Cross Country Finishes Top Five in State

Posted November 14, 2018 / Last updated November 16, 2018

For the Jesuit Cross Country team, the LHSAA 5A State Championship in Natchitoches wasn’t just a race against 24 other teams—it was a race against the elements as well. In the late afternoon on Nov. 13, the Blue Jays battled it out against frigid temperatures in the mid-30s and a course that better resembled a mud pit than a track. Coach Rudy Horvath ’86 was in disbelief at the state of the course, commenting, “It’s the worst I’ve seen it in the last 15 years.” However, Jesuit’s big seven didn’t let these conditions dampen their spirits. They posted a strong performance finishing fifth overall. Catholic High took the state title with 47 points, followed by Brother Martin (70), St. Paul’s (90), Ruston (155), and the Blue Jays with 186.

Sophomore Jack Wallace was the fastest Blue Jay of the day, placing 22nd overall in the 174-man field with a time of 19:22.8 on the three-mile course at Northwestern State University.

Through the Lens…

Junior Luke LaCour stays strong as the mud threatens to steal his spikes.

View the Photo Gallery of the LHSAA 5A State Championship

By the Numbers…

Each team ran its top seven runners. The first five runners from each team to cross the finish line receive the points that correspond to their place. The first place runner receives one point, the second place runner two, and so on. The team receiving the lowest score wins. The sixth and seventh runners on a team, although they don’t receive a score, can also be important, in that they can “displace” scoring runners from the other team.

Individual Results

EVENT	PLACE / PTS. EARNED	BLUE JAY	GRADE	TIME
3Mile	22	Jack Wallace	10	19:22.8
3Mile	24	Luke LaCour	11	19:32.5
3Mile	43	Harrison Leblanc	12	20:03.5
3Mile	47	Cameron Cancienne	11	20:08.7
3Mile	50	Morgan Hebert	9	20:12.2
3Mile	53	Griffin Winn	11	20:27.6
3Mile	106	Scott McKeough	12	22:03.1

Team Results (Top 10 5A Teams)

PLACE	TEAM	TOTAL TIME	AVG. TIME	TOTAL PTS.	TOTAL PTS. BREAKDOWN BY RUNNER
					R-1	R-2	R-3	R-4	R-5	R-6*	R-7*
1	Catholic, Baton Rouge	1:33:47	18:46	47	2	9	11	12	13	18	21
2	Brother Martin	1:34:38	18:56	70	1	10	14	20	25	61	90
3	St. Paul’s	1:35:47	19:08	90	4	16	19	23	28	34	36
4	Ruston	1:37:58	19:36	155	5	15	30	45	60	63	70
5	Jesuit	1:39:20	19:52	186	22	24	43	47	50	53	*106*
6	Mandeville	1:39:43	19:57	197	17	37	39	42	62	79	95
7	Holy Cross	1:39:57	20:00	206	7	44	46	52	57	73	88
8	Airline	1:42:46	20:34	288	33	41	68	71	75	76	119
9	Denham Springs	1:45:17	21:04	355	26	35	59	107	128	155	166
10	Lafayette	1:45:28	21:06	356	49	54	56	58	139	143	157

[* denotes not included in overall team score]

In His Words…

“The guys ran as well as conditions would allow,” said Coach Rudy Horvath ’86. “The key was to work as a team and run together in groups. It was a tough race and I’m proud of them for sticking with it.”

On the Horizon…

With the conclusion of the Cross Country season, many members of the team will move on to compete in Track & Field events in the spring.

Galleries

Cross Country, State Championship, Nov. 13, 2018

kicks it in to high-gear...
Jack Wallace doesn't let the mud deter him.
Every Blue Jay...
makes it through...
without losing his...
...shoes!
On the final home stretch Wallace cruises to the finish line...
...gaining speed on the final 100 yards.
LaCour sets his sights on Brother Martin...
with three challengers closing in from behind.
He makes his move...
LaCour stays strong as the mud threatens to steal his spikes.
...and reaches the finish line first.
LeBlanc has the same idea...
...and makes his move to leave Holy Cross in his dust.
Cancienne also picks up speed and passes Lafayette and Sulphur as the finish line.
Hebert, only a few yards behind Cancienne, sprints the last 100 yards.
Next comes Winn battling it out against Holy Cross.
McKeough makes his way to the finish with a strong last 100 yards.
Cancienne and Winn smile after a hard fought race.
Mud-soaked and just a little cold the seven Jesuit state runners—Luke LaCour, Morgan Hebert, Jack Wallace, Cameron Cancienne, Griffin Winn, Scott McKeough, and Harrison LeBlanc—smile for a group shot after the race.
Leblanc takes a picture with Coach Rudy and Coach Bohn after his last race for Jesuit.
Close behind is LeBlanc hugging the fence line with St. Paul's and Ponchatoula to avoid some of the mud.
Senior Harrison LeBlanc does his ritual pre-race stretch.
It's quite an obstacle of mud just to get to the starting point.
Junior Cameron Cancienne gets momentarily stuck.
Once at the starting line the Blue Jays shed their sweats and lace up their spikes with only a few minutes to spare.
With only gloves to add a little warmth in the chilly 36-degree weather the Blue Jays try to stay motivated for the race...
..and with the sound of the siren, they are off!
The Jesuit 7 stick close together as they make their way to the front of the pack.
It's tough going as runners fling mud everywhere in their wake.
Splashing their way through the mud and muck sophomore Jack Wallace and junior Luke LaCour break for the front.
Wallace and LaCour keep pace with Catholic.
Coach Rudy Horvath ’86 encourages the seven state runners to stick together in groups and work as a team through the course.
Freshman Morgan Hebert, Cancienne, and senior Scott McKeough are keeping pace with each other as they gain more ground.
McKeough, Cancienne, and Hebert get a brief reprieve from the mud as they follow along the fence.
The mud is not stopping LaCour and Wallace from keeping pace with Catholic...
...they stay right on their heels.
Only a few paces behind LeBlanc stays ahead of Mandeville.
Hebert, Cancienne, and McKeough stay strong through the muck...
as they stick together...
...and stay in sync.
Griffin Winn is close behind them looking to pass Mandeville.

Jesuit High School of New Orleans