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Bulldogs repeat as state cross country champs
By John Gunther, Sports Editor
Tuesday, November 06, 2007 | No comments posted.
EUGENE — Steve Greif described Dan Flora as North Bend’s “X-factor.”
It was impossible for people watching Saturday’s Class 4A state cross country meet to ignore Bulldog teammates Spenser Lynass, Trevor Berrian and Steven Garboden as they finished second through fourth, but behind them, Flora was doing something equally important.
The Bulldog junior passed numerous runners in the final mile of the state cross country meet on Saturday, including a runner from Marist right before the finish.
When the scores were tallied, North Bend had edged Marist by just two points, claiming its second straight boys state title.
Flora passed two runners from Marist and more than 10 others while rallying to finish 20th in the race.
“I was trying to catch them,” he said. “I knew we needed to get some places.”
“I could tell he was the X-factor by how he ran today,” said Greif, North Bend’s assistant coach.
Sam Lynass completed North Bend’s scoring by finishing 38th, and himself out-kicking two others in the frantic final stretch on the track, to give North Bend 52 points, two better than the Spartans, who entered the meet as the top-ranked team.
The Bulldogs were boosted by a huge, vocal crowd that roared on the hillside next to the track when Spenser Lynass, Berrian and Garboden received their medals for finishing in the top 10. About 30 minutes later, the crowd was roaring again when the Bulldogs were introduced as team champions.
“Oh my gosh,” said North Bend coach Tracy Heley. “I’m ecstatic, surprised, happy, satisfied.”
North Bend’s coaches thought Marist might have an edge when the Spartans had four runners among the first 15 finishers, and five in the top 21.
But the point total completed North Bend’s roller-coaster final two weeks that included Garboden suffering a fluke injury — a gruesome dislocated toe — during a team game of Duck, Duck, Goose before practice just over a week before the district meet.
Siuslaw coach Chris Johnson described Garboden’s recovery in time to compete at state as a miracle.
Garboden had learned only last Monday that he was going to be able to run at state, with the dislocated pinkie toe taped closely to the one right next to it. He said he ignored the pain while running.
“I wasn’t thinking about it during the race,” he said. “I just put that aside. I knew what I had to do for my team during the race.”
For him, being able to race was amazing. He needed eight stitches to close a tear in the skin after the accident, and the first prognosis was bad.
“When I was lying on the bed, they told me my season was over,” he said.
But he refused to believe that, followed instructions to rest it, and gained confidence as it felt better every day.
On Saturday, he was able to join North Bend’s front pack.
Spenser Lynass and eventual champion Elliot Jantzer of Phoenix quickly opened a lead, with Berrian about 10 yards back and Garboden another 10 yards behind Berrian. They separated from all the other runners in the first mile and stayed that way through the race.
Jantzer surged on Lynass in the final mile, and finished in 15 minutes and 35 seconds, the best time of any of the races Saturday. Lynass finished in 15:44, while Berrian was timed in 16:12 and Garboden in 16:24.
Lynass gave credit to Jantzer.
“I did what I could,” he said. “I had nothing left at the finish.”
He was comforted knowing two teammates in yellow were next in line.
“I knew they were going to be there,” he said. “I wasn’t surprised at all.”
“It was a hard race, but it turned out great,” Berrian said. “I’m overjoyed to win this again.”
Siuslaw finished out of the trophy chase in sixth place, but the Vikings did have one medalist.
Travis Stevens, who was on the junior varsity team a year ago, finished 10th, with Joseph Campbell 12th.
Johnson was delighted for Stevens, whom he described as one of the best success stories he’s seen.
“To be 10th place in the state meet for a guy who was JV last year — that’s a huge jump,” he said.
It was impossible for people watching Saturday’s Class 4A state cross country meet to ignore Bulldog teammates Spenser Lynass, Trevor Berrian and Steven Garboden as they finished second through fourth, but behind them, Flora was doing something equally important.
The Bulldog junior passed numerous runners in the final mile of the state cross country meet on Saturday, including a runner from Marist right before the finish.
When the scores were tallied, North Bend had edged Marist by just two points, claiming its second straight boys state title.
Flora passed two runners from Marist and more than 10 others while rallying to finish 20th in the race.
“I was trying to catch them,” he said. “I knew we needed to get some places.”
“I could tell he was the X-factor by how he ran today,” said Greif, North Bend’s assistant coach.
Sam Lynass completed North Bend’s scoring by finishing 38th, and himself out-kicking two others in the frantic final stretch on the track, to give North Bend 52 points, two better than the Spartans, who entered the meet as the top-ranked team.
The Bulldogs were boosted by a huge, vocal crowd that roared on the hillside next to the track when Spenser Lynass, Berrian and Garboden received their medals for finishing in the top 10. About 30 minutes later, the crowd was roaring again when the Bulldogs were introduced as team champions.
“Oh my gosh,” said North Bend coach Tracy Heley. “I’m ecstatic, surprised, happy, satisfied.”
North Bend’s coaches thought Marist might have an edge when the Spartans had four runners among the first 15 finishers, and five in the top 21.
But the point total completed North Bend’s roller-coaster final two weeks that included Garboden suffering a fluke injury — a gruesome dislocated toe — during a team game of Duck, Duck, Goose before practice just over a week before the district meet.
Siuslaw coach Chris Johnson described Garboden’s recovery in time to compete at state as a miracle.
Garboden had learned only last Monday that he was going to be able to run at state, with the dislocated pinkie toe taped closely to the one right next to it. He said he ignored the pain while running.
“I wasn’t thinking about it during the race,” he said. “I just put that aside. I knew what I had to do for my team during the race.”
For him, being able to race was amazing. He needed eight stitches to close a tear in the skin after the accident, and the first prognosis was bad.
“When I was lying on the bed, they told me my season was over,” he said.
But he refused to believe that, followed instructions to rest it, and gained confidence as it felt better every day.
On Saturday, he was able to join North Bend’s front pack.
Spenser Lynass and eventual champion Elliot Jantzer of Phoenix quickly opened a lead, with Berrian about 10 yards back and Garboden another 10 yards behind Berrian. They separated from all the other runners in the first mile and stayed that way through the race.
Jantzer surged on Lynass in the final mile, and finished in 15 minutes and 35 seconds, the best time of any of the races Saturday. Lynass finished in 15:44, while Berrian was timed in 16:12 and Garboden in 16:24.
Lynass gave credit to Jantzer.
“I did what I could,” he said. “I had nothing left at the finish.”
He was comforted knowing two teammates in yellow were next in line.
“I knew they were going to be there,” he said. “I wasn’t surprised at all.”
“It was a hard race, but it turned out great,” Berrian said. “I’m overjoyed to win this again.”
Siuslaw finished out of the trophy chase in sixth place, but the Vikings did have one medalist.
Travis Stevens, who was on the junior varsity team a year ago, finished 10th, with Joseph Campbell 12th.
Johnson was delighted for Stevens, whom he described as one of the best success stories he’s seen.
“To be 10th place in the state meet for a guy who was JV last year — that’s a huge jump,” he said.
 Title: State Cross CountryDate: Nov. 5th, 2007 Photos from the 2007 Cross Country Championships at Lane Community College in Eugene Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007. PLAY » |
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