Just a handful of seconds separated Baldwinsville senior Shaun Thompson from the top spot during the Nov. 20 New York State Federation Cross Country Championships at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls.
But in a return trip to Bowdoin Park a week later, Thompson ran well enough in the New York/Northeast Nike Cross Regionals to advance to this Saturday’s Nike Nationals in Portland, Ore.
That regional race saw Thompson cover the 5,000 meters in 16 minutes, 4.5 seconds. That landed him third among individuals behind Saratoga Springs’ Sam Place (who won in 15:54.5) and Martin Hehir, who was second in 15:57.6. All of them qualified to go to Portland.
This was Thompson’s third big race in as many weeks. He had taken third at the state public high school championships Nov. 13 at Lakeside Park in Pawling, finishing well despite losing a shoe early in the race.
At Bowdoin Park during the Federation meet, both shoes stayed on. What’s more, Thompson stayed right with Edward Owens, the senior from Packer Collegiate who went to the front of a field containing 250 top runners.
Thompson could not quite get to the front, as his time of 15 minutes, 51.8 seconds finished just 7.9 seconds behind Owens, who won in 15:43.9.
