As one runner wraps up his high school cross country career, it seems another one has taken off.

Such is the case with Dylan McClain and Alysha Valencia.

Valencia, the Free State High freshman whose been dominant in her first season of running, has established herself as one of the favorites in this Saturday’s Class 6A state cross country meet at Rim Rock Farm.

Just like McClain did three years ago.

“Dylan has been so good for so long, it’s hard for me to remember when he wasn’t,” Lawrence High coach Dick Reamon said.

The LHS senior became one of the Lions’ top runners as a freshman, poised to follow in the steps of Chris Williams, who as a senior in the 1999 season won his third straight individual title.

Now Reamon sees another runner as promising as those two.

“She’s quite talented,” he said after Valencia won the first race of the season at the Overland Park Aquinas Invitational.

“She was just amazing.”

More amazingly, Valencia was a rookie to cross country. A premier soccer player and swimmer, she decided to give cross country a try after running track in seventh grade.

She’s won five races, including setting the school record in the Aquinas meet and winning the 6A regional last Saturday at Manhattan. That comes after no training last summer and limited miles this fall. Imagine the possibilities.

“I’ve coached a lot of good runners and she’s out there, out and beyond any of them,” FSHS coach Steve Heffernan said. “Talent-wise, she’s as good as any of them right now. If she really wants to pursue it, there’s no telling.”

Yet, even with a ton of talent and hard work, there’s no guarantee. McClain can attest to that.

A freshman phenom

As a freshman, McClain was one of the best runners around, placing 22nd at state. The Lions came up just short in their quest for the team title, but McClain was young and knew some personal achievements were within reach.

But after placing 85th as a sophomore, and coming up just short last year, he’s dealt with defeat more than he’s liked.

“That about what I’ve done for 21/2 years now,” McClain said. “I’m pretty sick of it, actually. What can I say? I quit? I wanted to do that at one point.”

He’s probably too hard on himself.

That fabulous freshman year he was second at league and third at regionals, and has followed that with top five showings ever since. He’s won four races this year alone, including a Sunflower League title two weeks ago. McClain’s been the top man on the No. 1 ranked boys’ team all season, and was second at state last year, just 1.6 seconds behind Wichita Heights’ Ryan Wilson.

Both he and Reamon know he’s capable of amazing races.

“I don’t think he’s quite had the race this year that he’s got the ability to have,” Reamon said.

The best part of this season has been the team’s development. The Lions have been good all year, but have really come on lately, winning their second straight league title and breezing to the regional title.

They’ll be the favorites this Saturday at state, and, to his credit, McClain would prefer a team title. It’s just a matter of re-arranging his priorities.

“Now it seems like it flip-flopped. But I’m happy it flip-flopped. I know I’ve enjoyed it,” McClain said. “It’s been my life for four years.”

Running wonder

Running hasn’t been Valencia’s life.

Swimming and soccer were priorities, and, until a month ago, she was juggling soccer and cross country. That is, until her parents made her focus on running  which she wasn’t thrilled about.

“Ugh. I had to quit. My parents made me,” she said at the league meet, still upset.

Wise move. This late in the cross country season, a sprained ankle or shin splints could derail a runner, no matter their conditioning.

The way Valencia wins races with such ease, it’s tough for her to understand why one should focus on just one sport.

But there’s things to learn about racing that requires more running than just on weekends.

“It’s hard, when you’re winning the way she is winning. It makes it easier to not always run a perfect race” FSHS coach Steve Heffernan said. “When she comes around and starts understanding the techniques, it could be scary how good she could be.”

At the start of the season, Valencia would rush to the front of the pack and try to hold on from there. Usually, it worked.

When she ran at Rim Rock, she tried that method again, but struggled when it came to the course’s hills and rough terrain. After that, she realized how important strategy was.

“I’m going to try,” she said. “I’m kind of getting more serious as the meets go by. I just started out to run. Now I’m starting to understand the different techniques and racing styles.”

Matt Norton, a Firebird assistant coach and former KU runner, has been running with Valencia, working on those very techniques and strategies. Sometimes the workload can be overwhelming for the freshman.

“She’s still got a lot to learn about what she can really do. I don’t know if she fully understands,” Norton said. “That’s OK. She’s awfully young and we want it to be fun. When she gets older and matures a little more, how far she’ll go will be up to her.”

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

What does Saturday hold?

Neither McClain nor Valencia will be the favorites come Saturday. But that’s not a bad thing. The pressure will be on Wilson, who returns to defend his title, and Shawnee Mission South’s Connie Abbott.

And to run without pressure is a relief to any runner, no matter how experienced they are.

“Most kids fall into their niche. If running is their niche, then so be it,” Reamon said. “I think Dylan does enjoy running and the freedom of it. It’s relief to him.”

On Saturday maybe a long-time goal will finally be realized. Or a young runner might surprise the field.

One’s thing’s for sure. Three years from now, no matter what McClain or Valencia have accomplished, expect a young runner to assert themselves. And the cycle will start again.