BISMARCK - Different year, same story.
Last year, Russell Dixon's individual win led New Town to the North Dakota Class B boys state cross country title.
Fast forward to Saturday afternoon when Dixon outlegged teammate Patrick Wolf to win the 5,000-meter race and help the Eagles beat Bowman 35-59 for a second straight team championship.
"After last year, we knew we had a chance to win it again," said Dixon, who was named Class B boys senior athlete of the year. "We knew Bowman was going to be tough to beat, but we came in determined to win."
Dixon crossed the finish line at 16 minutes 44.28 seconds. Wolf, a sophomore, came in 8.89 seconds later. Dixon and Wolf grew accustomed to finishing 1-2 or 2-1 this season.
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"That's where they usually finished," said New Town coach Brian Anderson, the Class B boys coach of the year. "If it wasn't Russell and Patrick, it was Patrick and Russell. They're two outstanding competitors. We felt we needed a 1-2 finish from them today and they gave us one."
Bowman runners Beau Harder, Nathan McGee and Bryant Miller placed 3-4-5, but the next Bulldog into the chute was Brian Moser, who came in 23rd.
By then, New Town had wrapped up the title with runners placing sixth (Gabe Fettig), 11th (Josh Kirkaldie), 15th (Jeremy Grinnell) and 20th (Rainbow GoodBear).
"We had a great team effort today," Dixon said. "Everybody turned it up. Six all-state runners. ... That's a good day."
Bowman won the girls title for the third consecutive year, topping second-place New Salem 78-128.
It was Bowman's 25th state girls title in 27 years.
New Salem's top finisher was Sami Lauf, 20th. Holsteins coach Brent Lauf was named Class B girls coach of the year.
Sophomore Lindsay Anderson of Leeds-Maddock won her second individual title in three years, covering the 4,000-meter course in 15:02.11.
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New Town's Tika Baker, who finished 16th overall, was named Class B girls senior athlete of the year.
