Taylor Love of Sierra Lutheran High School in Minden and Sage Ridge's Nate Chellman continued their friendly rivalry at the Northern 2A Championships in cross country on Saturday in Carlin.
Both runners got off to a good start with Love staying on Chellman's heels unitl the water crossing in which Chellman slowly extended his lead. Chellman eclipsed the old course record as Chellman covered the 3.1 miles in 17 minutes, 35 seconds.
Love also essentially equaled the old course record as he was second in 18:36. Elko's Kevin Sandall set the previous course record in 2003 at 18:35.7.
Michael Kubel, Sierra Lutheran's No. 2 runner was hampered by a side ache that started right after the first water crossing. He never completely got into the race but he was still able to finish in 20:05.30 at 12th overall, giving him a berth to compete at the State Championships.
Completing the team effort was Andrew Deterding at 20:27.30, Levi Grabow at 21:03, Ryan Jackson at 22:26.57, who was fighting a painful leg injury the entire race and Ben Martin, who also did well on a difficult course, finishing in 25:58. As a team, Sierra Lutheran finished fourth just missing a team berth at the State Championships. The top three teams, Sage Ridge (first), Whittell (second) and North Tahoe (third) qualified for state.
"We had a great effort by all the runners but came up just a little short this year but we are looking forward to next year to be at the State finals," Sierra Lutheran coach Dave Marson said.
The course in Carlin could be described as "quite challenging and a true example of just what cross country running entails," Marson said.
Starting off on gravel and transitioning to a dirt trail the course circled around a small lake and then into a narrow path no wider than for two runners that weaved through thick marsh reeds 12 feet tall. Then comes a 15 foot wide stream crossing with water two feet deep. The course continues over a burm that resembles a motocross track. The dirt course continues, then goes through an asphalt parking area, back onto a dirt trail through the sage brush, back along an asphalt road and then climbing up a 500 foot slippery rock and dirt hill at a steep incline, then winding back through the hills for another 1Ú2 mile or so. Then the runners go back through the parking lot, then the trail over the burm, through the water crossing, then the reed maze, around the lake and onto a grass field finish line.
The NIAA 2A Championships will be held Saturday at Rancho San Rafael Park.