Woodmont junior Aaron Ramirez's title in the Class AAA boys state cross country meet was not only his first, but the school's first Ramirez said in an e-mail Wednesday to scrunners.com.
With family out west, Ramirez informed them about the live video scrunners.com hosted Saturday. Due to technical difficulties the live stream did not work during the Class AAA boys finish, however Ramirez was interviewed live following his run and was able to chat with his dad, Ken via the streaming video chat room.
"He was about to buy a plane ticket just to watch me race," said Ramirez. "He was so happy when I told him you were shooting the live feed at the meet."
Ramirez won Saturday's 5,000-meter run in 15 minutes, 45 seconds over Hilton Head sophomore Jack Felix (16:11). Ramirez ran the second fastest time of the day to Fort Mill's Mark Blackmon (15:44) during his second season of cross country.
"There's nothing else like it," said Ramirez about being state champion. "After all I've been through this season, I'm satisfied."
Ramirez crossed mile one in four minutes, 59 seconds and mile two in 10 minutes, nine seconds.
Ramirez, the favorite for this past Saturday's race, finished eighth in 2007 in 16 minutes, 36 seconds.
The Wildcats finished 17th in the team competition.
"It helped me so much," Ramirez said of having his team in the race. "I love this course, I always run my fastest here."
Ramirez said he is planning to compete in the Foot Locker South region meet Nov. 29 at McAlpine Park in Charlotte.