Can a tradition be established in seven short years?
It seems like the Lee's Summit West girls track and cross country teams are answering that question in a positive.
The Titans have won four consecutive state cross country titles and they will be defending their Class 4 track and field title later this month in Jefferson City.
"Dave Denny came here after a successful career at Lee's Summit High School and established the program here," said Jesse Griffin, who is the head cross country coach and coach of the distance girls on the track team.
Denny was the coach of the 2007 Titan state champion cross country team. Griffin took over the next year and has coached three state champion teams in as many years.
"The girls obviously have talent but they also work very, very hard," Griffin said. "That is a great combination."
The beat is likely to go on and on and on with the influx of several talented freshmen to go along with great senior leadership, headed by Chelsey Phoebus.
"We have established a good foundation and the new girls know the expectations that we have for them," Griffin said. "We are in a good cycle right now. The girls who have been here have set the bar high."
It may have seemed that this would be somewhat of a rebuilding season with the graduation of three seniors last season, all of whom are running in college.
But the Titans showed that was not going to be the case in the fall by once again dominating in cross country. Lee's Summit West won the state meet with 52 points while West Plains was a distant second with 118 points. The Titans had four all-state runners and two were seniors (Phoebus and Alex Mouse) while two were freshmen (Kiersten West and Kennadee Williams).
It was an even younger squad was competed and dominated last month at the KU Relays in Lawrence. Phoebus combined with West, Williams and yet another freshman, Elizabeth Nolke, to not only win the 4x1-mile relay but setting a meet record by 20 seconds in the process.
That championship qualifies the quartet to compete at the New Balance Outdoor National Track and Field Championships in Greensboro, N.C. June 19.
"I got to go to that meet when I was a sophomore with three juniors at the time," said Phoebus, who will be running both track and cross country at Oklahoma State University next year. "It was a great experience and so much fun."
And it was also successful as the Lee's Summit West relay team finished sixth, earning All-American status.
"It was amazing to be called an All-American, especially since I was on the B team when I was in middle school (at Summit Lakes)," Phoebus said. "I never dreamed that I could do that."
Phoebus is a four-time all-state runner in cross country, finishing in the top five three times. The one thing missing from her resume is an individual state championship. She looks to do that in Jefferson City.
"I just want to do my best at the state meet," Phoebus said. "I am going to try and run close to a 4:50 mile. The switch has not turned on yet but I know I can do it. The goal in the two-mile is 10:50. If I reach those marks I will be very happy, no matter where that places me."
Phoebus has proven to be a great role model for the talented young group of Titan runners."Chelsey is a great leader," said West. "We all look up to her and she is so fun to be around. I think part of the success of this team is because we all get along so well. It is like a family. We hang out together even when we are not running."
Griffin is excited to see how it all comes together for the Titans in the coming few weeks "The national meet is special but that is really just icing in on the cake," he said. "The number one thing on the agenda now is the district, sectional and state meets. We hope the kids continue to improve and have a good day at the state meet."
And, in the process, further establish the "Titan Tradition".
