NC boys settle for second place at state

PASCO — When North Central learned that it had lost the State 3A boys cross country meet by a mere six points Saturday, there was a sense of disappointment.

“We were there with 300 to 400 meters to go and couldn’t quite finish it,” said NC coach Jon Knight. “We were hoping to win it.”

Sophomore Andrew Scott, who had finished seventh overall to lead the Indians’ effort, said, “We didn’t all run our best today.”

But coaches and athletes can beat themselves up forever with the dreaded “what-ifs.” Even East Valley coach Dave McCarty didn’t think his third-place Knights ran as they should.

Yet in its first state appearance as a 3A school, NC brought home its first state trophy in 17 years, and EV, back in the 3A class after a five-year absence, earned its highest finish since McCarty has been coach.

NC fared well, but Bishop Blanchet ran a little bit better. The Braves scored 79 points, with their six-point gap on NC decided by the teams’ No. 3 runners. The Knights finished with 121 points.

“Probably their experience was the biggest factor,” said Knight of Blanchet’s victory. “They had run the course (last year) and our guys hadn’t. This course can get you in trouble. It tends to suck you into a fast first mile.”

That, Knight theorized, may have been why his team, with its scorers bunched between ninth and 30th places at one point in the race, fell back in the final quarter-mile.

Scott had a strong effort and NC’s Luke Graesser finished 15th overall.

NC had six runners ahead of Blanchet’s fifth. But Blanchet had a third-place overall finisher, behind race winner Sam Ahlbeck of Lindbergh, and its third finisher came in nine places up on NC’s third runner.

“This is a good team and we had a great year,” Knight said. “But there’s some disappointment, too. The guys were in really good shape at a mile and one-half. Then the pack started to break apart and faded in the last mile.”

McCarty, as well, was mystified by his team.

“If we had run a really good race, I would feel better,” he said. “I didn’t think I had them prepared, then one told me he was tripped and another was elbowed in the stomach.”

EV’s Nick Atwood ran with the leaders before settling on ninth place. Keith Holt, normally EV’s second runner, was its fourth scorer. But sophomore Tyler Thatcher and senior Matt Tonani competed well, said McCarty, and it enabled the Knights to secure a coveted team trophy.

“Other guys stepped up,” said McCarthy. “I don’t feel bad.”

Girls

For the first time in school history NC competed at state on the same day as its boys team. Mary Graesser, Luke’s sister, gave it a family feel.

The Indians didn’t fare as well as the boys, finishing seventh. Graesser was NC’s top finisher, however, in 17th place.

The highest GSL individual was EV junior Jo E. Mayer, who took the podium in ninth place with her time of 19:08.