Southern Region cross country meets for all four competition classes are scheduled for Friday at Veterans Memorial Park. Coaches Paul Sheppard of 5A Sky Pointe and Charles Bennion of 4A Clark both return championship teams and are favored to win again, though they emphasize that sustained success comes from dedicated preparation rather than luck.
Sheppard said his program studies the best teams in the country to replicate their methods. "What it takes is for us to figure out what the best cross country teams in the country do. And to start doing what they're doing," he said. His athletes have spent six consecutive weeks training on the Veterans Memorial course using a parent's RV for transport. Sky Pointe's boys won last year's 5A regional before placing second at state, while the girls won regionals and took third at state.
Bennion, whose Clark teams won both boys and girls state titles in 4A, described his role as helping runners believe in their potential. "I don't create great runners. That's their job. I just show them the way," he said. He dismissed the idea that Clark could compete with Sky Pointe if promoted to 5A, saying, "Sky Pointe would destroy us. They are exceptionally good and deep."
Both programs have climbed from obscurity since the sport was sidelined by COVID-19, though Bennion said foundations were built over years. The main obstacle for a state championship remains perennial power Galena, which narrowly beat Sky Pointe's boys at altitude in Reno last year. Faith Lutheran coach Jeff Edwards noted that anything is possible after his girls won state last year despite finishing third at regionals.
Sky Pointe's toughest regional competition is expected from Shadow Ridge, Bishop Gorman and Desert Oasis. Individually, Sky Pointe's Ryan Petty and Shane Ramirez will face challenges from Centennial's Calvin Rivera, Gorman's Aaden Moyer and others.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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