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Since Daelen Ackley started running Cross Country last year as a freshman — it’s been one surprise after another.
“I learned last year that I don’t have a clue what his capabilities are,” said El Dorado Springs Cross Country Coach, Brian Goatley. “My son held the previous school record and he’s now graduated. We knew that record might go down, but last year when it was the second race at Missouri Southern and it went down that early, we did not expect that, and he did not expect that.”
The theme continued, and last year Daelen finished 4th at the Class 2 State Track Meet, and beat all 100 freshmen across every class by 11 seconds.
“I like it because it feels empowering, because it feels like no one can catch me,” Ackley said.
This year at the Missouri Southern Stampede, he proved to be better than last, running a 15:43.
“We were all together for the first quarter mile, then I took off from them and just held it, and I PRd and broke the school record again,” said Ackley.
Just like other high school sports, upperclassmen have the upper-hand, because they’re more physically developed; so to have this much success as an underclassman is rare.
“So I think the upside to him is still there. I don’t think we’ve even come close to seeing what his potential is,” said Goatley.
And while Daelen has big dreams of his own —
“I want to go to college for sure, and if I’m good enough I might try to go to the Olympics,” said Ackley.
The biggest surprise for coach Goatley, is how Daelen handles his young stardom.
“I was concerned at first about him losing humility a little bit, and getting a little cocky,” Goatley said, “Also losing that contact with his teammates. Actually he’s probably the biggest cheerleader for all of our other kids. He doesn’t want to be at State by himself, he wants success as a team.”
