By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

WAMEGO -- All season, the Ness City prep boys' cross country team dominated the Class 1A landscape. The Eagles, defending state champions and ranked No. 1, continually beat teams from higher classifications, including four of the five Western Athletic Conference squads. At the regional Rim Rock run, the Eagles finished 10th and defeated eight Class 4-6A squads. The Eagles were considered a lock to win another state title, possibly post a perfect score.

Three weeks before state, though, Eagle coach Patrick Younger noticed a change.

"I think we just thought, 'oh, everything has kind of been easy up to this point.' We thought that we kind of had it in the bag," he said.

On Saturday, the Eagles unexpectedly lost the state championship to rival Tribune-Greeley County by one point, 24-25. Pretty Prairie finished in third place with 69 points. Ness City finished 1-2 individually, with seniors Colton McNinch and Kyle Calvin, yet Greeley County put four runners in the top 15. McNinch's time was 17 minutes, 12.15 seconds, while Calvin ran 17:15.01.

"I think they were just ready for the season to get over," McNinch said. "It's been a long season, but a lot of it maybe was just first-meet jitters for a lot of them. Made it bigger than it was, but it was a fun season, a lot of good guys."

Ness City had beaten the Jackrabbits by two points at the regional last week and by 12 points at the regular season Ness City Invitational.

"It's definitely disappointing," McNinch said.

"I am really shocked, actually," Calvin said. "I can't believe we didn't win."

Individually, McNinch capped one of the best cross country careers by any area runner. He joined Phillipsburg's Billy Wuggazer (1989-90) as the lone area boys to win two cross country championships. In addition, McNinch now has five individual/relay titles in cross country and track and two team crowns. He is the 33rd runner in Kansas history to win at least two crowns, according to Kansas Sports Hall of Fame records.

"I really had to earn it today," he said. "It really hurt coming in. When you make it hurt like that and you still win, it makes you feel pretty good."

At state track last spring, Calvin won the 3,200-meter title in a photo finish over McNinch. The runners reversed finishes in the 1,600-meter run. On Saturday, they went 1-2 again. The Eagles finished second, first and second in the last three years at state cross country.

"I'm pleased," Younger said. "We are going to miss those two guys. They are extremely hard competitors and get after it and do really well in the classroom as well. It's cool just to finish 1-2 going back to last track season."

McNinch finished his career with three top-10 showings while Calvin had three all-state finishes at state cross country, too. Calvin finished third in 2008 and Saturday was his best finish at a state cross country meet.

The senior, who suffered a preseason car accident and ran all year with screws in his shoulder, was eight seconds faster than his 2008 state time. In addition, he was 43 seconds faster and two spots better than his fourth place finish at regionals.

"After regionals, I am really happy with what happened," Calvin said. "I really didn't think I would get second after regionals. I just didn't really try at regionals. I am happy. Hopefully, me and Colton can break a lot of records (in track), and I think we will."

During the fall, there was talk among rival coaches that Ness City could possibly break its 2008 record of 14 points at the state meet. Some even discussed a possible perfect score for the Eagles. As the season progressed, though, Younger noticed his team had become complacent.

"We have a 15-minute meeting before we start our workout every day at practice," Younger said. "You could tell, they are listening to what I am saying, but it's not sinking in with what I'm saying. It was just, 'oh yeah, we got it in the bag.' " We still worked hard in the workouts, but we didn't go that extra gear because everything has been too easy up to this point."

At the regional, Greeley County, ranked No. 2 all fall, nearly beat Ness City. The Eagles won 20-22 in a meet Younger called "a scare."

"They responded well from that, but at that time, it was almost too late to respond to that," he said. "We had a pretty good week of workouts this week. You can only do so much in the last week before the final race."

At state, Greeley County senior Isaac Wilson took a big early lead. However, McNinch and Calvin moved up during the first half of the race.

"Went out relaxed and didn't let the couple guys go out hard make us go out hard," McNinch said. "After that mile, we just started pulling ahead and pulling ahead. By two miles, it was just me and him out there, I think."

McNinch crossed the mile mark in 5:05 and the 2-mile mark in 10:57. Calvin was just behind with splits of 5:15 and 11:02. Wilson eventually finished third.

"Colton, about at the mile mark, took the lead and didn't let go of it and then Kyle was patient, about the mile and a half started gaining some ground," Younger said.

"It was just their race from about the mile and a half point on."

When McNinch and Calvin crossed the finish line, they thought Ness City had won the championship.

"I assumed we would win, but it didn't happen," Calvin said.

However, Greeley County's strong pack gave the Jackrabbits the championship -- and the Eagles a disappointing finish.

"I just kind of sensed too much complacency a little bit," Younger said.

"I would say that was the reason why. It was still close. The guys came out and battled, but Tribune, they have gunning for us all year and they got a lot of confidence getting close last week, and they came through today."

Other all-state finishers

Ness City junior Josh Snodgrass was the third Eagle to pick up all-state honors when he finished 16th (18:28.62).

Hoxie sophomore Luke Friess was one spot behind in 17th (18:29.36). In Class 2A, Plainville sophomore Brady Johnson picked up his second straight all-state finish when he was 17th (18:08.60). He was 12th as a freshman.