TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Dave Smith admitted to being nervous about his fifth runner as the Oklahoma State men’s cross country coach prepared for Monday’s national championship.
Johnathan Stublaski secured that spot for most of the year and finished among the top 20 in three races. But he also admitted to losing focus during a disappointing 28th-place performance in the Big 12 Championships before sitting out the South Regional to concentrate on school. Smith wondered whether he should turn to another runner to secure the back position that he expected would determine the national champion.
“I told him, ‘You don’t have to be nervous, man,’” Stublaski said. “And I told him, ‘I’ve got this. I know that I’m focused right now.’ And it turned out all right.”READ MORE