Summer work makes times fall

Despite winning nearly all of their meets last year, few coaches thought the Clovis boys cross country team could continue that success at state.

The Wildcats were made up of flatrunners. By training at 4,300 feet above sea level and on relatively level roads, the team didn’t face the tough environment some of the teams training at 7,000 feet had.

“When we go to state and the guys finish second, it shocked everybody,” third-year coach Brian Stacy said of the team, which also won districts. “I’d like to surprise them again on the girls’ side.”

However, the boys have to deal with losing four of their five top finishers at state last year. Matt Appelman finished fourth, Brian Romero fifth, Tyrell Northcutt eighth and Jeremiah Clark 30th. Only Chris Sawyer, who placed 38th, is back.

In addition to Sawyer, runners and coaches are confident in senior Bret Wilson and junior Mike Wareham, but after that there’s a drop-off.

“It’s going to be very hard to repeat that again,” Stacy said of last year’s feats. “We can do it, but the gap is going to have to close.”

In addition to extra confidence to begin the season, finishing second at state helped recruit students to a sport traditionally low on popularity’s totem pole.

To help close the drop-off from the end of the spring, when most of the runners are done with their track duties, to the beginning of the fall, Stacy fully implemented an off-season running program. What started off last year as once a week with maybe half the squad showing up turned into most members running two to three times a week through the summer. Running pains are down and the team has advanced in a shorter time.

For the girls, the summer running has helped significantly. Based on a timed run a few days ago, the top seven would have beaten the top four runners last year.

The Lady Wildcats return four of the seven state meet runners from last year. They took 10th of 12 teams at state after placing third at regionals.

Senior Megan Willis came in at 42nd, followed a few seconds later by sophomore Tori Northcutt in 49th. Also back are juniors Kelsy Wymore, Monica Soto and Sabina Hoppe.

“I have very high expectations for them, but anything can happen in cross country,” Stacy said.

Willis was more assertive.

“We’re going to win district and we’re going to go out and just do great at state,” Willis said. “I don’t want to settle for state like I have in the past.”

Willis has qualified for state every year since eighth grade, but the team has never finished higher than seventh.

“I’m ready to kick some butt, I know we’re going to,” she added.

The team opens the season Saturday at the Borger Invitational in Texas. Clovis’ invitational is Sept. 18.