WISCONSIN RAPIDS - To Albany senior Jake Lincicum, leading the WIAA Division 3 state cross country race can be like being the valedictorian of a summer school class.
It's easy to forget someone who led a stretch of a race, but not the state champion. Even though Lincicum didn't win a state title Saturday at the Ridges Golf Course, he made a lasting impression finishing the 5,000-meter race in third place with a lifetime best time of 16 minutes, 18 seconds.
Lincicum said his strategy was not to be the leader like last year at the start of the state meet.
Cedar Grove-Belgium junior Josh Mulloy won the individual title with a time of 16:07 and Racine St. Catherian's Jajuan Tyler took second with a time of 16:11.
"This is the best place to end the season," Lincicum said. "They ran a hell of a race. I did what I wanted to do."
Albany coach Tony Brewer was amazed by Lincicum's finish.
"There were no guarantees he would come back and be in a position to get third," Brewer said. "To get third with a high school career best at the state meet is pretty remarkable."
Darlington finished 11th as a team (272 points) and Albany was 15th (316 points) in their first state trip since 1997.
The Redbirds were led by junior Jordan Heinberg, who finished 35th with a time of 17:24.
"I think our goal was top five," Heinberg said of the team competition. "I was kind of hoping to be in the top 20. It wasn't as good as I thought I would run."
With more than 150 runners competing, the state meet can be an overwhelming experience.
"It's hard to see where you are at," Heinberg said. "You don't know if you are in 50th or the top 10."
Darlington senior Markus Garrison took 76th (17:59) and freshman Michael Sinclair was 105th (18:21). Sophomore Connor Roche finished 110th (18:31) and freshman Kent Miehe was 112th (18:34) to round out the Redbirds' top five.
The Comets received a 100th-place finish from senior Jake Short with a time of 18:18 and sophomore Drew Mather was 117th (18:44). Albany freshman Reece Whitehead took 123rd (18:55) and senior Tyler Bauman was 130th (19:05).
"Going in, our goal was to try to get in the top 10," Brewer said. "That didn't happen for them team-wise. They left it all out there. This is something they can remember the rest of their life."
It's easy to forget someone who led a stretch of a race, but not the state champion. Even though Lincicum didn't win a state title Saturday at the Ridges Golf Course, he made a lasting impression finishing the 5,000-meter race in third place with a lifetime best time of 16 minutes, 18 seconds.
Lincicum said his strategy was not to be the leader like last year at the start of the state meet.
Cedar Grove-Belgium junior Josh Mulloy won the individual title with a time of 16:07 and Racine St. Catherian's Jajuan Tyler took second with a time of 16:11.
"This is the best place to end the season," Lincicum said. "They ran a hell of a race. I did what I wanted to do."
Albany coach Tony Brewer was amazed by Lincicum's finish.
"There were no guarantees he would come back and be in a position to get third," Brewer said. "To get third with a high school career best at the state meet is pretty remarkable."
Darlington finished 11th as a team (272 points) and Albany was 15th (316 points) in their first state trip since 1997.
The Redbirds were led by junior Jordan Heinberg, who finished 35th with a time of 17:24.
"I think our goal was top five," Heinberg said of the team competition. "I was kind of hoping to be in the top 20. It wasn't as good as I thought I would run."
With more than 150 runners competing, the state meet can be an overwhelming experience.
"It's hard to see where you are at," Heinberg said. "You don't know if you are in 50th or the top 10."
Darlington senior Markus Garrison took 76th (17:59) and freshman Michael Sinclair was 105th (18:21). Sophomore Connor Roche finished 110th (18:31) and freshman Kent Miehe was 112th (18:34) to round out the Redbirds' top five.
The Comets received a 100th-place finish from senior Jake Short with a time of 18:18 and sophomore Drew Mather was 117th (18:44). Albany freshman Reece Whitehead took 123rd (18:55) and senior Tyler Bauman was 130th (19:05).
"Going in, our goal was to try to get in the top 10," Brewer said. "That didn't happen for them team-wise. They left it all out there. This is something they can remember the rest of their life."
