Desert Vista 'humbled, honored, excited' by selection

By Erik Boal and Brian Towey of DyeStat

Following the most disappointing performance of their season and with history not in their favor, the members and coaches of the Desert Vista boys cross country program had no other choice but to remain optimistic.

Despite no Arizona boys team being selected in the first 13 years of Nike Team Nationals and Nike Cross Nationals competition and the odds not being favorable for the Thunder to qualify following a fourth-place finish Nov. 18 at NXR Southwest in its home state, Desert Vista continued to train as if its fortunes would finally change Saturday.

When Thunder coach Chris Hanson got the call, he realized the patience and perseverance of assistant Dr. Jeff Messer and his athletes became worth it when Desert Vista received one of four at-large bids to compete in its first national final Saturday at Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland, Ore.

“We were, and still are, completely humbled, honored and excited all in one,” Hanson said. “We had prepared as if it may happen and actually had the best training week of the season last week prior to knowing. Although we know that this is a second chance, we have been business-like outside of the complete euphoria on Saturday evening.

“I think we found that there is so very little room for mistakes. Even a one percent increase in what was planned can and did have major repercussions (at regionals). It was certainly a learning experience. We just can’t make it (again) going forward with the competition as great as it is.”

Breaking down the at-large selections

For the second time in three years, the Southwest regional was awarded two boys at-large entries, with Utah programs Lone Peak and American Fork selected in 2015.

Until Saturday, only Utah teams had received at-large boys entries from the Southwest, with Davis qualifying in 2010, Springville last year and Timpanogos in both 2014 and this season when it placed third ahead of Desert Vista.

Mountain Vista CO and Springville earned the two Southwest automatic berths, marking the ninth time in meet history – the sixth since 2007 – that one region has been represented by four boys teams at the national finals. California has been responsible for three of those occasions in 2008, 2009 and 2011.

During the NTN years, the Northwest had four bids each in 2005 and 2006, with the Northeast also being represented by four teams in 2005 when it still included New York. Since regional meets were added a decade ago, only 2008 when the Northeast boasted North Allegheny PA and Danbury CT and the two occasions for the Southwest had a regional east of California earned two boys at-large bids in the same year.

Additional history was made Saturday when Green Hope NC became the first Southeast boys team in meet history to secure an at-large berth. California Division 2 state champion St. Francis Mountain View received the fourth boys at-large bid.

The Southwest holds the record by having all four boys teams – American Fork, Timpanogos, Lone Peak and Mountain Vista – place in the top 12 in 2015. Desert Vista will use that as incentive to rebound and make its NXN debut a memorable one, just like the Thunder did by placing fifth in the program’s first appearance in the national girls final in 2014.

On the girls side, Saratoga Springs NY, Claremont CA, Blacksburg VA and Broomfield CO were the final entries in the 22-team field. 

Saratoga Springs, which goes by Kinetic this time of year, was the original NTN champion back in 2004 and is making its 13th appearance at nationals. The only time that the girls team coached by Linda and Art Kranick didn't make it was in 2006. 

Broomfield's inclusion gives Colorado thee teams for the first time ever. Battle Mountain and Mountain Vista went 1-2 in the NXR Southwest meet to earn automatic bids. Mountain Vista and Broomfield were first and second in the CHSAA Class 5A meet and Battle Mountain won the state's 4A title. 

Blacksburg, which took third to Cardinal Gibbons NC and DuPont Manual KY in the Southeast Regional, is making its sixth appearance at nationals and placed 17th last year.

Claremont, the two-time California Division 2 state champion, will come to Portland for the first time after narrowly missing the cut last year.

Corning comes through

Corning-Painted Post NY coach Ray Lawson, in his eighth year, saw things shift in his part of central New York state (The Southern Tier) shortly after he took over. That was when a bumper crew of milers came through and shook things up.

"You had guys like Chad Noelle (2015 NCAA 1,500-meter champion)," said Lawson of a group that also included (Northern Arizona assistant coach) Jarred Cornfield, Max Straneva (Syracuse) and Brian Crimmins (Buffalo).

"Back then there was an elite group of guys running under 4:12 (in the 1,600). Kids had been winning races running 4:40. After that, you'd have to run under 4:15 to win."

Lawson, whose daughter Jessica is a freshman was part of the Stanford team that recently placed fourth at the NCAA Cross Country Championships and was a New Balance Nationals champion in the 5,000 meters, has clearly contributed to the local running boom. A former All-American at the University of Rochester, Lawson led the Corning-Painted Post boys to its first NXN appearance with a second-place finish at the NXR New York meet on Saturday, following its win in the Class A NYPHSAA Championships on Nov. 11.

"Things changed when Ray Lawson began coaching at Corning," said Rich Bernstein, the longtime coach at Ithaca High School. "I've always had a strong program over 30 years. As soon as he became coach, the Corning program woke up."

Lawson's team finished second to Fayetteville-Manlius on Saturday -- and defeated the Hornets by two points at the state meet. He marveled at what F-M has accomplished in a robust running state.

"They've been able to establish such a gap it's pretty extraordinary," Lawson said. "On the girls side, certainly everybody has a goal to run with them. But they are so good that you kind of (concede first place). On the guys side I think there's a lot more parity."