In Wyoming, boys race could be a 'duke-out'

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

WYOMING STATE MEET

Laramie boys coach Greg Schabron isn't sure whether his team might be on the short list of Wyoming's best of all-time, but he has heard fellow coaches suggest that he take the team to NXN Regionals.

 
And even with that, Laramie would be making a statement in a state that has not produced a Nike Cross Nationals qualifier since Cheyenne Central in 2006. (Rock Springs' boys made it in 2005).

Laramie is not in the DyeStat Top 40, but it has been sitting on the bubble. The 1-2 punch of brothers Jonah and Chris Henry, plus Heath Geil-Haggerty, has done some good things this season. They won the Rapid City Elks Invitational on Sept. 28 and also won the Pat Amato Classic in Colorado a week later.

Schabron said the Henry brothers -- Jonah is a senior, Chris as sophomore -- have been running cross country since the seventh grade. It wasn't until last spring, though, that they gave up soccer in order to do track.

"Jonah ran 9:19 (for 3,200) and I think we can get him down to around 9:10," Schabron said.

The Wyoming meet, going to Sheridan this year, could feature one of the best boys championship races in state history. Not only will Laramie be revving its engines there, but Rock Springs senior Ricky Faure will be there.

Faure is the reigning state champ in cross country and also the 800 meters and the 3,200 meters. And he has been willing to travel to find competition. He competed at Brooks PR Invite last winter (placing eighth in the 800) and ran 4:13.86 at Arcadia (for sixth) in the 1,600.

"Ricky has run very well for years," Schabron said. "Jonah got second to him at state last year, so there is a lot of motivation. Ricky has a lot of leg speed and is a very smart runner."

In this wide open state of less than 600,000, there are some quality runners.

Laramie and Rock Springs were both in the Northwest boys preseason Top 15. Both teams were potential major players at the Liberty Bell Invite last month before it got washed out by Colorado's torrential rains and flooding. They -- and all other teams from the north of Denver --  had to turn around on the highway and make new plans. They both went to Gillette instead (after contacting the meet director from the road).

In that race, Laramie's Henry brothers both beat Faure.

"It's going to be a duke-out," Schabron said. "There are a few others guys that could be in there as well."