CHARLOTTE - It seemed most people had written Eric Mack off - except those close to him.
Mack, a senior at North Forsyth, finished a disappointing sixth at the N.C. 4A cross country championships and any hope of qualifying for the Foot Locker nationals seemed all but a hopeless dream.
"I had a pretty bad meet, admittedly," said Mack, who had battled injuries this season. "I was favored pretty high and even to win, but when you start falling that far back, you ask, 'What are you doing out here?'"
"I hate to say I gave up because that's not the mindset that anybody needs."
However, leading up to the regional he was given encouragement from his family and his brother, Bobby - the third-best freshman at NCAA nationals for N.C. State and a FootLocker All-American last year.
Knowing there were doubters now, didn't bother him.
On Saturday, Eric Mack came from as far back as 13th at the two-mile mark to finish sixth in 14:59 at the FootLocker Southeast Regional at McAlpine Park.
He became the fourth-fastest performer in N.C. history and the 22nd fastest high schooler overall on the course.
Raleigh Millbrook's Nick Hutchins, the N.C. 4A champion, finished just behind in seventh to also qualify, running 15:02 and improving on his 15:12 he ran at the Wendy's Invitational at McAlpine on October 14.
His performance was good for fifth best in N.C. history and 29th overall, just behind last year's 15:01.7 (28th all-time) by Virginia's Kippy Keino, son of the legendary Kip Keino.
Mack and Hutchins each earned a trip to nationals in San Diego on Dec. 13. Robert Longoria of Hope Mills South View just missed qualifying, finishing 11th in 15:16.
"I just stuck with my training," said Mack, who had a bloddy knee after the race and was sitting down trying on spikes. "My brother gave me workouts he has done at N.C. State and he gave me confidence. He said, 'Eric, you're in the best shape you've ever been in.'" "My mindset today was, 'It's your last race, possibly my last cross country race.'"
After coming off the hill and just before the two-mile mark, Mack was 13th, and made up his mind he had to make a move soon. "Some of the guys spread out actually," Mack said. "Robert Longoria had passed me and he was going and I said to myself, 'If you're not going now, you're not going to California."
He was still out of contention with less than 600 meters left, but he passed about four people and made it into the top eight, held his position and finished one second behind Andrew Bumbalough, a junior from Brentwood (TN) Academy who won the Tennessee Division II title and ran the fastest time of any division at the Tennessee State Championships at 14:44.
Brian Sullivan of The Woodlands (TX) High won in 14:46, three seconds off the course and meet record, and Erik Stanley (Klein Oak, Spring, TX) made it a Texas 1-2 finish, running 14:46.
OTHER TOP N.C. BOY FINISHERS (in seeded race) 11. Robert Longoria Hope Mills South View, 15:16 20. Jack Bolas Chapel Hill, 15:25 24. Odon Villegas (12) Holly Springs, NC 15:28 26. Jesus Rojas, Harnett Central, 15:30 34. Ryan Curran, W-S Mt. Tabor, 15:36 51. John Compton, Char. Providence Day, 15:45 59. Sandy Roberts, Raleigh Broughton, 15:49 62. Paul Longoria, Hope Mills South View, 15:51 67. Nick Sunseri, Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons, 15:55 76. Ryan Basler, W-S Reynolds, 15:58 79. Stephen Largen, East Chapel Hill, 15:59 93. Alex Ray, NW Guilford, 16:08 97. Chase Eckard, South Caldwell, 16:10 102. Asmeron Desta, McDowell, 16:11 109. Ben Smith, East Chapel Hill, 16:14 116. Andrew Felts, West Forsyth, 16:19 122. Nicholas Stump, Cary, NC 16:21 123. Brandon Jones, Charlotte Independence, 16:21 TOP N.C. GIRL FINISHERS (in seeded race) 17. Brenna Burns, Asheville Carolina Day, 18:14 19. Kate Merrill, Durham Jordan, 18:15 21. Elizabeth Bruce, Forsyth Country Day, 18:17 53. Courtney Bowen (9) Winston Salem, NC 19:06 55. Genevieve Calloway, Watauga, 19:08 64. Lindsey Nadolski, Chapel Hill, 19:12 98. Leigh Ann Taylor, Monroe, 20:01 102. Kelly Weinel, Wake Forest Rolesville, 20:05 107. Hannah Bohlen, Chapel Hill, 20:17 108. Mo Campbell, Charlotte Providence, 20:17 119. Shiyrah Mielke, North Henderson, 20:46 125. Jeannine Noble (11) Sanford, NC 20:53 127. Jamie Vogt, Eastern Wayne, 21:05
