With some of the best runners in the state assembling at the Steeplechase Course in Nashville on November 2 for the Division II State Cross-Country Race, the MUS varsity team looked to better last year's fourth-place state finish and complete a fine season. Led by Collins Roll's 5th place finish, the Owls ran very well to finish third, 32 points behind champion Knoxville Webb.
Roll's 15:30 at state was some 20 seconds better than his career-best time, while Marshall Goldsmith, Hunter Adams, William Adams, Brad Whiteside, and Peter Zanca all had season-best times in the meet. Goldsmith's 15:51 was 30 seconds better than he had ever done as he finished 15th overall. Freshman Hunter Adams came in shortly after, finishing 19th with a 16:06, 17 seconds better than his career best. Will Hunt finished 23rd overall with a 16:18, while William Adams came in 31st with a 16:28, some 30 seconds better than he had ever done.
While the top-five runners scored, each team could run two more guys to push other runners. The other two Owl runners included Brad Whiteside, who finished 48th with a 16:56, a fine run considering that he had been fighting mononucleosis this season, and freshman Peter Zanca, who ran a 17:23 to finish 56th.
Coach Joe Tyler was pleased with his team's performance at state as most of the Owls had season-best times, and the average team time was 16:04, the best an MUS team had done in several seasons.
Their performance at state was what the team had been working toward throughout the regular season. Season highlights included a first-place finish at the Chickasaw Trails Invitational in Alabama, a prestigious race featuring 220 runners and 21 teams from across the South. The Owls also claimed another region championship just one week before the state race.
Though they did not win the state title, Coach Tyler was pleased with the year.
"Throughout the season, we kept very focused on the meet that mattered most -- November 2. Wins and losses did not detract from the ultimate goal, which was to compete for a state championship."
Tyler was also happy with senior leadership on the team.
"Our seniors did a great job not letting early season disappointments distract us. Their leadership allowed us to keep the team focused throughout on the goal."
Though only seven runners participated at state, the varsity team consisted of other runners. Senior Eli Atkinson, juniors Tom Billings and Brad Spicer, sophomore Wilson McManus, and freshman Matt Dowling all ran varsity races at some point in the year.
Because this team loses six key seniors, a leadership void may arise on the team. Thus, some of the underclassmen and other newcomers will have to step up to continue the excellence that the MUS cross-country program has come to expect.