TERRE HAUTE — Lapel senior Luke Combs finished his final high school cross country race not exactly where he wanted to be, but still happy at the end of the run in the Indiana High School Athletic Association’s state final race Nov. 2 in Terre Haute.
Combs led at various points during the race in the tightly packed group and finished third behind winner Gabriel Sanchez, a Lowell senior, and second-place finisher Lucas Guerra, a Highland junior.
It wasn’t until after the 3K mark the top three moved away from the pack. Combs took the lead with less than 600 meters remaining, but Sanchez’s and Guerra’s final pushes were enough to pass Combs in the end.
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Combs’ time for the race was 15:38.4.
“Going into the race, I wanted to go for the win,” Combs said. “Afterward, I was thinking it wasn’t my worst day, but it wasn’t my best either.”
Coach Darrell Richardson said he was very proud of Combs’ accomplishment.
“He worked so hard, ran his race, and I think he was pleased overall. This was a good day for Lapel cross country.”
Richardson said he was as emotional for Combs’ feat as Combs’ dad.
“I am so happy for him.”
The IHSAA awarded Combs the Mental Attitude winner, and $1,000 was given to Lapel’s general scholarship fund in Combs’ name.
At first, Combs was talking with other runners and didn’t hear his name announced as the winner, but when he realized his honor, he was happy.
“I was super pumped and not disappointed in the race anymore. Winning the award made up for it. It means a lot. There are so many really great guys, and winning this is very special,” Combs said.
He said cross country relationships are sometimes different than that of other sports he’d played.
“Once the gun goes off, you really want to beat each other. You cross the finish line, and you’re best friends again.”
This was Combs’ third appearance in the state final race. Richardson said he barely missed out his freshman year.
Combs’ success has had a larger reach than his own accolades.
He has become a role model for those behind him.
“The younger kids look up to him,” Richardson said. “They see what can happen if they put in the hard work.”
On the other side, Combs said it’s a little hard to see himself as a role model because his four years in high school have gone so fast. He said he remembers being in middle school, looking up to the runners who came before him.
“It’s special to me for coach to notice that,” Combs said.
He plans to run track in the spring and is mulling over college offers. He’s undecided on where he’ll attend but knows he wants to study computer science.