NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Stillwater boys cross country coach Scott Christensen admits that going out for his team isn’t for just any runner.
“I am a coach that wears my emotions on my sleeve. I can be demanding, and I will tell you like it is,” he said Saturday. “If you want warm and fuzzy, you don’t go out for Stillwater cross country. The rewards for those that do, though, are many.”
On Saturday, those rewards came in the form of a championship trophy and blue-ribbon gold medals.
The top-ranked Ponies, using their patented pack-running style over the first two miles, powered their way to the Class AA championship at the Minnesota state meet on the grounds of St. Olaf College. Stillwater, ranked No. 6 in the nation, finished with 92 points. Burnsville was runner-up with 115, and Edina was third at 129.
Junior Wayde Hall led the Ponies to their fourth team title with a seventh-place finish overall, fourth in the team-scoring criteria, in a time of 15:53. Other scorers were junior Eric Colvin (10th, fifth team), senior Tom Linner (31st, 15th team), sophomore Tayler Aarness (37th, 20th team) and junior Sean Bjork (87th, 48th team).
It was Stillwater’s fourth big-school state title and first since winning a third straight championship in 1997. Stillwater has finished in the top five in the state meet 12 times.
“This is what we were shooting for,” Hall said. “Everything was set up to make it happen here at the state meet.”
Stillwater’s average time for its top seven runners was 16:17.2, five seconds faster than Burnsville. The top five finishers figure into the team scoring.
“I think when you win a state title, it is a beautiful win,” said Christensen, who has coached the Ponies for 30 years. “These guys really dedicate themselves, so to win a state title is pretty special. I was hoping it would be a special day for our guys.”
Stillwater’s season isn’t over.
Next Sunday, the Ponies will compete in the Nike Regionals in Sioux Falls, S.D. If they finish as one of the top two teams, they will earn a berth in the Nike national meet Dec. 3 in Portland, Ore.
“I wish this team could go on forever,” Linner said. “I wish this season could last the rest of my life; that’s how great it is to be a part of this group. I’ve had the time of my life this season.”
— Wayzata senior Josh Thorson won the Class AA individual title in a time of 15:29.9, nearly 10 seconds ahead of Rochester Mayo senior Riley Macon.
“I was able to hold him off,” said Thorson, who gained separation from the lead pack with about 800 meters remaining in the 5,000-meter race. He was sixth at the state meet last season.
— St. Cloud Cathedral made it a sweep of Class A team championships – the Crusaders also won the girls title – with a one-point victory over Perham, the 2010 small-school champion. Nick Golebiowski led the way for the Crusaders followed by teammates Cole Wintheiser, Thomas Friebe, Beau Gerding and Eli Stark-Haws. St. Cloud Cathedral, which was third last season, also was the Class A champion in 2005.
— Nevis senior Bryon Schuldt was in 60th place at the 1-mile mark of the Class A boys race, but he didn’t panic.
He worked his way through the pack and bolted at just past the 2-mile mark to run away with the individual title in a time of 15:55.3. He finished just more than four seconds ahead of Blake’s Brandon Clark, who was second in 15:59.4.
“I felt very strong (throughout),” Schuldt said.
