Although injuries and illness hampered the Auburn Mountainview boys cross country team’s finish at last Saturday’s state championship, there was still plenty of glory to go around for the Lions in Pasco.

Among the highlights of the team’s third trip to the state meet were junior co-captain Chris Scharer’s personal-best time of 16 minutes, 16.1 seconds – good for 35th in the 5,000-meter race – and junior Will Faria’s personal-best 101st-place, 17:12.01 time.

Despite continued improvement by many of the team’s runners, however, the Lions finished last in the 16-team field.

“This season’s top five was the best we’ve had in all the seasons I’ve coached,” coachTyler Nugent said after the meet.

“After that group, we dropped off significantly in terms of experience. It was great having a couple of new runners contribute and develop this season, but our lack of depth hurt us when it came to the postseason. A couple of nagging injuries and illnesses contributed to disappointing finishes at district and state.”

Among those on the walking wounded list for the Lions was senior Dylan Summerlin, who finished 108th overall with a 17:18.9, well below his best time of 16:35.68.

According to junior co-captain Aarun Rumbaugh, Summerlin was battling illness the week before the race and had not fully recovered in time for the state race.

Rumbaugh also struggled, finishing 131st with a time of 17:51.7.

“I was coming off a rolled ankle and wasn’t able to train all week,” Rumbaugh said. “And I started getting a sharp pain in my stomach during the race. I started off good, but I probably didn’t eat right that day.”

Senior Ethan Rumbaugh was 109th with a time of 17:19.2 for the Lions.

Despite the team’s woes at state, Nugent is optimistic about next year’s squad.

“I am encouraged by the group of guys we have coming back next season, led by our three strong juniors,” he said.

Scharer added that success next year was dependent on the team’s incoming class.