On rare occasions throughout the history of prep cross country a moment in time occurs that culminates in greatness. The convergence of individual talent and ability, coaching and timing meet for one moment of perfection that lasts a lifetime, a perfect storm.
The question has risen time and again, who is the greatest, who was the best…who are the standard of excellence for boys prep cross country teams? For the modern prep cross country team who dreams of reaching the pinnacle of prep cross country, Nike Cross Nationals Champions, it is vital to know the history, the legacy, and how you stack up.
In the modern era Joe Newton’s 1999 York team, which decimated the Illinois State Championships with 24 points must be in consideration for best all-time. Newton’s top five runners all placed in the top ten at the championships with a 14:31 3-mile average. Touted by prognosticators following the state championships as possibly the best ever, a team that coach Joe Newton proclaimed his best ever and which was reported by former Milesplit National Editor Scott Bush in his piece “On the Track with the Dukes of York”, “They want to be the best; they want to be the new team to be compared to.…which is considered the best ever in Illinois history and was the number one team in the nation according to The Harrier that year.” But were they the best in Illinois state or US history? Scott Bush 99’ York StoryIn 1977 Len Kisellus produced a squad as remarkable as one could ever imagine. A team whose fifth man was a 9:16 two-miler and featured the dynamic duo of twins Mark and Todd McCallister who were 9:07 and 9:10 two-milers, future Olympian Tom Stevens who boasted a 9:12 two-mile best and the legendary Illinois standout Keith Hampton who rested at 9:05.1 for two-miles. They ran undefeated through the season winning their division championships with a 14:19 1-5 team average for 3-miles. Marc Bloom’s Harrier Magazine declared Deerfield 1976/1977 back-to-back Harrier National Champions. Leading Tom Stevens to comment, “Once again we were named National Champion and I feel we were one of the best if not the best team in high school cross country history. I know there are other great teams out there that will argue this point….but not many."
In 1974 the South Eugene, Oregon squad capped a back-to-back national championship with an impressive 12:02 avg. over 4000 meters at the state championships. Behind legendary standout Bill McChesney's individual victory in 11:38 and brother Steve McChesney 6th in 11:57. National record for 4k.
In 1993 a team out of the Greater Spokane League threw their names in the hat for greatest ever. The Pat Tyson coached Mead Panthers dominated historically significant championship courses enroute to a Harrier National Championship. A team which still holds the Woodward Park course record for team time when they traversed the course in 76:22, or roughly 15:28 average over 5000 meters. Possibly the most significant course in US history, Woodward Park stands as the standard of excellence for 5000 meters on the west coast. In a Special to the Daily News, Sean Martin quoted Dyestatcal Editor Rich Gonzales as stating, ``It is the best measuring stick…It's a much more consistent course (over the years), and all the top teams run there in top shape.” Mead would then go on to decimate the Washington State Championships with 31 team points while claiming the top three individual places and four in the top eight. An off day by #5 Sky Detray who finished 19th in team scoring kept the Panther’s from possibly scoring under 20 points. Were the Panther’s the best ever?
In 1980 and 1981 Indiana produced two teams that will be regarded as possibly the best ever. Out of Bloomington North comes the Charlie Warthan coached national champions of 1980. A team who stormed through Indiana in epic fashion culminating in a state championship in which they would average 15:13 for 5000 meters with a 34 second 1-5 spread. Then out of Carmel comes the 1981 Chuck Koeppen coached Greyhounds who produced a seven second 1-5 spread while dominating the Indiana State Championships with a 15:16 5k (14:44.48 3-mile) average. Two programs covering consecutive seasons the likes of which Indiana has never witnessed who were near identical and the way in which they won, packed, have placed a spotlight on them as possibly the best, but were they?
Legendary national editor Doug Speck called the 1972 Lompoc, California team the “Magnificent 7”. A team whom Speck is quoted to have stated, “The quality of efforts, domination over good competition, and a ruthless, competitive style that took no prisoners along the way during a very competitive era of prep distance running in California certainly marks them as among the best in the state and the nation’s history.” Led by Terry Williams Lompoc decimated the CIF Southern Section Championships while also setting the national postal two-mile record, a team which had personal bests for 5000 meters of 13:53.8 Terry Williams, Jim Schankel 14:27.8, Jim Warrick 14:54.8, Roger Fabing 14:58.8, and Steve Galbraith 15:09.8…were they the best ever? Doug Speck’s Lompoc Story
Exceptional programs, coaches, and athletes with stellar legacies that have stood as benchmarks in history as an epitaph carved into granite. It is undeniable that in the list of top ten programs in US history, of the greatest, the best of all-time… that argument must be made and must irrevocably include the 72’ Lompoc CA, 74’ South Eugene OR, 80’ Bloomington North IN, 81’ Carmel IN, 93’ Mead and 99’ York programs. But who was the best?