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'The Cheese' Throws Down A Nasty Kick To Win Elite Boys 5K

If Carter Cheeseman needed any motivation, he didn't have to look far.

We didn't even mention the Fort Worth Christian junior in our athlete-by-athlete breakdown of the Texas Distance Festivals' elite 5K field earlier this week. 

But Cheeseman certainly was in the picture from the very beginning. An All-American at Foot Locker Nationals and one of the top rising distance prospects this past fall, the former Tennesseean turned Texan turned up the heat in the final 50 meters and overcame leader Danny Kilrea, who had led almost the entire way. 

Cheeseman finished in 14:36.60, pumping his arms in triumph, while Kilrea, a senior from Lyons Township (IL) High, was second in 14:36.78. Whitney Young (IL) High senior Clayton Mendez, a Stanford signee, was in the picture most of the way and finished third in 14:38.05.

So what was going through Cheeseman's head in the final 200 meters, when he made up a nearly 30 meter gap on Kilrea? Better yet, what was going through Kilrea's head? 

The Notre Dame signee peaked behind him with 50 meters to go, perhaps sensing oncoming traffic -- or maybe just trying to figure out whether he needed to turn it up. 

But by then, Cheeseman had already gotten Kilrea. Cheeseman had one last big turn over and swept past Kilrea at the line. 

A somewhat surprising finish was Keller Central (TX) High senior Eric Casarez, who was fourth in 14:38.82. Flower Mound (TX) High junior Alex Maier was fifth in 14:41.49. 

Eight athletes broke 14:50 in the elite field. 

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