Sunday, December 12, 1999
Padgett runs to 9th place in national meet
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Steve Padgett, the Division I state cross country champion from LaSalle, saved his best until last.
Padget ran a personal-best 15:09.4 to finish ninth of 32 runners in the Foot Locker National High School Cross Country meet Saturday at Oak Trail Golf Course in Orlando, Fla.
“It was a rough race but it feels great,” Padgett said. “We were rolling today. The race started out fast and the leaders ran the first mile in 4:37 and two miles in 9:22.”
Until the two-mile mark when winner Dathan Ritzenhein (Rockford, Mich.) made a move, Padgett was in contention. Ritzenhein won in 14:29, breaking the meet record by 45 seconds.
Padgett, who will run at Michigan State next year, was named second-team All-America.
Padgett was LaSalle's third cross country runner to compete in the national meet. Doug Bockenstette finished seventh in 1993 and Dean Fullmer was sixth in 1994.
“My goal was top 10 and I'm happy,” Padgett said. “Michigan State's coach (Joe Stintzi) was here and told me to run a smart race. He was happy with how I ran.”
Padgett plans to get ready for track season and has set his sights on the Division I 3,200-meter state championship.
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