HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- Daniel Skandera started moving just after the 10 minute mark on Saturday.
Surging on John Hunt Park's crucial hill, the Alabama native -- who is homeschooled -- took the lead and began to put on the pace.
It was the perfect move, because Skandera lost the field with 1K to go before going on to score the gold championship title and a top time of 15:05.30 at the fourth annual RunningLane Cross Country Championships, earning himself a PR -- not to mention a nice little TrackSmith gift card in the process.
Perhaps the win also signified the ascendance of Skandera, a former youth world-record holder whose family moved from Santa Rosa, California to Alabama.
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In May, Skandera clocked a time of 9:13.21 at the RunningLane Track Championships.
"I just made sure I started off really relaxed and after the first mile, I put myself in a good condition," Skandera said. "I knew since I had run this race before that the best place to make a move was right after the top of the hill."
Skandera's performance highlighted a day that saw tough racing through stretches of rain that toggled from downpour to drizzle.
But in the end, it was all about that effort.
Oakton's (VA) Junior Allen was second in 15:15, while Farragut (TN) senior and Furman signee Matteo Tonnos was third in 15:16.90. Iowa State recruit Isaac Rivera was fourth in 15:17.50, while Jaden Merrick, a fast-emerging sophomore out of Iowa, was fifth in 15:19.50.
After the individual win was decided, it was on to the team race.
And boy did things get interesting.
While top seeds Cheyenne Mountain and Deer Creek struggled in the rain, a Utah program brushed it off.
Led by Devan Greene, who finished in 41st-place, Lehi Skyridge (UT) clocked a 31-second spread and handled the conditions the best in the gold race -- despite the team's 1-through-5 being separated by just over 80 places.
"It's amazing honestly," Greene said. "We came here thinking we could do it. We believed in ourselves the whole time."
Farragut was second with 119 points, while New Orleans Brother Martin (LA) was third with 162.
Daniel Skander's Interview
Skyridge's Interview
Top Photos
Photo Credit: Ben Thompson
Photo Credit: Alison Markham
Photo Credit: Alison Markham
Photo Credit: Alison Markham
Photo Credit: Ben Thompson
Top Results
Boys 5000 Meter Run Gold Results
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Pl Athlete Yr Team Time
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1 Daniel Skandera Unattached 15:05.30
2 Junior Allen Unattached 15:15.00
3 Matteo Tonnos Farragut TC 15:16.90
4 Isaac Rivera Unattached 15:17.50
5 Jaden Merrick Unattached 15:19.50
6 William Bauschke Unattached 15:22.10
7 Jeron Wisner Unattached 15:22.60
8 Aiden Le Roux Cheyenne Mountain 15:23.30
9 Daniel Hruska Bruins Racing Boys 15:25.80
10 Joseph Jacquot Unattached 15:28.40
11 Braden Ebbert Farragut TC 15:29.80
12 Noah Manwaring Unattached 15:30.10
13 Joey Carroll Hebron 15:30.50
14 Jacob Sushinsky Unattached 15:30.70
15 Cade Sanvik Unattached 15:31.10
16 Nathan Lee Unattached 15:31.40
17 Corbin coombs Unattached 15:33.20
18 Gavin Rockwell Trojan Running Club A 15:33.40
19 Garrett Brown Unattached 15:33.90
20 Joey Rees Springville XC A 15:34.70
