2002
Upon further review, the results
from Saturday’s state meet have been deemed official as of Tuesday morning.
Columbus North Boys Team
Crowned; Lawrence North’s Nef Araia Repeats As Top Individual
Columbus
North’s boys team and senior Nef Araia of Lawrence North, who set a course
record, climbed the awards stand as state champions of the 57th annual IHSAA
Boys Cross Country State Championships on
The
Bull Dogs of coach Rick Weinheimer had two runners finish among the top 10
overall to help produce the school’s first state title in this sport. Junior
Christian Wagner finished second to Araia in 15:19.5, while senior Ryan Hutton
placed 10th in 16:04.6 and began what would become Columbus North’s winning
total of 79 points. Also scoring for North, last year’s state runner-up to
Franklin, were junior Ryan Dixon (16:30.8) in 39th; junior Ben Milroy (16:31.8)
in 42nd and; senior Jonathan Rathert (16:34.7) in 46th place.
It
may have been the school’s first title in this sport, but it adds the 28th
IHSAA state championship trophy to the school’s display case which ranks third
in the Association’s sports history.
The
runner-up for the second time in three years was
Araia,
who successfully defended his state championship of one year ago, covered the
hilly 5,000 meter course in 15:08.0, the best time recorded in the six years
the state finals have been held in
Following
Araia and Wagner were senior Jason Phillips of Lafayette Jefferson (15:47.7) in
third place; senior Jeffery
Lawrence North’s Araia
Named Winner of Charles F. Maas Mental Attitude Award
After
winning individual honors, Araia was also honored with the Charles F. Maas
Mental Attitude Award by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee.
He
is the fifth cross country state champion to also be named the mental attitude
award winner, which is presented to the top senior each year who has best
demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and
athletic ability in the four years of high school. The award is named in honor
of Charles F. Maas, the late assistant commissioner of the IHSAA from 1973-1984.
The
two-time state champion also won the 3200 meter race at last spring’s state
track and field meet and helped lead the Wildcats to their second consecutive
team title.
Academically,
Araia ranks in the top 10 percent of his senior class of 494 students. He
serves as the senior president of the Student Government and has also been
involved in the Latin Club, Band, Choir and Key Club at the northeast suburban
Farm
Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s proud corporate partner, presented the
traditional $1,000 scholarship to
Team
Posters And Individual Action Photographs Available
Visit
20-20 Photographic, the IHSAA’s
photographer and the
State
Finals Programs Available
Couldn’t be there for the cross country state meet?
You can still purchase a copy of the official state finals program while
supplies last! Programs are $2.00 if you purchase in person at the IHSAA Office
(