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Preston Johnson posted the third-fastest time in the history of the Iowa High School State Cross Country Championships, but it only earned him second place.
Now a senior, this is Johnson's last chance to get the win he's worked so hard for.
The Marshalltown boys' cross country team takes to the course at Marshalltown Community College tonight for the Bobcat Early Bird, starting the 10-meet regular season with an 11-team home meet.
Johnson, a three-time qualifier, has given himself to the quest for a state championship.
"Obviously his goal is to be a state champion," said MHS head coach Chad Pietig. "A lot of kids set lofty goals, but very few of them have not only the natural tools but the work ethic and discipline to reach those types of goals."
Johnson, who does his training through XLR8 Performance Lab in Ankeny, is the top returning finisher in Class 4A from last season's state cross country championships. Cedar Falls senior Jaden Merrick took the title with the second-fastest state meet clocking ever of 14 minutes, 54.6 seconds, while Johnson was the runner-up at 14:56.1.
Regardless of last year's results, Johnson knows he won't be alone in his pursuit of a title.
Third-place finisher Keegan Decker of Iowa City Liberty is a senior this season, and Sioux City North's Kuma Gutema, who placed fourth, is a junior.
The 4A quartet ran the fastest race in state meet history with four sub-15-minute performances.
"There's a couple challengers, the two guys that finished right behind (Johnson), and they have probably trained just as hard as he has all summer with the same goal," Pietig said. "So it won't be easy, but it's his goal and it's a realistic goal and one that he embraces and is ready to take on that challenge."
Johnson is one of only a few varsity returners for the Bobcats. Junior Michael Downs and sophomore Costin Piscitelli are back in action for MHS after running on last year's squad.
Piscitelli placed 40th in the state-qualifying meet in 17:42.4, while Downs was 48th in 18:26.8.
They have taken up the torches left behind by last year's senior group that included state qualifier Carter Nunn as well as Myles Goldman, Isacc Ceniceros and Kade Randall.
"Especially Carter and Myles, they were the core of our program for a couple years, guys that really we put a lot of trust in as far as feedback," Pietig said. "I've always wanted feedback from the athletes and input on how workouts are going and they were that sounding board for two years.
"So we lose their competitiveness and their leadership, but they're going to do some great things running in college, and Michael Downs and Costin Piscitelli have slid into that role this summer."
The rest of the varsity lineup will be fluid, Pietig said, with a cast of potential contributors. Seniors Elliot Kodis, Cooper McLeod and Josue Corral Coronado all ran on the junior varsity lineup for the Iowa Alliance Conference meet, as did juniors Adam Bouhssine and Thomas Stanley.
"Every day it's different right now," Pietig said a week prior to Thursday's opener. "There's probably five or six guys who are going to round out the lineup, and every day it rotates. Just when I think I have my finger on it, it's somebody else.
"It's a little nerve-wracking, but it's also exciting because there's a group to choose from instead of just one or two. Active competition's a good thing. … We'll see how that all plays out."