Associated Press Mac Fleet thought he had blown it. Making his move with more than a half-mile remaining in the race, Fleet had major doubts.

FRESNO – Mac Fleet thought he had blown it. Making his move with more than a half-mile remaining in the race, Fleet had major doubts.

“I looked back a couple of times because I was sure they'd come back and catch me,” said the University City High senior, who yesterday announced he will accept a scholarship to the University of Oregon.

It turned out that no other runner in the Division III race at the California State Cross Country Championships was willing to go with the Centurions speedster. When the group hit the asphalt road 200 meters from the finish, Fleet's hopes buoyed.

“We don't have a great cross country course at home, so I run a lot on the streets and that played right into my hands,” he said.

Fleet lived up to his name, racing across the finish line first, covering the deceptively tough 3.1-mile Woodward Park course in 15 minutes, 8 seconds.

He celebrated all the way down the finish chute, releasing two years of frustration after a foot injury prevented him from attending the state championships a year ago.

Fleet's burst clearly discouraged defending champion Chris Schwartz of Bakersfield Foothill, who slipped from contention to seventh place.

“I really thought I'd blown it. I thought I moved too soon,” Fleet said. “But when I saw the road and my coach, I thought I could still win the race.

“I had my day. The others in the race were all tough runners and I'm sure they've had their days, too.”

Centurions coach Gimi McCarthy called Fleet's surge a gutsy move, but one that paid huge dividends.

“He moved on the downhill and created a slingshot-like effect that allowed him to just roll,” McCarthy said. “We had a little disagreement right before the race. I wanted him to go out hard like he did winning the Woodbridge Invitational. He wanted to lay back the first mile.”

Fleet stayed back until the two-mile mark, then took the lead. A half-mile later he made his move.

“I just didn't want to embarrass myself,” said Fleet, who beat runner-up Isaac Chavez of Barstow by seven seconds. “I've been outleaned at the finish line before and I didn't want it to happen here.”

One of the first to hug Fleet after the race was his father, Dale, a 1971 state track champion in the two-mile run while attending Clairemont High.

“This is far, far better, to see someone come along like he has,” the elder Fleet said. “I left a footprint, but he left an even bigger footprint.”