STEENS — Ethan Sevier doesn’t use the word “legacy” lightly.
Sevier spent the last two seasons learning from some of the best runners in the history of Columbus Christian Academy, so he had a pretty good handle on what it took to be successful.
Following the graduation of Chris Webber, Glenn Misiak, and Nate Parker, Sevier knew it would be his time to shine. But Sevier had an inauspicious start to his the junior season when he failed to complete the opening meet of the season. Dehydration caused Sevier to “fall out” in the homestretch of the first race of 2018 at the end of August at Burtons Sugar Farm and left him wondering if he would be able to realize his chance to prove himself.
“I picked myself up and I learned from my mistakes,” Sevier said. “After that I ended up drinking enough water to get me through the next two weeks. I was thinking not only did I let myself down but I also let my team down. I felt like I set a bad example with that happening.”
Sevier re-focused after the first meet and has had a water bottle in his backpack ever since. As a result, he noticed a big difference in how he felt en route to a top-five finish in the second meet of the season.
But Sevier saved his best performance of the season for the season finale Oct. 23 at the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class A State title meet at Choctaw Trails in Clinton. Sevier finished the course in a personal-best 18 minutes, 36 seconds to win his first state championship.
For his accomplishment, Sevier is The Dispatch’s Prep Player of the Week.
“Everybody is going to have that little tinge of doubt that (makes them think) am I doing all of this right?” Sevier said. “The day of the meet I knew I had done everything right. I was feeling great. The weather was great. I didn’t necessarily know I was going to win, but I knew I wasn’t going to lose, either, and I really wanted to push myself.”
Sevier led CCA, which was the three-time reigning state champion, to a third-place finish with 85 points. Christ Covenant School (46 points) and Delta Streets Academy (75) finished first and second.
Sevier outdistanced Delta Streets’ Daniel Vargas (second, 18:44) to take the crown. He said he used his height advantage to push the tempo in the second half of the race to wear down Vargas.
Sevier said he took the advice of Webber about controlling his pace at the start of the race. He said he felt strong at the end of the race and then had a strong kick in the final 400 to “leave it all out there.” Fittingly, the career-best time was a welcome reward.
“When I looked at the clock I was psyched,” Sevier said. “It really didn’t set in until my mom came running up to me almost in tears because she was so excited I won. Once I got my breath and relaxed a little bit, I was really, really happy with myself and the rest of the guys.”
Last season, Sevier was CCA’s fourth runner in a 1-2-3-4 finish that helped it achieve the feat for the first time. But the graduation of Webber, who won last season with an 18:29, Misiak (18:48), and Parker (19:20) left a void Sevier knew he had to fill. He started his work in the offseason so he would be ready to become the team’s new No. 1 runner and to lead a young group that was determined to carry on the program’s tradition.
CCA coach Billy Thomas said Sevier looks up to Webber, who is a member of the Mississippi College cross country team, so he wasn’t surprised to see Sevier prepare himself for a junior season in which he was expected to take ownership of the program. Sevier’s move came after a 2017 season that impressed Webber, who praised Sevier for the improvement he made from the 2016 season, when he wasn’t able to complete the cross country campaign.
A year ago, Sevier even used the word “legacy” when he talked about taking his place in the top four. He admitted a year ago he wasn’t sure he would be able to earn the finish. A year later, Sevier spoke confidently about the mind-set he had leading up to the race and everything he learned throughout the season. He said falling out in the opening meet of the season taught him a valuable lesson about preparation that he never forgot as he kept his eyes focused on the biggest prize of the season.
After winning, Sevier has his sights set on helping CCA recapture the state title. He also is looking forward to leading his teammates in pursuit of another championship.
Thomas said Sevier didn’t have any issues after suffering from dehydration in the first meet of the season. He said Sevier wanted to win the state title “real bad” and went out and shouldered that responsibility.
“I have coached several different sports, and you’d like to see and to think that athlete can be the athlete who steps up and fills some shoes,” Thomas said. “As bad as we want it to happen for them, it is a personal decision, and they have to take ownership of it. With Chris leaving, I think Ethan decided he was going to take ownership of this program. He put in the work to be that. Just like all great athletes who put the work in, when it is time to reap the rewards they will be there at the front of the line.
“I am very proud of Ethan. He worked hard, which really wasn’t a big surprise because he did that last year. But he took ownership and said, ‘This is me.’ ”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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