BY JAMES COOK
TRAVERSE CITY -- In Lisa Taylor's 15 years as cross country coach at Traverse City Central, the Trojans have gone to the state finals an impressive 14 times.
Yet, Central hadn't won it all in that time.
That is, until this year.
"This year, we busted through," Taylor said of her team that captured the Division 1 state title. "As a coach, I felt a lot of people around the team were like, 'Yeah, finally!'
"I'd have to say we didn't do anything different this year, but sometimes in sports things line up ... and this is our year."
In a banner year for local cross country squads, it also lined up for two other area teams.
In all, three area teams won state championships at Michigan International Speedway on Nov. 1, making it one of the most successful days in northern Michigan cross country history -- and earning the No. 8 spot on the Record-Eagle's countdown of the top local stories of 2008.
Harbor Springs and coach Emily Kloss had started the day by winning the Division 4 girls crown. Benzie Central followed by claiming the Division 3 girls title. That set the stage for Traverse City Central.
The three state titles equaled the number won by northern Michigan teams in 1991 and 1987.
In addition, Harbor Springs senior Tec Adams was the boys' individual winner in Division 4. His time of 15:22.4 was the second fastest of the day in all four divisions.
The day was also a fitting end to the coaching career of Pete Moss, who started the Benzie Central cross country program 38 years ago. Benzie's championship was the ninth under his watch.
"I'm 80," he said. "I thought I might go until I was 85, but now is the time to step out."
For Traverse City Central, it was the third girls' title. The Trojans also won in 1991 and 1992 before the school split.
Taylor said it was only the second time since cross country was an official sport in 1979 that a woman had coached the state champion in Division 1 (or Class A). Troy Athens' Debbie Zonca led her team to back-to-back Class A titles in 1994 and 95.
A big part in Central's title was its depth. No. 4 and 5 runners Marin Bahra and Sam Ehle were often far ahead of other team's No. 4s and 5s.
Taylor said she concentrates on the No. 5 runner each year after her own collegiate experience as a No. 5 runner showed her the position's value.
"I learne dthe importance of No. 5 at Michigan State," said Taylor, who was MSU's No. 5 when the Spartans were fourth nationally her sophomore year. "I found you can't win with one superstar; you have to have five great runners."
As part of that, Taylor said Ehle has cut her time from the mid-22s to low-19s in just one year.
Throw in solid No. 1 Katie Perkins, Taylor Mattarella and junior Julia Otwell and the Trojans were a strong five-runner unit. All of the five -- aside from Ehle, who is a sophomore and can't be recruited until next year -- are being sought after by numerous colleges.
Mattarella was a solid contributor much of the year, despite battling low iron levels all season.
Otwell, Mattarella, Ehle and Bahra were also academic all-state.
Central had posted five top-five finishes in the last 10 years, including ending up the 2004 runner-up.
Sports Editor Dennis Chase contributed to this report
