The Class 6A boys state cross country result was an all-too-familiar and sickening sight for Lawrence High.

Shawnee Mission Northwest claimed its ninth straight title and 14th overall on Saturday at Rim Rock Farm by placing five runners in the top 38, overcoming a couple of top-10 finishes from Lion seniors Dylan McClain and Andy Struble.

It was the fourth time in five years the Lions have been runners-up to the Cougars, but this one was agonizingly close. A seven-point margin 92-99 separated the two squads.

“We just couldn’t get the fifth runner in there where we needed him,” LHS coach Dick Reamon said. “That’s the way it goes. It’s just frustrating as hell to be in this position again.”

With McClain (sixth place), Struble (seventh), John Zehr (25th) and Harry Swartz (28th) coming in ahead of Northwest’s top four runners with a 13-point margin, the Lions had a shot, but usual fifth runner Drew Vogel, who was diagnosed with walking pneumonia on Monday, finished 91st. Neither Jacob Rahmeier (64th) nor Matt Riley (68th) could make up the difference.

“There’s no secret to it, you just have to come out here and race,” Reamon said. “Northwest did it with their depth. That’s it.”

Free State, which came in ninth overall, had the Lions’ top runners in its sights most of the race and ended up with two medalists as well in seniors Hiral Bhakta (ninth) and Adrian Ludwig (13th).

Both had been nursing injuries the last few weeks, but managed to push through the race’s demanding hills and chilly temperatures. Bhakta, in fact, set a school record for highest placing at state, breaking Justin White’s year-old record by three places.

“They competed really well,” FSHS coach Steve Heffernan said. “Last year they both finished back in the pack, so for them both to get in the top 15 this year is a great accomplishment.”

Blue Valley North's Grady Sullivan (55) leads the pack. Sullivan won the Class 6A state cross country race Saturday at Rim Rock farm. Wichita Heights' Ryan Wilson (486) was second, and Lawrence High's Dylan McClain (224) finished sixth.

Bhakta, who nearly won last week’s regional in Manhattan, was just seven seconds behind Struble and nine behind McClain, running the 5K course in 16:38. The jump from the Firebirds’ sixth runner last year to top runner this year couldn’t have been a much better cap to his senior year.

“I’m always looking to do better,” Bhakta said. “I just wanted to put on a good showing because it’s my senior year and didn’t want to hold anything back.”

The same held true for McClain, who was running on a badly strained Achilles’ heel. He was in the lead pack for most of the race, trying to ignore his heel, but with about 1,200 yards left, he couldn’t maintain the same pace once he hit the final uphill.

Blue Valley North’s Grady Sullivan eventually won, coming in at 16:01, three seconds better than last year’s winner, Wichita Heights’ Ryan Wilson.

Free State High's Hiral Bhakta embraces teammate Adrian Ludwig after Saturday's Class 6A state cross country meet at Rim Rock Farm. Bhakta finished eighth and Ludwig 13th.

“It’s so frustrating,” McClain said. “I could’ve yelled at the leader, I could’ve chucked things at them, but I couldn’t make a move. I felt fine, but I couldn’t do anything about it.”

Despite the disappointments, Reamon said he wasn’t upset with his team’s performance. He just thought this might finally be the year LHS won its first boys state cross country title.

“I thinking back about the season, what we did and didn’t do, and I wouldn’t have done anything different,” he said. “The kids really wanted it, but hats off to Northwest.”