PAXTON — Jon Davis achieved the position that all runners were seeking on Saturday, but not the time that provided satisfaction.
The Oakwood/Armstrong-Potomac junior became the eighth repeat boys’ division winner in the 41 years of the Paxton-Buckley-Loda Cross-Country Invitational, but his winning time was three seconds slower than he posted in 2013.
Davis was hindered by a hip adductor muscle injury he sustained in a physical education class on Tuesday.
“I’m thoroughly disappointed (in the time of 15 minutes, 57 seconds) and kind of angry,” Davis said, “but what can you do when you’re injured? My goal was just to get through the race.”
Taking a break, he said, is not an option.
“Time off is wasted time,” he said. “I’m not going to take time off. There are only so many weeks before state. I hope to be 100 times better by then.”
The top four boys’ finishers were from different schools.
Unity’s Andrew Warnes was the runner-up (16:01) and was followed by Paxton-Buckley-Loda’s Nick Porter (16:13) and St. Joseph-Ogden’s Brennan Guido (16:20).
The Rockets, ranked second in the state in Class 1A, placed five runners among the top 12 in a field of 69 finishers and edged SJ-O for team supremacy.
“We only ran five (the minimum number to be scored as a team),” Unity coach Dike Stirrett said. “They all had to produce, and they did.
“These kids like to race and are pretty focused. It’s a very balanced team.”
The split between Unity’s second finisher, fifth-place Austin Woodard, and its fifth runner, 12th-place Robbie Decker, was less than a minute.
One highlight for Unity was the continued emergence of junior Alex Morris, who placed eighth, one position behind teammate Dawson Dodds.
“Alex has become a treasure,” Stirrett said. “Last year at this time, he was trying to break 20 minutes. Now, he’s trying to break 17 (finishing in 17:08). He has become one of the main guys.”
Guido was among three Spartans in the top 10, helping coach Jason Retz’ team to a runner-up placement. Austin Earp ran sixth and Justin Phillips was ninth.
Retz emphasized that his middle runners stay in a pack, and the Nos. 3-5 group of Phillips, Ross Smetzer (14th place) and Gabe Lyons (16th place) entered the finish chute within 27 seconds of one another.
“It’s easier to compete when you’re next to a teammate,” Retz said.
Hoopeston Area freshman Trey Houmes covered the 3-mile course in 17:20 and secured the other top 10 berth.
Renfroe wins for cousin
Unity junior Taylor Renfroe wasn’t just running for herself. Or even her teammates.
“I ran for my cousin, Kyle. I cared about him a lot,” Taylor Renfroe said.
Her cousin, Kyle Renfroe, died on Wednesday in Las Vegas from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.
Taylor Renfroe took the lead halfway through the 3-mile race and held off teammate Nicole Bagwell by five seconds. Renfroe’s winning time was 19:27.
“Me and Nicole are way ahead of where our times were last year,” Taylor Renfroe said.
Unity coach Gary Wieneke lauded the effort.
“It was a super run, under the conditions,” Wieneke said. “She was probably more intense than normal. They (Renfroe and Bagwell) got out and took charge.”
All of the top-10 finishers were either from Unity or meet champion St. Joseph-Ogden.
The Spartans had four consecutive athletes cross the finish line, starting with third-place Abby Gawthorp. She was followed by Faith Houston, Abby Fisher and Keely Smith. Their split was 18 seconds.
“It was great to see them working together as a group,” said Retz, whose team had one of its usual top-five runners, Emma Melchior, sidelined. “They stuck on each other’s shoulders. The mental side is much better.”
Unity teammates Savannah Day and Sisay Eisenmenger ended seventh and eighth, respectively. Trailing them were Spartans Hayley Grice and Jessica Kassuelke.
SJ-O, ranked third in Class 1A, has won team honors at the meet five of the last six years.