John Michaels
IVN Contributing Writer
Illinois Valley High School senior Curtiss Heier became the Cougars’ first ever cross country state champion when he won the OSAA 2A/1A Cross-Country meet at Lane Community College in Eugene last Saturday.
Heier covered the 5,000-meter (3.1 mile) course in 16:31.3, just edging second-place finisher Wyatt Jacobson of Knappa who finished in 16.35.1. Heier, who finished sixth in the state meet last year, came into the meet with the second fastest 2A/1A time this season, just behind Jacobson. But in the head-to-head race, Heier altered his normal race strategy and came out on top.
“Normally I kind of hang back,” said Heier. “I normally go out a little slower and then I pass people one-by-one to get into position. I knew I wanted to be in the front of the pack today. I got myself into a faster pace and just kind of outraced the rest of the pack. So, I got to the front and I knew that’s where I wanted to be.”
Illinois Valley cross-country coach Cameron Merker was a little anxious after seeing the strategy put into action. “He never really goes out the first mile guns-a-blazing,” said Merker. “He usually starts off somewhere in the lead pack, and then he picks off the leaders over the next couple of miles.
“He was in front from the start today, continued Merker. He went out faster than normal and took the lead for good right around the first corner. I am pretty sure he ran his first mile in under five (minutes). He never does that. I was so nervous, I’m like, ‘I hope he doesn’t die because this is not his usual race strategy.’ He just went for it and just kept it up. He’s a really good kid and I am just so proud of him.”
Heier took the lead for good around the first major curve of the course. From there he just extended the lead over the rest of the lead pack, although Jacobson was always within a distance that he might have been able to chase Heier down with a strong kick at the finish.
However, Heier was not going to be denied. “When I hit the blue part of the track for the finish, I just kept going harder and harder,” said Heier. “I was just trying to keep in front. I didn’t know if I was going to win until I crossed that line. I don’t look behind me when I’m running. I really didn’t realize that I was the state champion until I crossed the line.”
Heier’s younger brother, sophomore Taylor Heier also ran in the state meet, after finishing sixth in the district meet a week ago. Taylor Heier finished in 78th with a time of 20:26.1.
The Cougars did not have the required five runners in the meet to contend for a team championship, which was won by Union with 41 points, just edging Knappa’s runner-up score of 44.