A 13:24 runner with at least one even stronger teammate in the race needs to keep the pace honest if he doesn't have a kick. He also needs to work on all those things that will give him the kick. The endurance to be fresh enough to go close to your fastest at the end of a slow race should be there already, but he should be doing a lot more speedwork to prepare for championships, all out short hill sprints, 150s with full rest, spiked up hard strides at the end of workouts, etc. Maybe he was tired from training through. In the end, though, he's had a great freshman year, 4th in xc, the best American freshman finish since Ritz, I believe, the national xc team title, the 13:24 under 20 record, at just 18, and multiple excellent races.