ESPN recognizes Qualls

You may have seen him running all through the streets of Mammoth, no matter the weather, often under-dressed for the cold, music playing through earbuds. Or you might have caught a glimpse of him on the weekends, running with some of the best athletes in the world, who have taken him under their wing, and helped inspire him to be the best he can be. Either way, you will have noted one universal truth: MHS Junior Toby Qualls moves fast.

And on Oct. 12, Qualls racked up another honor, earning a ranking from ESPN Dye Stat as the #3 cross-country runner in Division 5 schools in California. Qualls received the honor after running fast times in three of the state’s most prestigious invitationals.

First was the Bellarmine course, in Griffith Park, Calif., during which Qualls ran the 2.9 mile course in 14:51 during the sweepstakes race!  Qualls then traveled to Woodward Park, in Clovis, Calif.., location of the California State Cross Country Finals, to be held on Nov. 26. Qualls ran the 2011 Clovis Cross Country Invitational 3.1-mile course against both Division 4 and 5 runners, and finished second overall, with a time of 15:52!

Next up was Walnut, Calif., and the Mt. Sac Cross Country Invitational. Qualls ran in the Division 5 sweepstakes race, a race reserved for only state’s fastest teams. Qualls was the only solo runner, (there are not enough runners to make a team for Mammoth), to be selected for this race, and finished with a 15:25, good for third place in Division 5, second in Division 4, and 4th in Division 3, just two seconds off of third place.

“I’m extremely happy for Toby. His dedication and commitment to training is leading to some awesome performances,” commented his head coach, Scott Luke.

Andrew Kastor, a professional coach who donates his time to the Mammoth High School track and cross country teams, and has guided Qualls since he was a freshman, remarked, “Toby’s results at these invitationals is a great indicator of his current fitness level. He has improved his time by a minute and eight seconds on the California State Championship course from last year’s time.”

Kastor also noted that Qualls has not even started doing any speed work yet. “This season will continue to be exciting for him,” Kastor opined.

The Mammoth Cross Country Teams next hosted a league meet on Oct. 27, before traveling to Vasquez for the Nov. 3 Desert Mountain League finals. Runners lucky enough to advance, will start the CIF process, in the hopes of making it to the State Finals on Nov. 26. — PR