Friday, November 5, 1999
4-5A’s Best
District cross country champs Benoit
of Cooper and AHS’ Adkins have worked harder this year
By TED DUNNAM
Assistant Sports Editor
Entering this season, Dwayne Benoit knew his success depended
on him getting over the hump.
And where cross country courses are concerned, that’s
no easy accomplishment, especially when you’re running against
the best in the state on a hilly course.
Benoit, the District 4-5A boys champion, will lead Cooper into
the Region I-5A cross country championships Saturday at Lubbock’s
Mae Simmons Park. Meanwhile, Abilene High’s Kristen Adkins,
the 4-5A girls champ, is the premier runner on a Lady Eagles’
team that will bid for a state berth on the same course.
Both 4-5A champs have been dominant this year. Adkins has won
four meets, while Benoit has an impressive six victories in eight
races.
“I feel like I’m peaking going into this meet,’’
said Benoit, who is making his fourth consecutive appearance at
the meet. “Last year at this meet, I really died. I need
to calm down and run a smarter race.’’
Benoit’s times have improved dramatically from last year.
His two best efforts this season each came at Seabee Park where
he had times of 15:35 and 15:57, both career-best times. When
he ran his 15:35, it was a 37-second improvement over last year’s
top effort.
“Going to Steamboat Mountain and working out there has
helped a lot,’’ Benoit said. “I knew I had to really
work on the hills. That’s where I’ve been weak. I’ve
been concentrating on that a lot because I feel that’s what
has prevented me from making it to state.’’
Benoit has never finished better than 20th at the regional
meet, but he believes his senior campaign could hold something
special.
“I think I’ve got a shot at fourth or fifth,’’
he said. “I’m really happy with the way I’m running,
and I’ve got a lot of confidence in myself. But you just
can’t tell about times in cross country. Someone may run
a 16:20 on a hilly course and it may be better than the 15-something
that I ran on a flat course.’’
Adkins, also a senior, is making her third trip to the regional
meet. Like Benoit, Adkins has shown marked improvement.
“My times say I’m running better this year. I certainly
feel stronger,’’ she said. “I’ve been putting
in more miles this year. I think it’s given me a lot more
endurance.
“I’m running eight miles in workouts this year compared
to about 5 last year. It makes the race seem that much shorter.’’
Employing the proper strategy, Adkins says, is a key at the
Mae Simmons course.
“The first mile, it’s really hilly. I’ll need
to run pretty hard and do my best to stay up front. I need to
stay tough the first mile and then try to finish as strong as
I can,’’ she said.
Adkins, who finished fourth at the meet a year ago, expects
her strongest competition to come from Kylie Swanson of Amarillo
and Anita Quirino of El Paso Montwood.
“I’m kind of going in as an underdog this year, and
I think that will help me. Everyone in 5A seems to be running
real well this year,’’ Adkins said. “I’m hoping
for a top-five finish, but I’d be really happy to finish
in the top three.’’
More important to Adkins is how well the team fares.
“Our team is so good. We won the district title by a long
shot this year and we know we have a good shot at getting to state,’’
she said. “I believe we are one of the teams to contend with,
and I definitely think a top-three finish is a possibility.
“We were ranked ninth in the state, which is nice, but
this is such a tough region. I think we can get to state, but
even if we don’t, this is a young team that has really pulled
together this year.’’
Benoit also hopes the Cougars can make a strong showing.
“This is definitely the best team I’ve been on since
I’ve been here,’’ he said. “We’ll all
just go out there and give it our best.’’
Ted Dunnam can be reached at 676-6771 or dunnamt@abinews.com.
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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