Answer: Nothing.

Fleet was on top of the state cross country world last month after leading the Woodbridge Invitational in Irvine from start to finish. One week later, a question mark appeared when the University City High senior finished ninth at Stanford.

In a non-invitational race. Behind one of his own teammates.

It brought back memories of last year when Fleet would follow a strong race with a subpar performance. The pattern eventually was explained when he was forced to undergo surgery to relieve the friction between two bones in his foot. The operation took place a few days after Fleet watched the San Diego Section championships as a hobbling spectator.

The inconsistency continued when Fleet ran a 1:50.40 for 800 meters on the track midway through the spring but struggled to have back-to-back strong races at the end of the season.

The 17-year-old senior laughs at the comparison.

“I had a bad race at Stanford. Everyone has one of those,” Fleet said. “I ran stupidly. I didn't train well, and the day after Woodbridge I went on a hard 14-mile run that took a lot out of me.

“As for last spring, I didn't even think I'd be able to run after the surgery. I was a 185-pounder who wasn't sure of his foot. I'm fine now.”

There are a couple of other things to know about the 6-foot-3 Fleet, who is back to his ideal running weight of 165 and is considered the section's best chance to make the Foot Locker National Championships on Dec. 13 at Balboa Park.

One, while he is among the state's best cross country runners, he prefers racing around the track.

Two, he and his coach Jim McCarthy couldn't care less about early-season performances – so much so he is currently training 60 to 70 miles a week and will not participate in any more invitationals this fall.

“I do cross country and I really want to win a state title, but I love track,” said Fleet, who carries a 4.2 grade-point average and is choosing a college from among Oregon, Wisconsin and Stanford. “In cross country you run two miles and then you race the last mile.

“Track is a sport where you can compare times. A 1:50 for 800 meters is the same everywhere. It's almost impossible to compare cross country times.”

A time over Fresno's Woodward Park, site of the state meet, compared to Balboa Park or Mount SAC means nothing. Woodward Park is flat and the weather is usually cool (to the runners' liking). Balboa Park has one challenging hill and Mount SAC is a death march of steep hills, dust and often heat.

Still, Fleet is nothing if not a competitor and McCarthy said that was his undoing at Stanford.

“Mac completely dominated Woodbridge,” said the veteran coach, “and even though his time was slower than last year, it was a different course and about 20 seconds slower.

“I think one of the fun things about cross country is taking long Sunday runs after a meet. The trouble this time was he went out with some college and pro runners. They're used to running longer and faster.”

While relieved that Fleet didn't hurt himself, McCarthy sensed that Fleet wasn't completely recovered by Stanford. Although Fleet was still up with the leaders with a mile remaining, McCarthy knew his runner wouldn't win.

But having teammate Guadalupe Gonzalez finish eighth was viewed by McCarthy and Fleet as a plus. Gonzalez has made mega-improvement, and, with the rest of the Centurions running well, University City is ranked No. 1 in the section.

Fleet is building his base in hopes of being able to run the gauntlet at the end of the season: section, state, Foot Locker regional and nationals.

“My goal is to win state. Foot Locker nationals is No. 2,” said Fleet, who can name every one of his major challengers and what they're doing. “It's a tossup who is the best nationally among as many as 15 runners. There isn't a select group of four or five and I'm definitely one of the 15.”

Not exactly spoken like a runner who is struggling.