STEENS — Chris Webber has earned a reputation for being almost like an assistant coach to Billy Thomas and Greg Watkins.
In that role, Webber has researched past Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) cross country results and crunched the numbers to figure out the best lineup for Columbus Christian Academy’s boys track and field team at meets.
In preparing for the MAIS Class A Cross County Championships on Thursday at Choctaw Trails in Clinton, Webber was curious. He wanted to know if a team had claimed the top four spots en route to winning a team title. When Webber discovered no team had accomplished the feat, he made a point to tell Thomas, the team’s coach, and his teammates.
The news served as motivation to Webber and all of his teammates, as CCA swept the top four places en route to its third-straight state title.
Webber led the way with a winning time of 18 minutes, 29.87 seconds on the 5-Kilometer course. Glenn Misiak (18:48.67), Nate Parker (19:20.86), and Ethan Sevier (19:27.22) completed the foursome that helped CCA score 18 points and beat Christ Covenant (47 points) and Trinity Episcopal (95) in the six-team field.
“We knew we were going to get the top three, but Ethan was kind of like the dark horse,” Webber said. “I didn’t think he was going to get fourth place.”
Matthew Phillips (10th, 21:05.19) was the other scorer for the Rams. Sevier’s time was a personal best.
The 18 points was a MAIS course record low score. The 1-2-3-4 finish also was a first for a boys team in any class.
“I guess it was kind of expected, in a way,” Webber said. “We knew we were going to have to do a little bit of work, but it definitely was a goal. Breaking the course record wasn’t a goal, but it was just something that happened. I am glad we got that one.”
Webber said he started to “go crazy” when he saw Sevier approaching the finish line. He praised Sevier for the improvement he made from last season, when he wasn’t able to complete the cross country season due to academics.
Misiak wasn’t surprised Webber examined MAIS cross country history. He said he was “almost 100 percent confident” it was going to happen. When prompted, Misiak changed his tune and said he was “110 percent” confident in the Rams’ prospects.
“For the three seniors, we all realized this was our last time running,” Misiak said of Webber and Parker. “We really wanted to finish on a good ending.”
Parker echoed those sentiments and knew Webber was going to go out fast in an attempt to tire out a runner from Tensas Academy. He said he and Misiak had to keep a steady pace to help the Rams realize their goal.
“I knew Chris was going to get first and Glenn was going to get second,” Parker said. “It was pretty much up to me to get third. I knew I could do it, but I knew it was going to be pretty hard.
“Ethan did really good. He surprised me. He stepped up.”
Sevier said he worked hard in the offseason to make up for not being able to complete last season. He said he wasn’t sure he would be able to complete the foursome, but he was proud to be part of a state championship legacy. Sevier hopes he can take the lead and be at the front of the pack next season.
“It was my chance to step up and show what I had in me,” Sevier said. “I felt like all of the preseason work paid off. It was a great honor to run with these guys.
“Toward the end, it felt like, ‘I am really going to do this,’ and I was really, really surprised I had that in me.”
Thomas knew Webber, Misiak, Parker, and Sevier were capable of taking the top four spots. But he said there was a little concern because Misiak entered the meet with a quad injury and Parker, who is the quarterback on the school’s football team, had suffered his share of bumps and bruises. He said it was “huge” for the top three to set the pace.
CCA had 11 other runners compete in the race. Thomas credited Webber for playing a role in building the program’s depth. He said Webber, who has won the last three state titles, has emerged as a leader who is doing his part to make sure CCA remains a contender for state titles in cross country and track and field after he leaves the school.
“Because of the example those three and the expectation of winning, we had 20-something guys on the cross country team this year,” Thomas said. “Now Ethan has to carry the torch.”
Dakota Shaw (14th, 21:21.32), Drake Shaw (20th, 22:45.40), Tanner Dolan (23rd, 23:02.65), Jonah Harrison (25th, 23:11.85), Tyler Looney (32nd, 24:14.57), Blake Chandler (34th, 24:22.96), CJ Seroux (36th, 24:49.11), Luke Phillips (37th, 24:51.22), Benson Smith (44th, 26:17.09), Wyatt Sevier (51st, 28:32.49), and Carlisle Harding (60th, 33:16.86) also finished for the Rams.
Thomas smiled when asked what kind of trophies or statues will be left behind when Webber, Misiak, and Parker leave. He said the boys likely will have to settle for multiple state championship banners instead of bronze or marble statues.
“I don’t think they really understand (the legacy they’re going to leave),” Thomas said. “I don’t think they know the impact they have had on the school and the athletics. As they get older, they will look back and say, ‘Wow, we won three state championships and we set some records. It will mean a lot to them.
“I have been fortunate to be a part of a winning basketball program here for a long time. To me, it is not about a winning year, it is about a winning program. That doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, and it takes seniors like that to produce that and to build that. Once it kind of catches on fire, it can kind of run itself and everybody wants to be on a winning team.”
Sarah Chandler finished 46th (29:20.45) for the CCA girls.
n In other classifications, Starkville Academy’s Aiden Willard finished third in the Class AAA boys race with a time of 17:18.50. His finish helped Starkville Academy take fifth place with 110 points. Cathedral won the team title with 36 points.
Other finishers for the Starkville Academy boys were: Dylan Miller (19th, 19:33.30), Bates Bennett (26th, 20:12.60), Grant Smith (35th, 20:54.90), Gus Koiva (43rd, 21:47.40), Andrew Pollan (48th, 22:27.70), Nathan Pollan (56th, 23:12), Kollen Janus (64th, 23:36.50), Landon Bock (65th, 23:39), Tyler Highfield (66th, 23:40.90), Brody Bennett (76th, 23:57.80), Benjamin Wiley (95th, 26:07.70), and Joseph Chromiak (118th, 30:05.30).
Sadie Strickland finished 29th (19:21.30) in the girls Class AAA race for Starkville Academy. Smith Wolford (78th, 22:41.62) and Ainsley Ham (80th, 22:49.05) also finished.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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