When it was over -- the greatest female run in the history of California high school cross country -- Sarah Baxter hustled cups of water to her Simi Valley teammates and, later, rejoiced when she learned the Pioneers had made the podium as one of the top three teams.
"She's remarkably humble," coach Roger Evans said. "To her, it's all about the team."
Maybe. Sort of. But not really.
Not on a splendid Saturday morning at Woodward Park, where the 16-year-old junior with Fresno ties ran away from Buchanan's Hagen Reedy at the mile mark before a crowd of thousands roared her home in 16 minutes, 40 seconds over the 3.1-mile course in the Division I race of the CIF State Championships.