Spartans’ bid for five straight state titles falls just short

BOULDER CITY — Over the course of the past five years — four seasons — no cross-country program has been more dominant than the Spring Creek boys.

The Spartans started a string of four-consecutive 3A state championships in 2019 — missing out on a chance for five in a row due to COVID in 2020 — and followed with three more titles after the pandemic in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

On Saturday, Spring Creek's bid — after placing second in the regional meet — for five consecutive state titles fell just a bit shy during the Division 3A Nevada State Cross Country Championships, at Veterans' Memorial Park, in Boulder City.

The Spartans posted a team score of 63 points — trailing only the mark of 46 set by state champion Tahoe-Truckee — and wound up as the state runners-up but added another trophy to the case.

Individually, Spring Creek placed two runners in the top-10 in order — senior Scottie Adams placing ninth with a time of 17:31.3 and junior Rhett White following in 17:37.7 for 10th place.

The Spartans' team scoring was rounded out with a three-in-a-row flurry from 20th through 22nd.

Freshman Damon Tilger crossed in 18:25.8, senior Brennan Dastrup followed in 18:28.6 and junior William Hodnett closed his run in 18:33.5.

Junior Ethan Arendt ran 31st with a time of 19:10.9, and Spring Creek's roster was capped with a 34th-place 19:22.7 from freshman Tate Adams.

Elko qualified two runners as individuals; senior Dexter Wallace placing 35th with a time of 19:27.1 and junior Octaviann Cordova running a 19:34.2 for 39th.