Nate Schultz carried the banner for Camp Verde High School at the Division IV state cross-country meet Saturday, Nov. 8.
The only Cowboys runner to qualify for the 5K at Cave Creek Golf Course, Schultz had his fastest start of his young running career to help him finish State in just over 17:54, a new personal record.
“He was way quick at the mile, I’ll tell you that,” head coach Mike O’Callaghan said. “He got out the quickest he’s gotten out in any race this year.”
Schultz ran the first mile of the 3.1-mile course in 10th place at a 5:18 clip, less than 12 seconds off the lead, O’Callaghan said.
“He wasn’t afraid to go out, to some degree, with a lead,” he said. “He was able to work himself out to the edge of the pack so there was a lot less bump-and-push than at the beginning.”
Schultz’s sub-18-minute finish was good enough for 42nd out of 184 runners. He already had run a 5K in under 17:56 to win the junior varsity and open heat Oct. 11 of the Sandra Day O’Connor Invitational.
Not bad for a freshman who balanced both cross-country meets and boys soccer games for CVHS this fall.
For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Nov. 12, issue of the Camp Verde Journal.
