As a sophomore competing at the Nike Outdoor Nationals track meet, D'Evelyn's Kevin Williams was terrified and white as a ghost.

After seeing his competition in the warm-up area, Williams told coach Micah Porter there was no way he could run at their level.

Williams' nerves and lack of confidence got the best of him, and his poor performance proved he really wasn't ready.

Luckily for Porter that Williams is long gone.

"There was no way he was ready for that, mentally or emotionally, and now he finally has the confidence in him to know that he is able to run with the best," Porter said. "He won't be going to the line intimidated this time."

Even though Williams has finished second the past two years at the Class 4A state cross country meet, the D'Evelyn senior's success during spring track pushed him into the nation's elite scene.

He should be a top competitor at the state cross country meet Oct. 27 at the El Pomar Sports Complex in Colorado Springs.

"I would love to have that state title, who wouldn't?" said Williams, whose competition will include Denver North rival and returning champion Joseph Manilafasha.

"But there are a lot of good runners this year. Joseph is such a great runner, and he works really hard. But now I try to worry about myself and my own preparation and not worry about anyone else anymore."

Williams was a huge surprise two years ago when he finished second at state as a sophomore, and Manilafasha, who is from Burundi, was 17th in the Class 5A division.

But when Denver North dropped to 4A last year for cross country, Manilafasha beat Williams by 22.5 seconds.

"He got beat running his absolute best that day, so I think Kevin is still the underdog going into this season," Porter said. "Kevin knows that Joseph is the one to beat, but Kevin has a lot more experience, and he has matured quite a bit since last year."

Since Denver North remained at the 5A level for track, Manilafasha and Williams didn't race at the state meet.

Williams would have been tough to beat, as he won the 1,600 and defended his 3,200- meter title in setting a state record of 9 minutes, 19.83 seconds. Manilafasha finished fifth in the upper division of the 3,200.

Williams then got the nation's attention when he won the 3,200 at the Great Southwest Track and Field Classic in New Mexico and the adidas Golden West Invitational in California.

"These races put him in the national scene," Porter said. "He is able to handle high-pressure situations much better now.

The big difference is that he was nervous last fall for cross country, and we all knew it. He was just as nervous in the spring, but nobody knew it. This should be a great cross country season."

NOTEBOOK

• When Thornton's Dey Tuach showed up at the Class 5A state track meet in May, it's like he came out of nowhere.

In fact, Tuach did come from somewhere unexpected - a refugee camp in Sudan.

Tuach moved to Colorado last year to live with an uncle and cousin when coach Suzanne Hammerschmidt talked him into running track. Tuach, who never had run before, was an instant success. By the time the state meet came, Tuach was ready to chase nationally ranked miler Charles White of Cherry Creek in the 1,600 meters.

White went out in a blistering pace in chase of the state record and collapsed on the final lap. Tuach tried to hold on but finished fifth. He then placed third in the 800.

"For him being really inexperienced, the whole track season was really fun for him," Hammerschmidt said. "He's just starting to realize how good he really is. "

Tuach, a senior, will be one of the athletes to go after the 5A state cross country title, along with White and Dakota Ridge junior Evan Appel, who finished third last year and is the top returner for the division.

Appel has his younger brother, Austin, joining the team in hopes of earning another title for the Eagles, as well as some extra gold for himself.

"He is so fired up for this season," Dakota Ridge coach Mike Callor said. "He wants a state championship more than anything. He has had a great summer of training, and he should be one of the ones in contention to win this thing."

• Wheat Ridge finished third at state last season, but the Farmers are the early favorites to win the 5A team title.

They return all five of their top runners, including junior Henry Cowhick (16th last season), sophomore Scott Fauble (17th), junior Dart Schwaderer (37th), senior Bryan Heiny (53rd) and senior Micky Nelson (112th).

And with the addition of senior middle-distance trackster Teigon Shirley, the Farmers could be in the hunt for their first boys team title since 1979.

• Lyons junior Andrew Roberts made his mark last at 3A last season, finishing second as a sophomore. He followed that with a 3,200 championship during track, making him the small-school favorite in cross country.

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