(Pictures courtesy of Greg Hall)
For all those teams looking to capture the class 4 state championship on Saturday, they will first need to take down the champs. The defending champions from Lee's Summit North are not ready to give up the title just yet. The Broncos bring back four runners from last yearís squad that raised the trophy.
"We were elated, plus relieved. We really felt we had a State Championship caliber team all season. When we picked up our rings, I told the boys to always savor wearing it; it is something that lasts forever and no one can take it away it is very special" Coach Kris Solsberg remembered.
Last yearís state meet starts with the 2009 meet. We lost in a really close meet and came back in 2010 with determinationî senior standout Kolton Sheldon said. ìWhen I got the state trophy in my hands it felt like an accomplishment. Everything I have been working towards for two years finally came about. I accomplished any high school studentís goal. I led a team to a state titleî.
The quest for a repeat got off to a rocky start this summer. The day after districts during track season, Sheldon suffered a broken foot while training to be a lifeguard during the summer.
"I practiced all week trying to fight through the pain. During the 4x800 at sectionals, I got the baton in 5th and had about six seconds to make up. At the 400 mark I felt a nice pop in my foot. We qualified in 4th. Later, after the mile I could not walk off the track. Coach called it quits after that Sheldon explained.
Coach Solsberg describes the summer. "The rest of the team ran about the same volume and intensity. But it was a little different not having our leader. We felt we were not where we normally are early in the season. We were pretty sure it would take some time to be 100".
Sheldon trained hard all summer to be at his best right now. ìI did a lot of pool work in the summer. My first run since sectionals was July 27th. I started out running two miles every day, then built up from there. Coach Solsberg has done an awesome job bringing me aroundî.
Currently ranked 7th in the Big River Rankings, Sheldon and the Broncos look to build off their second place finishes at both districts and sectionals the last two weekends. Joining Sheldon from the championship squad from a year ago are Corey Wheaton-Werle, Will Thomas and Derek Somogye. Senior Wesley Turner transferred to Lee's Summit North last spring from Texas. Rounding out the top seven are junior Zach Hall and sophomore Brian Green. Green has been a huge addition to the team this season.
"I ran cross country last season, but suffered a stress fracture after the first race and was out for the rest of my freshman season. I am a bit surprised at how well this season has gone for me. After the injury, I was not expecting to come back this year and be where I am now" Green said.
Such a deep team with a front man like Sheldon is a force to be reckoned with.
"Anytime you can count on your #1 man to come up big when it counts is priceless. Kolton is the face and voice of this team. He leads by example, but also with respect" Coach Solsberg praised. 
"My leadership style has defiantly stayed the same over the past three years. I try to stand up and be vocal, positive, and encouraging. I really try to mean what I am saying and let it show while I am running with the team" Sheldon said.
Perhaps the most important aspect of this Broncos team, is they want to race for each other.
"This team is by far the tightest knit group of guys I have seen. We do a lot of stuff together. We are more like brother than teammates. We all know our roles, and some of us have been together four years now. I could not have asked for a better group of guys to run with" Sheldon explained.
The Broncos have made an effort to not feel pressure to live up to last yearís team that graduated three members, two of which were all state runners.
"I took the returners out to breakfast on the first day of practice and talked about how each team is different, how you cannot be last yearís team. But to focus on this yearís team and try to be something original" Coach Solsberg said.
"There is defiantly some internal pressure. But we realize we cannot just go out and do what we did last year. This year we have to follow the strategy and execute. We put the pressure on ourselves to keep us motivated, but understand that the teams are different" Sheldon said.
The goal for Saturday is to go out there and see what happens for the Broncos team that jumped all the way from #9 to #4 in the latest Big River Team Rankings.
Coach Solsberg said, "This is 4th consecutive year we have qualified as a team. There are some really talented teams in the state again this year, and a trophy will be a tall order. A seasoned coach told me years ago, "There is nothing like having your team on the line competing for a Championship on a Saturday anything can happen".
"We are ready to push and be as fast as we can be" Green said.
"We are defiantly flying under the radar and we are completely happy to stay that way. Teams can overlook us. We know how bad it can turn out for you when you do not take every race 110% seriously. At state we will be shooting for the major players. We started a tradition of success at state my freshman year and it will not be changing as long as I am around" Sheldon promised.
Lee's Summit North is not going to hand over the title willingly. With a strong front man and a deep, dedicated team, expect the Broncos to give it their best fight until the end.