Kokomo Tribune - Sunday, November 02, 2008

TERRE HAUTE — Western senior Corey Scott finished in 29th place Saturday in the IHSAA Boys Cross Country State Finals, clocking in at 16:09.

“It was a tough, gutsy race,” Western coach Joe Orr said.

Scott went out with the fastest individuals in the 5K state final.

“He ran a really good race. He went out [in the] first mile at about five minutes. He was in the lead pack through the first mile and he really hung with them for the first two miles,” Orr said. Scott was 14th at about the two-mile mark. “That second mile is pretty tough. There’s a good uphill and the leaders pick up the pace. Corey hung with them as long as he could. He said that last mile was pretty tough on him.

“He hung on. He beat some really good runners. He has to be pleased with his result. He did a good job.”

Scott was shooting for a spot in the top 25 and finished just underneath that. He had the highest finish of any Howard County boy or girl at state since Western’s Kyle Walsh took 22nd in 2002.

“He was a little disappointed in 29th place,” Orr said. “He wanted to be 20-25, [but] I think that’s a nice way to end his senior year.”

The Panther pacesetter was running at state for the first time. Securing a top-30 finish in a field of 194 runners was a testament to his improvement.

“He just showed so much improvement over last year and didn’t back down from any challenge from any of the top runners in the last few races he ran in,” Orr said. “He’s a competitor. He gives his all and he’s exhausted when he finishes these races.”

Orr said Scott’s finish among the state’s senior runners earned him a spot on the Indiana All-Star Cross Country squad which will compete in the Mideast Meet of Champions on Nov. 15 in Kettering, Ohio.

Fishers’ Drew Shields won the individual championship, touring the course in 15:20. Carmel was the top team, posting a score of 100, 10 points better than Carroll of Allen County (110) and well ahead of McCutcheon in third (153).