Clash of the Titans: XC Legacy Wildcards

By Aron Taylor (XCNation.com)

When does the page turn from the past to the present? The quest to crown the greatest boys team in US history compromises a group spanning four decades. Each with a story and an argument as to their place among the cross immortals. This season three programs have stepped forward with moments of greatness which are historic in significance. This story is about the XC Legacy Wildcards.

 

In 1972 a team entitled, “The Magnificent Seven” stormed through California and rewrote the record books as a team. Legendary editor Doug Speck entitled them possibly the best ever. Marc Bloom introduced the Harrier Super-25 Team Rankings in 1976 featuring comprehensive rankings for prep cross country teams for the first time. Since 1972 teams have come and gone across the entire nation which has fueled the fascination with the team championship for prep cross-country.

 

I am going to make a declaration that I believe will stand. 2010 features three of the top ten boy’s teams in US history. In no particular order, Columbus North, Indiana, American Fork, Utah and Arcadia, California will be the top three boy’s teams at the end of this season each with their own case for entry into the greatest team’s all-time list.

 

When does the page turn from the past to the present? NOW!

 

Columbus North, Indiana: XC Legacy Wildcard

Columbus North, Indiana has breezed through the 2010 season as an unstoppable force. From fast 5k’s to low scoring routes the Bulldogs have been a formidable opponent for all teams they have faced. This past week at the Semi-State Championships the Bulldogs won with a 15:38 5k average and 46 points over 20-teams including the top individual in the nation. The string of 15-minute team averages has stretched the entire season.

 

Columbus North ran a 15:35 5k average to win the region championships with a 44-second 1-5 spread and 18 points. At the sectional championships a week prior they ran 15:38 5k average to win with a 42-second 1-5 spread and 17 points. At the Culver Invitational they ran a 15:47 5k average with a 39-second 1-5 spread. At the Eagle Classic they ran a 15:55 5k average with a 33-second 1-5 spread. Perhaps the indicator of things to come, at the mid-season Artesian Classic the Bulldogs packed a 19-second spread 1-5 averaging 15:17.15. The course, a legitimate 5000 meters was won by US#1 Futsum Zeinasellasse in a course record 14:49.21. Prior to that day the course record was set in 2009 by individual state champion Futsum with a time of 15:11.15 who improved upon his 15:25 course record set in 2008. Columbus North finished that day as one of only a handful of teams to average sub 15:20 as a team over 5000 meters of any difficulty. The 15:17 average over 5000 meters ranks up there with the 1980 Indiana State meet performance by Bloomington North who averaged 15:13 (35-second 1-5 spread) and 1981 Carmel who averaged 15:16 (7-second 1-5 spread) over the state championship 5k course. Both Bloomington North and Carmel would claim the national championship.

 

At the Indiana State Championships, Columbus North won with 94-team points and a 16:04.8 average 1-5. They dominated the second place team Noblesville by over 80 points. To put the performance into perspective, this years team would have scored 16-points against last years US#20 Columbus North team at the state meet. Completing the season undefeated they head to post season competition as one of the great Indiana teams all-time.

 

Columbus North is undefeated, unchallenged and on a collision course with the Illinois juggernauts at the NXN Midwest Region Championship. Should Columbus North run the table and finish as national champions the argument has been made for induction to the greatest all-time list of teams.

 

American Fork, Utah: XC Legacy Wildcard

The American Fork Cavemen out of American Fork, Utah have stepped so far beyond the stratosphere of comparison within their own state it begs the question, how good are they? Last season Timo Mostert led his team to the Southwest Region Championship on a 6th-man tie breaker over Albuquerque Academy breaking the Charger’s stranglehold as the Southwest’s top program.

 

The Cavemen finished 8th last season at the national championship with the number one and three varsity runners Clayton Young and Mac Morrison finishing well off their best. One can assume near 100 team points were in jeopardy. Meaning, last years Cavemen team was incredibly talented and capable of claiming the team title on any given day. An off day last year still kept them in the top 10 nationally whereas any other team would have been out of the running. This season the team returned 6 of 7 and looks much stronger.

 

Right off the bat this season the Cavemen rewrote Utah record books with a 41-second shellacking of the 1999 National Champion Mountain View Bruin’s course record at the Grass Relays. The time that day, 52:14 was so far beyond anything seen in the state that national rankings experts shot them to the top of the polls. Running unmatched and undefeated the entire season the pollster’s waited in anticipation of the state meet. A meet which last seasons Cavemen set incredible records over a historically significant course. Would this year’s team improve upon those marks? YES.

 

The big spin for this team came at the Utah State Championships. The Cavemen absolutely destroyed all competition with a course record team time and team score. The Cavemen score 21-points with all varsity scorers in the top 10 for a team average of 15:35 over the 3-mile course. The 21-points were not only the team total for the 5A division but also the team score in combined team scoring against 72-teams!

 

To put the team average into perspective, before 2010 only a handful had ever met or broken 15:30 on the Utah state course. Among those were Foot Locker finalists Josh Rohatinsky, Chandler Goodwin, Seth Pilkington, Nurani Sheikh, Steve Shepherd, Stephen Clark, Luke Puskedra, and Pat Smyth. To break 15:30 has almost always resulted in top performances at Foot Locker West and Nationals.

 

The course is 3-miles of rolling hills easily Utah’s most difficult it is comparable to a 5000 meter course as the times have been shown to carry straight across to the longer distance. The boy’s record was set in 2007 by Luke Puskedra in 14:54 breaking Josh Rohatinsky’s mark of 15:07 from 1999.

 

The long list of top performers at the Sugarhouse State Park course is as follows: In 2000, Foot Locker All-American’s Chandler Goodwin finished 7th at nationals with a personal best 15:36 with Seth Pilkington finishing 6th at nationals only managing 15:50 over the state course. In 2001, Nurani Sheikh finished 4th at the Foot Locker National Championships; however his best time was 15:39 over the Utah state course. In 2002, Foot Locker Finalist Steve Sheppard runs the top time over the course in 15:36. Current Notre Dame Standout and 9-minute prep two-miler Pat Smyth only managed 15:35 over the course in 2004. 2007 Foot Locker All-American Stephen Clark had a personal best 15:21.

 

The total team time of 78:01 set this seasons Utah State Meet breaks the meet record of 79:32 set by last seasons American Fork team. How good is American Fork? Still largely unknown, what is known is that they are much better than last seasons team which was light years ahead of any team in Utah state history. Oh, and they defeated Davis, Utah easily at the state meet; the same Davis team who defeated both Lewis & Clark and North Central at the Bob Firman Invitational. American Fork is soon to be regarded as one of the great programs in US history.

 

Arcadia, California: XC Legacy Wildcard

Coming into the season we knew they would be good as a result of a tremendous spring campaign as well as being led by individual national standout Moussa. The spotlight rested squarely on Arcadia, California. The Apache’s first opened eyes in 2010 with a stellar 76:17 total team time record at the Stanford Invitational. Over 5000 meters the team charged to a 15:16 average with top runner Ammar Moussa setting a meet record in 14:37. More records were to come for Arcadia and Moussa.

 

This season Arcadia has been ranked at the top of all major national polls. Then it happened, the team popped a big one at the Clovis Invitational at historic Woodward Park. In 1993 Mead, Washington ran over the historically significant Woodward Park course a team time few thought could be matched or broken. Many have come and all have fallen short of the 77:22 (15:28-average) course record. The course has been used as the home of the California State Meet since 1987 and home to the Kinney/Foot Locker West Region meet from 1980 until the late 1990’s. That 1993 Mead team was declared by the Harrier as national champions and regarded as an all-time team. The results of that race will propel Arcadia should they cap the season undefeated into the discussion of greatest or best all-time. 77:09 is a mark unimaginable to those who know the history of Woodward Park. Speaking on the phone the night before the race Ammar Moussa declared, “Our goal has been to break Mead’s mark, we are going after it. It may not fall tomorrow but by the end of the season we want that record...and a national championship.” Moussa would win in 14:51 with teammate Sergio Gonzalez 3rd in 15:10. The team average of 15:25 is tops all-time as the team looks to improve upon this mark at the state championships.

 

Adding to the Apache mystique the team entered the Mt. Sac Invitational this past weekend. As if Stanford, Woodward Park, the record books had not all-together been redefined Arcadia did the unthinkable. Averaging 15:03 per runner they smashed the Mt. Sac course record posting a 75:16 total team time to top US#4 Dana Hills and US#6 Trabuco Hills. Rockstar runner Ammar Moussa ties Diego Mercado’s course record with a 14:24 and teammate Sergio Gonzalez finishes second in 14:44.

 

Arcadia would claim another all-time team record competing over the 3-mile Apache Invitational course. Running a 25-second 1-5 spread Arcadia packed it up for a 72:23 total team time. Averaging 14:28.8 for 3-miles Arcadia set the US record for fastest 3-mile total team time. The record had belonged to the 1999 York team as led by Don Sage which ran a 72:37 at the Illinois State Meet. A close third is 1977 Deerfield who ran a 72:46 to claim the Lake County Championships. Deerfield is considered the best team all-time.

 

1. Arcadia, California 2010 72:23 (14:28.8 avg.)
2. York, Illinois 1999 72:37 (14:31.4 avg.)
3. Deerfield, Illinois 1977 72:46 (14:33.2 avg.)

 

Several things could happen for Arcadia. If the team posts a sub 15:20 average at the state meet and runs the table at NXN the argument will ring out as valid that Arcadia is the best all-time. Victory favors the bold; Arcadia is one of the top teams in US history.

 

 

**THE GREATEST TEAMS IN US HISTORY**

On rare occasions throughout the history of prep cross country a moment in time occurs that culminates in greatness. The convergence of individual talent and ability, coaching and timing meet for one moment of perfection that lasts a lifetime, a perfect storm.
 
 
The question has risen time and again, who is the greatest, who was the best…who set the standard of excellence for boys prep cross country teams? For the modern prep cross country team who dreams of reaching the pinnacle of prep cross country, Nike Cross Nationals Champions, it is vital to know the history, the legacy, and how you stack up.
 
 
YORK, Illinois: One of the all-time great teams, in the modern era Joe Newton’s 1999 York team, which decimated the Illinois State Championships with 24 points, must be in consideration for best all-time. Newton’s top five runners all placed in the top ten at the championships with a 14:31.4 3-mile average. The total team time of 72:37 set in the 99' state meet is regarded as the US record over 3-miles. Led by individual standout Donald Sage an 8:42 3200 meter runner the team was deep as the spread from 2-5 was 12-seconds. The top five were also deep, deep, deep, with a front four all under 9:15 for two-miles. 1. Donald Sage 8:42; 2. Adam Palumbo 9:12; 3. Peter Cioni 9:12; 4. Adam Roche 9:14; 5. Peter Stasiulis 9:27. Touted by experts following the state championships as possibly the best ever, a team that coach Joe Newton proclaimed his best ever and which was reported by former Milesplit National Editor Scott Bush in his piece “On the Track with the Dukes of York”, “They want to be the best; they want to be the new team to be compared to.…which is considered the best ever in Illinois history and was the number one team in the nation according to The Harrier that year.” Were they the best in Illinois state or US history?   Scott Bush 99’ York Story 

 

 

LARGO, Florida: The greatest program in Florida cross-country history, though Brent Haley will never accept the title the Largo "Packer's" ran through the 1983 season undefeated in epic fashion. In 1976 Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach) dominated the state destroying Largo along the way handily. However, the team was ill prepared for the state championship weather which rose above 95 degrees devastating to the Choctaw runners who were acclamated to 40-50 degree weather during the season. Ultimately, Choctaw lost the state title to Largo but to many the team composed the greatest group of prep runners on one team in state history but were unable to finish the perfect season. We honor that group. Haley mounted another assault equal in comparison to the 93' Mead program. At the 1983 Florida State Invitational, over the hilliest course in Florida the team averaged 15:28 for 5000 meters dominating 30 teams with 26 points. 1. Chris Palmer 15:03; 3. Kurt Backman 15:20; 4. Karl Moeller 15:21; 8. John Brennan 15:43; 12. Matt Farnan 15:53. Other impressive performances came at the District Championships where Largo scored a perfect 15 points with a 15:02.4 3-mile average with a 36 second 1-5 spread. 1. Chris Palmer 14:47; 2. Kurt Backman 14:47; 3. Karl Moeller 14:55; 4. Tim Marion 15:20; 5. John Brennan 15:23. A week later they would all tie for first place in the same time, 15:26 for 3-miles, another perfect 15 point victory. At the Region Championships Largo scored 17 team points with a 15:15 3-mile average. The team then dominated the state championships ending the season perfect. One of the all-time great teams and a program decades in the making led by National Cross-country Coach of the Year Brent Haley. But were they the greatest? Largo Story

 

 

MEAD, Washington: In 1993 a team out of the Greater Spokane League threw their names in the hat for greatest ever. The Pat Tyson-coached Mead Panthers dominated historically significant championship courses enroute to a Harrier National Championship. A team which still holds the Woodward Park course record for team time when they traversed the course in 77:22, or roughly 15:28 average over 5000 meters. The finished with Matt Davis 14:53, Micah Davis 15:11, Rob Aubrey 15:27, Greg James 15:42, Sky Detray 15:58. Possibly the most significant course in US history, Woodward Park stands as the standard of excellence for 5000 meters on the west coast. In a Special to the Daily News, Sean Martin quoted Dyestatcal Editor Rich Gonzales as stating, ``It is the best measuring stick…It's a much more consistent course (over the years), and all the top teams run there in top shape.” Mead would then go on to decimate the Washington State Championships with 31 team points while claiming the top three individual places and four in the top eight. Individual standout Matt Davis won in a meet record 14:09.3 over the moderately hilly course. Davis time can only be considered on par with the level of excellence of Craig Virgin's 13:50 Detweiller Park course record. The 14:09 was simply stunning as brother Micah Davis finished second in 14:46. Rob Aubrey finished 3rd in 14:48 with Greg James 6th in team scoring in 15:08. An off day by #5 Sky Detray who finished 19th in team scoring, 15:43, kept the Panther’s from possibly scoring under 20 points. What is clear is that Mead was deep, talented with a front four which was formidable. The weakness for Mead as a cross-country team was the spread from 4-5. Within the same 12-month period the times for this top five speak for themselves, all were state champions, 1. Matt Davis 4:10/9:04; 2. Micah Davis 4:07/8:58; 3. Rob Aubrey 4:11/9:07; 4. Greg James 4:10; 5. Sky Detray 4:08/8:58. Were the Panther’s the best ever? Pat Tyson Story   

 

 

KENT ROOSEVELT, Ohio: Since 1974 the fastest recorded 4K (2.5mi) team performance was that of the 74' South Eugene Axemen. That Harry Johnson team would stake claim at the Oregon State Cross Country Championships with the fastest team average in US history 12:02! No team other than the Axemen have ever cracked the 12:10 barrier as a team average EXCEPT the Kent Rough Riders. Running in separate divisions based upon class the team performed the near impossible and recorded the second fastest total team time average over 4K in US history...easily rivaling that of the 74' National Champion Axeman of South Eugene. Senior Steve Weiner claimed top honors in 11:52 with the team close behind, 2.) Rick Brown 11:59, 3.) Mike Hirt 12:02; 4.) Rick Hughey 12:12; 5.) Perry Boykin 12:18. At the Ohio State Championships without the #1 runner the TEAM produced an 18 second spread, scored 44 team points, and averaged 12:17 for 2.5 miles!!! Had Steve Weiner not been sick the team would have placed five competitors in the top 10 positions and possibly been the first team in history to average sub 12 minutes over 2.5 miles. On few occasions teams have the opportunity to show the nation what they truly are all about. At the Walsh Jesuit Classic less than a week from the District Championships the Rough Riders staked claim as one of the all-time great prep cross programs. Kent was deep with tremendous talent ultimately EQUAL in every aspect to the 1981 Carmel team as both produced seven perfect 15 point in-season team performances. Read the 1980 Kent Story

 

 

CARMEL, Indiana: When focusing on the greatest team of all-time aside from individual talent no other team stands as the perfect example of "team" as the 1981 Carmel Greyhounds. Having no standout individuals the team was a program six seasons in the making by a coach, Chuck Koeppen, who witnessed the incredible Deerfield teams dominance at the 1977 Ill-Iana Classic. Putting Carmel's dominance into perspective the team scored less than 16 points in eight meets during the season with four meets all five tying for first place. Running against the best runners in the nation the team often perfect scored meets and ran the tightest championship spreads on record. The state meet performance in which the team averaged 15:16 for 5000 meters they demonstrated true depth with a seven second 1-5 spread. 1. Adam Smith 15:13; 2. Leonard Bareford 15:15; 3. Dan Boston 15:16; 4. Richie Garing 15:17; 5. David Widmer 15:20. As far as comparing track potential it becomes difficult as Carmel's top five were the equivelant of having five runners between 9:10-9:20 for two-miles essentially lethal as a cross country team. In cross they would pack between the #1 and #2 runners generally all five competing with the individual top runners from each team. Based upon our research there can be no doubt that the greatest championship performance in US history belongs to Carmel, Indiana whom always ran up to their potential as a team. Read the 1981 Carmel Story

 

 

BLOOMINGTON NORTH, Indiana: In 1980 out of Bloomington North, Indiana comes the Charlie Warthan coached Cougars. A team who stormed through Indiana in epic fashion culminating in a state championship in which they would average 15:13 for 5000 meters with a 34 second 1-5 spread. The top four were perhaps the best 1-4 spread in US history challenging the great Deerfield team of 1977. That season they battled in the rankings against a tough York, Illinois team whom ran exceptionally well themselves with an impressive 33 second 1-5 spread averaging 14:54 for 3-miles roughly 15:23 pace for 5000 meters. But Bloomington North was superior Marty Bassett and Keith Sharpless were individual title favorites with Jeff Grove competing against the top runner from any team in the state. David Johnloz ran right off Grove's shoulder generally with most teams #1 or #2 runner. 1. Marty Bassett 15:03.1; 2. Keith Sharpless 15:03.7; 3. Jeff Grove 15:07.6; 4. Dave Johnloz 15:13.5; 5. Chris Crewell 15:35.5. Having a 1-2 punch of top five individual national runners it was difficult to stop the Cougars from scoring a low 34 points at the state championship. The 4-5 spread was the weakness for Bloomington North. But were they the best? 80’ Bloomington North Story

 

 

SOUTH EUGENE, Oregon: In 1974 the South Eugene, Oregon squad capped a back-to-back national championship with an impressive 12:02 avg. over 4000 meters at the state championships. Behind legendary standout Bill McChesney's individual victory in 11:38 and brother Steve McChesney 6th in 11:57. The team scored 56 points behind the masterful team performance. Seth Brown finished 13th in team scoring in 12:09 with John Gustafson 15th in team scoring in 12:12. The anchor Rich Harter finished in 12:17. The 12:02 team average is a US National record for 4k (2.5 miles). The team depth was also incredible with five under 9:20 for two-miles. 1. Bill McChesney Jr. 8:50, 2. Steve McChesney 9:04; 3. Seth Brown 8:30.8 3K; 4. John Gustafson 9:16; 5. Rich Harter 9:21. Were the Axemen the best ever?

 

 

LOMPOC, California: Legendary national editor Doug Speck called the 1972 Lompoc, California team the “Magnificent 7”. A team about whom Speck was quoted to have stated, “The quality of efforts, domination over good competition, and a ruthless, competitive style that took no prisoners along the way during a very competitive era of prep distance running in California certainly marks them as among the best in the state and the nation’s history.” Looking at two-miles the team was tough. 1. Terry Williams 8:54; 2. Alvin Gilmore 9:15; 3. Jim Schankel 9:17; 4. Jim Warrick 9:20; 5. Tony Nunoz 9:29. Terry Williams Lompoc decimated the CIF Southern Section Championships while also setting the national postal two-mile record, a team which had personal bests for 3-miles of 13:53.8 for Terry Williams, Jim Schankel 14:27.8, Jim Warrick 14:54.8, Roger Fabing 14:58.8, and Steve Galbraith 15:09.8…were they the best ever?  Doug Speck’s Lompoc Story

 

 

DEERFIELD, Illinois: Perhaps no team in recorded history has been so deep with talent as the Deerfield squad of 1977. Featuring five sub 9:15 two-milers the team was deep. Back-to-back national champions and a streak of 400-0. They simply are the standard by which all programs look to when questioning who were the greatest. Led by Len Kisellus and Bob Fjelstul the team was stacked with talent and perhaps far better than ever witnessed. Based upon our research there can be no doubt that while the team was prone to inconsistency they were likewise the most talented group of runners on one team in US history. How dominant was Deerfield? I believe that Deerfield's top five could have competed against any top individual from any team as the difference beween 1st and 5th usually took place in the final 200 meters. A team who should have placed all five in the top 15 at the state meet, they were that good. Most notably a 14:33.2 3-mile average at the 1977 Lake County Championships with a 72:46 total team time, the Deerfield top-five made it common place to all crack the 15 minute barrier. 1. Todd McCallister 9:07 (14:15 3-mile); 2. Mark McCallister 9:10 (14:22 3-mile); 3. Keith Hampton 9:05 (14:33 3-mile); 4. Tom Stevens 9:12 (14:38 3-mile); 5. Dane Rutstein 9:16 (14:28 3-mile). Read; DEERFIELD 101 & 1977 Deerfield Story