MSHSL State Meet 2002: Solid Southwest Performances
   By most arguments, this could be the best overall cross country season Southest has had in over twenty years. Both the men's and women's team competed. The men's team finished fifth out of the sixteen teams that qualified, while the women finished thirteenth. Southwest's top individual athletes, Forrest Tahdooahnippah and Jamie Cheever, finished 2nd and 7th in their races, respectively. Neil Grosscup also finished all-state. The rest of the men and women finished strong to help their teams finish well.
   Looking back at the men's season, it is impressive to note that the team finished in the top five of all races this year when they ran their varsity team. From Early Bird to State, the team ran well all year and helped bring back the city conference, along with Edison and some South runners, to a more powerful state wide stance. Top runner Forrest Tahdooahnippah finished an impressive second place in state this year, behind Winona's Garrett Heath. On the women's side, sophomore sensation Jamie Cheever achieved the best finish at the state meet for a Southwest female runner ever, with her surprising seventh place finish.
   At the meet itself, conditions were nearly perfect, with temperatures in the low 40's and partly cloudy skies. However, due to an alteration of the course, there has been speculation that the new course could be as much as 200 meters more than a 5k for men, and also too long for women. Due to this apparent miscalculation, all the times were noticeably slower this year than last-- by roughly forty seconds. However, this remains speculation and has not yet been confirmed.

Below are unofficial results:

Men's Varsity 5k (Name - Place - Score) - Overall 5th Place
Forrest Tahdooahnippah - 16:07 - 2nd (All State) (1) 
Neil Grosscup - 16:41 - 20th(All State) (11)
Dan Dickinson - 17:47 - 93rd (56)
Erik DeLapp - 17:50 - 98th (61)
Erik Maloney - 17:52 - 100th (62)
Evan Rowe - 19:29 - 151st (108)
(Gavin Weir did not finish due to asthma)

Women's Varsity 4k (Name - Place - Score) - Overall 13th Place
Jamie Cheever - 15:23 - 7th(All State) (3)
Callie Pastarr - 16:17 - 40th (20)
Trina Pastarr - 17:22 - 120th (76)
Molly Tolins - 17:28 - 129th (85)
Danielle Walter - 18:07 - 145th (101)
Lizzy Boosalis - 18:29 - 153rd (109)
Katherine Ketter - 18:58 - 156th (112)

   This meet officially ends the Cross Country Season of 2002. Thanks to all coaches and athletes for making this season a success, and thanks to all readers for keeping track of the Southwest runners.

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