Como Park was ranked fifth in its class heading into Saturday’s Class 2A boys state meet. Cougars junior Charlie Loth was ranked seventh.

But the meets aren’t run on paper.

What more appropriate way for a first-ever St. Paul Public School boys cross country team title to occur than from an underdog role?

A dream performance at the right time on the biggest stage put the Cougars atop the podium at Les Bolstad Golf Course.

Loth raced to an individual crown, the first in program history. The junior finished in 15 minutes, 31.1 seconds – three ticks clear of Orono senior Gabe Hallen.

Loth was in a lead pack of about four runners that pulled away from the field. That group ran together until Loth and Kasson-Mantorville’s David Obst took off to set up what appeared to be a two-man finish.

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