SMALL SCHOOLS: Crusaders’ Wood shows more than just talent in winning region meet

Runners in the boys Division I-A Southern Region cross country race got a good look at Chase Wood at the starting line Friday.

It was the last many would see of him for the next 20 minutes.

After pulling away from the field, though, the Faith Lutheran senior waited around for nearly every competitor to finish and offer words of encouragement or give tips to help each athlete recover from a grueling 3.1-mile race at Veterans' Memorial Park.

As expected, the defending I-A state champion cruised to the region title, winning in 16 minutes, 51 seconds, almost a minute ahead of Pahrump Valley's Bryce Odegard, who took second in 17:49.

What wasn't expected was Wood high-fiving and patting the backs of almost all of the top 80 finishers in the race, before well-wishers pulled him away to celebrate. He reminded those who were struggling to catch their breath to raise their arms over the head.

"I may win the race, I may come in second, who knows?" Wood said. "But everyone works just as hard. We all ran the same race. We all just ran a five (kilometer). They deserve the respect for running every day."

Wood and Odegard separated from the field by the one-mile mark, opening up a 15-second lead.

It didn't take much longer for the two-person race to become a runaway.

"I was pretty calm (at the mile mark)," Wood said. "Me and Bryce decided to go out slow and didn't really push it, but when I heard 5:09 (at the mile), I knew I had to start picking it up a little.

"There was a lot of pressure. Anyone can win on any given day. I've learned to just calm down and just relax and be myself."

Wood, who also won the region title last year, had enough left to climb the final hill and sprint to the finish line.

"It's the same approach, give it my all and make sure I have as little left as possible at the end of the race," Wood said.

Wood's efforts helped Faith Lutheran to a second-place finish in the team comptition. Clark won its first region title since 2001 with 51 points. Faith Lutheran had 64, and Pahrump Valley took third with 112, one point fewer than Tech. The top three teams and top five individuals on non-qualifying teams advance to next week's state meet in Reno.

Clark's Yoseph Shiferaw was third in 17:58.

DIVISION I-A GIRLS

A stretch of dirt paths and hills at Veteran's Memorial Park often slows down Boulder City's Sierra Selinger.

Not this time.

The sophomore seemed to find another gear with a mile left in the Southern Region race.

Selinger pulled away in the final mile to win the Southern Region meet in 21:22. Defending region champion Ingrid Zarate of Del Sol was second in 21:35, and Sierra Vista's Sarriah Brown was third in 21:42.

"Usually I slow down a little bit when I get in (that area)," Sellinger said. "Today, I didn't. I just kept going."

Zarate was a bit of a surprise to win last year's region race, and Sellinger wasn't certain she could unseat the Del Sol senior.

"I was hoping, but I didn't know if I could," she said. "It feels amazing."

Selinger helped the Eagles grab the final team qualifying spot for state. Faith Lutheran won its third region title in four years with 35 points. Tech was second with 56, followed by Boulder City with 100. Clark narrowly missed qualifying, taking fourth with 108.

DIVISION III BOYS

The Meadows' boys won their first region title since 1999, squeezing through a crowded field to win the Division III boys team competition with 61 points. West Wendover was second with 67. Laughlin was third with 70, one point better than Lincoln County.

The top two teams and top three individuals on non-qualifying teams move on to the state meet.

White Pine's Samuel Stewart won the race in 18:47.

Laughlin's Johnathan Johnson was second (18:53), followed by West Wendover's Jorge Aguirre (18:54).

DIVISION III GIRLS

Ellen Hirsberg didn't have much company Friday.

The Meadows sophomore ran away and hid from the Division III girls field, cruising to victory in 21:32. Teammate Ashley Lee was a distant second in 23:20, followed by Agassi Prep's Julissa Garcia in 23:20.

Despite graduating a huge senior class last year, the Mustangs still won their fourth straight Southern Region title and will make their fifth straight trip to the state meet.

The Meadows had 20 points. Agassi Prep will make its first state meet appearance after finishing second with 50 points. Laughlin was third with 67.