Big Things in Small Packages September 16, 2006 While the rest of the state understandably seemed to be fixated on the high school results at Texas A&M, other dramas played out across the state. Bakersfield Park in Flower Mound was the stage and setting for one such drama, the Second Annual Flower Mound Invitational. In 2005, the boy's varsity division at the FM Invite had four 5A All Region I Runners compete head to head finishing first, second, third, and sixth at Bakersfield. Two of these and a fifth runner from Bakersfield would finish in the top sixteen at state (fourth, fifth, and sixteenth). Results like these could be used to argue that some of the states' best may not have been at the 2006 A&M showdown. There were several notes of interest. Last year's 4A All State performer Dennis Yeats (8th) won his second race in two weeks after gradually pulling away from Britt Koestler of Justin Northwest. Dennis won the UT Tyler Invitational over a talented Graham Northcutt of Sulphur Springs on September 9. Britt had the previous week off after finishing sixth at 2006 Marcus I. In a conversation with Judson Northwest Coach Willie Server the day before Bakersfield, he expressed little doubt that Koestler would use Marcus I as a springboard to surge toward district, region, and state. Koestler's effort at the FM Invite certainly will do nothing to change his coach's opinion. Flower Mound was without Nathan Milles who needed to take the SAT. Coach Perez said he had a choice, a) now or b) at District. The athlete and coach chose answer a. That kind of answer should help obtain a college scholarship. Nathan would have been a contender for first at this meet. He has already won Dell Cothren and Frisco during the previous two weeks, and should make a serious run for 5A All-State. Coach Perez clearly indicated the team goal was to return to state despite a loss of seniors that would put most teams into a rebuilding year. Ramstad, Hicks, and Culotta streamed in at seven through nine, asserting their intent. The Plano West boys have now won three meets in a row (Del Cothren/Duncanville Early Bird, Southlake, and Flower Mound). They have been fortunate to receive circumstantial help. It is true that the Southlake Dragons divided themselves into two units at their home event. Additionally, three Moores ran at Southlake, but none of them were named Chris. At Flower Mound as stated before, the Jaguars were without Mr. Milles (Nathan was however at Del Cothren/Duncanville Early Bird which Plano West won). Despite these "what ifs," Plano West makes one wonder if they will actually make it as the third team out of Region II. Ippen led Plano West for a second straight week with his fifth place finish, but the Wolf Pack prowled close behind. Andrew Herrera of FTW Southwest and Jodale Burkley of Skyline finished under 17 minutes at fourth and sixth. All 5A Region I runner Joey Manning of Mansfield (6) knows how to bounce back from though races as he demonstrated last year from Keller to Region I. He can be expected to improve and threaten to return to state. While the CCCAT approached the UIL legislative council with a girl's 5K district, region, and state proposal, the Flower Mound Invitational once again provided its own girl's 5K. Garland's Andrea Torske was one of this pre-season's Dallas Morning News Runners to Watch. The junior won 11-5A in 2005 and missed All Region by one. At Flower Mound, she was clearly on a mission as she never relinquished an early commanding lead. This relatively small runner powered her way up each of the park's uphill slopes on her way to establishing a new girl's course record. Torske demonstrated heart (a big thing in this small package). It's likely you'll find her at state, 5K or not. The Plano West girls are making a case that they should be the Plano West team to watch as they also had a victory at Del Cothren/Duncanville Early Bird and were third at Southlake. They appeared to dominate in their second 5K at the FM Invitational as Kasey McNorton again led the way. Alexa Ramsier, Jenny Swan, and Courtney Kauffman were hot on McNorton's tracks. The Jaguars were led by Katie Kinser and last year's 8-5A Winner and All Region I runner Allie Wyatt (23rd at 5A State). Coach White of Lewisville had to be pleased with newcomer Mary Jordan. Sophomore Alyssa Dooley (3rd at District 8-5A and 12th at Region I in 05 as a freshman) and last year's FM winner Stevie Dietrick finished out the top 10 for Marcus. Former Lewisville Farmer Dietrick was injured at the end of last year and did not run at District. She has since moved to Marcus and competes for the Marauders in 06. The statisticians among us should be warned not to let the finish times deceive. Bakersfield's ground may have been drier in 06 than 05, but the course remained deceptively vicious with both long-gradual and short-steep slopes. Weaving among baseball fields, the course is not designed to help the runner to obtain PRs. The intent is to test mettle. Add the unusually high humidity for North Texas, and it can be understood why Yeats almost collapsed after crossing the finish line. Meet organizers pointed out scoring problems did not affect the outcome of the top 10 finishers in either the boys or girls races. Brad L. Cooper Contributing Reporter