UPDATED: Gambill places 32nd at state cross country finals

Shakamak's Drew Gambill heads for the finish line at the boys cross country state finals Saturday. (By Shad Cox/Greene County Daily World). [Order this photo]

TERRE HAUTE -- Shakamak senior Drew Gambill concluded his high school cross country career by placing 32nd at the 2009 Indiana State High School boys cross country meet at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course here Saturday afternoon.

Gambill covered the 3.1 mile course in 17 minutes, 2.9 seconds.

"It was a little muddier than I expected," Gambill said of the 3.1-mile course that was doused with rain Friday. "It was really slick in spots.

"It was hard to get good footing. There were a couple of spots that were really wet."

Gambill said he was pleased with his first mile, which took almost 5:10.

"I was where I needed to be," he said. "I started out running with a couple of kids from (Terre Haute) North. But they were not running very good and I eventually passed them at about the mile and a half mark"

He added that he was unable to break away from a pack of runners until the very end.

"I just could not get out of the pack I was in," said Gambill. "And then I also had some side stitches again.

"I decided I was not going to let anyone pass me the last mile or so. I think I caught and passed six or seven runners at the end. I was happy with the way I finished, but it just wasn't exactly what I was hoping for."

It was his third consecutive appearance at the state finals. He placed 89th in 2008 and 32nd in 2007.

"I came up short of my goal of finishing in the top 25 and earning a spot on the medals stand," said Gambill. "But overall, I was pretty happy with it.

"I think it was a little ironic that I finished 32nd here in my first trip to state as a sophomore and I finished 32nd here in my final cross country race."

Gambill said he was happy with his cross-country career, which included four straight appearances at the semi state.

"I came in as a freshman not really knowing what to expect," Gambill said of that 2006 season. "I finished 30th at the semi state that year, which gave me confidence going into my sophomore season.

"I finished 32nd in my first trip to state. I wasn't nervous and I had no pressure on me running next to Anthony (Witt) back then. I had a really good junior year and I was pretty solid this year. After running with Witt, it was an adjustment running by myself as a junior and senior. Overall, I was pretty proud of my cross country career."

Gambill can now turn his attention to track, where he hopes to get back to the state finals in the 800 meters.

"Cross is fun, but I am more of a track guy," said Gambill, who added that he will train about 35-40 miles a week for track compared to 60 miles a week for cross country. "I will do a lot more speed work.

"There was one guy returning that was ahead of me in the 800 at state last year. I am gunning for him."