Wade Caselman said the team decided mid-season to change its race strategy precisely because of this possibility.

“We became a pack running team,” Caselman said. “We realized we didn’t have somebody to be up front at every race. It’s a great philosophy for us.

“It worked and we’re excited for this outcome.”

Instead of relying on one or two runners to stick with the front pack, the Trojans opted to run together a little further back as they still put four runners onto the medal stand.

Sophomore Breckyn Alderson led the team at state with her 11th-place finish, crossing the line with a time of 20:20.70. It was only the second time Alderson finished as the team’s top runner this season. Alderson also led the team when she took first in the Buhler Invitational to start the season.
 

 

She’s generally finished toward the front of Southeast’s pack the rest of the season, although Alderson had one of her toughest outings heading into state. 

She ended up finishing 25th at regionals, finishing with a time above 22 minutes for the first time since it happened twice during her first month of high school cross country races. Alderson was the team’s sixth-fastest runner at regionals, meaning her finish did not end up factoring into the team’s score as the Trojans took first in that race.

Alderson did not receive the best of conditions to try and avoid a slump. The dreary weather at Rim Rock on state race day took a turn for the worse just as the 3A girls race got started. As the SE of Saline girls lined up the start line, ready to defend their three-peat, the wind and the cold were joined by the rain.

None of that was a problem for the Trojans.

“We told the girls that the weather was probably not going to be very good,” Caselman said. “It could be raining, it could be very cold. I just reminded them that in order for us to accomplish our goal, we’ve got to embrace it and just deal with it.

“Everybody we’re running against is running in those same conditions.”

His team clearly embraced those conditions. In addition to Alderson having her rebound performance, freshman Piper Brown took 14th with her time of 20:38.80. Junior Abby Commerford finished a few seconds later to take 16th. Freshman Anna Jackson rounded out the team’s top-20 runners with her time of 20:51.80 netting her 19th-place finish.
 

“They’re all just a great group of girls,” Caselman said. “Abby has been one of our top runners. Breckyn Alderson was our top runner today. Again, she has been one of our top runners throughout this season. Calli (Augustine), Sadie Franklin, Regan Duran, Piper Brown. They’re all just a great group and they work together and everything.”

Augustine finished 31st with a time of 21:17.90 to round out the team’s top five runners who contributed to the team score. Duran finished about five seconds behind her back in 35th. Franklin ended up in 50th with her time of 21:49.20.

Of those runners, only Franklin and one of the team’s alternates, Brookleyn Adams, are seniors on this year’s team. Seeing as only Commerford and Augustine will be seniors heading into next year, the Trojans should have a lot of firepower to try to continue the team’s state title streak.

This four-peat is already the longest under Caselman’s lead, which has included multiple state title streaks across both the boys and girls program. In addition to the girls team earning a two-peat in 2014-15 under Caselman, the Trojans won five straight from 1991-1995 under former head coach Wayne Sager.

Caselman likes his team’s chances of matching that program-best run next year.

“We’re going to enjoy this one first and everything,” Caselman said. “But we’ve got a good group of girls coming back for next year. I look forward to it. Later this week, I’ll break down and see how many won’t be coming back from today’s race and go from there.”
 

CLASS 3A BOYS

TEAM SCORES

Wichita Trinity Academy 49, Southeast of Saline 73, Holcomb 98, Marysville 151, Nemaha Central 171, Lakin 172, Riley County 173, West Franklin 180, Hoisington 203, Girard 217, Wichita Collegiate School 237, Santa Fe Trail 273.

INDIVIDUAL MEDALISTS

1. Clay Shively, Wichita Trinity Academy, 15:48.00; 2. Samuel Ferguson, Wichita Trinity Academy, 15:48.10; 3. Brody Deniston, Holcomb, 15:51.40; 4. Will Meyer, Wichita Collegiate, 15:52.20; 5. Jacob Hobson,  Wichita Trinity Academy, 15:58.00; 6. John Langill, Nemaha Central, 15:59.50; 7. Alex Luce, Lakin, 16:00.40; 8. Cayden Walker, Southeast of Saline,  16:08.20; 9. Lakoddah Downes, Council Grove, 16:11.80; 10. Austin Ritsema, Lakin, 16:12.30; 11. Caleb Tofteland, Wichita Trinity Academy, 16:21.90; 12. Gabe Onelio, Girard, 16:30.20; 13. Jordan Hodge, Hiawatha, 16:31.80; 14. Levi Allen, Southeast of Saline,  16:32.50; 15. Brayden Walker, Southeast of Saline, 16:33.30; 16. Silas Miller, Marysville, 16:33.90; 17. Hunter Bailey, West Franklin, 16:35.90; 18. Houston Mcgown, Girard, 16:40.30 16; 19. Jacob Bircher, Southeast of Saline, 16:41.80; 20. Kamden Tarlton, Hoisington, 16:43.30.