By GREG GIAUQUE
greg@du2.byu.edu
The men's cross country team from Mountain View High School in Orem will be awarded the USA Today national championship trophy today in a nationally televised assembly. ESPN and several other television stations will be on hand to film the presentation.
Coach Dave Houle said the accomplishment is fantastic, but it's the memories of a united team that will stay with him and the runners.
'Basically the kids worked very hard and winning is very nice, but they are going to remember the journey,' Houle said. 'It's going to be nice to get a national championship ring, but they will remember the teamwork. This is a very tight team.'
Houle credits the team's success, in part, to the contribution of juniors Brett Andrus and Brock Call. Houle said they have led the team just as their older brothers did in years past.
'Brett is an outstanding runner. He's a tough nut with a lot of foot speed. It's just hard to beat him. And he's an honors student. He carries over a 3.8 GPA,' Houle said.
'Brock is a tall, long-legged runner. He's basically a half-miler ... with very good foot speed. He has developed into a great cross country runner,' Houle said.
USA Today and Harrier magazine keep a bi-monthly tally of the top cross country teams in the nation based on the results of national invitational meets. Mountain View has traveled to Oregon and California to compete in some of these meets.
Mountain View won the Vail Oregon Cross Country Invitational back in September and immediately vaulted to No. 2 in the nation. By beating over 30 teams, most of which are state champions, Mountain View established itself as a national power. After winning the Mt. SAC relays in California, the Bruins grabbed the No. 1 spot and have held it for the last eight weeks.