No. 14: Wichita Trinity Academy (KS)
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Analysis: This Kansas team packs a legitimate punch.
Take six runners from back from their winning-effort at the Kansas Class 3A Championships last October, on top of senior superstar Clay Shively -- who could have a national-championship type season -- and you have a team capable of a whole lot.
In fact, they were objectively the second-best team in Kansas last year, only behind Class 6A power Shawnee Mission East, which lost star Wyatt Haughton and their top three runners.
Trinity Academy, meanwhile, can count Shively, senior Jacob Hobson and Samuel Ferguson -- all top 10 finishers -- as returners back. Based on numbers alone, this team is ranked No. 13 in national returning average.
Biggest Question: When will they get a chance to prove it?
Ideally, their moment could come in September at Roy Griak. Considered one of the nation's top prep invitationals, it's also one of its most well attended. The championship section last year saw 525 athletes compete across the 5K at Les Bolstad.
A win alone would be great, but we understand the complications of a race like Griak -- where displacement is critical and where running can sometimes be dependent on several mitigating factors.
So here's our resolution: If Trinity Academy can come out of Griak in the top three, then that's all the evidence we need. This squad is primed to be among the nation's best in 2023.
MileSplit50 Boys Team National Rankings Countdown
RANK | DATE-TEAM |
|---|---|
| 25 | Aug. 21 -- Ridgefield (CT) |
| 24 | Aug. 21 -- Bentonville (AR) |
| 23 | Aug. 21 -- Ventura (CA) |
| 22 | Aug. 21 -- McCallie School (TN) |
| 21 | Aug. 21 -- Rocky Mountain (ID) |
| 20 | Aug. 22 -- Portland Jesuit (OR) |
| 19 | Aug. 23 -- Downers Grove North (IL) |
| 18 | Aug. 24 -- Riverton (UT) |
| 17 | Aug. 25 -- Great Oak (CA) |
| 16 | Aug. 26 -- Valor Christian (CO) |
| 15 | Aug. 27 -- Carmel (IN) |
| 14 | Aug. 28 -- Wichita Trinity Academy (KS) |
| 13 | Aug. 29 -- Union Catholic (NJ) |
| 12 | Aug. 30 -- Farragut (TN) |
| 11 | Aug. 31 -- University (WV) |
| 10 | Sept. 1 -- CBA (NJ) |
| 9 | Sept. 2 -- Stevens Point (WI) |
| 8 | Sept. 3 -- Herriman (UT) |
| 7 | Sept. 4 -- Wayzata (MN) |
| 6 | Sept. 5 |
| 5 | Sept. 6 |
| 4 | Sept. 6 |
| 3 | Sept. 6 |
| 2 | Sept. 6 |
| 1 | Sept. 6 |