Centennial boys team in good shape for state title defense

When the Centennial boys cross country team won the Class 4A cross country state championship in 2008, it marked the first time a boys team from Southern Nevada had won since 1998.

Reno and Carson were co-favorites in 2008. Reno won the Northern Region over Carson and Galena, and most of those who follow the sport closely expected that to be the case at state.

This year, the championships return to Reno, where the factors of running at higher altitude give Northern teams an edge.

The last time a 4A team — boys or girls — has won in the North was when the Green Valley girls beat McQueen in 1999.

But Centennial returns four of its top five runners from last season. The Bulldogs would have returned all five had Nathan Williams not moved to California.

Still, with the rest of Centennial’s top five returning — Nick Hartle, Scott Albright, Billy Gravley and Devon Dane — the team is in good shape.

“These guys are totally self-motivated,” Centennial coach Mike McGuire said. “At the start of a workout, they ask, 'How fast? How far?’”

Plus, returning to the team after not running in 2008 is Travis McDonough, a senior who was No. 6 on the team at regionals in 2007.

McGuire might appear to be relaxed in his coaching approach, but he works his runners hard.

“We started workouts three days a week in July, running hills and running in the mountains,” he said. “Centennial is the perfect place to be to train, being so close to Mount Charleston and right on the edge of the hills.”

The Bulldogs average roughly 25 miles of running per week and run hills once or twice per week, McGuire said.

Centennial’s toughest rivals to get to state are within the Northwest League: Shadow Ridge, Arbor View and Palo Verde. Only the top two teams from the Sunset and Sunrise regions qualify for state.