LEXINGTON – In Colton Bullington’s case, running stupid is a good thing.

When re-evaluating your pace every 10 to 15 seconds, being aggressive for three miles can work in your favor if everything is going according to plan.

And everything certainly did for Bullington, the Warren East senior who can now rest his laurels as a state champion.

Bullington set the pace early and led the whole race on his way to winning the Class 2A boys’ individual championship at the KHSAA State Cross Country Championship at Kentucky Horse Park.

After finishing fifth in the state meet the last two seasons, Bullington is now the second individual boys’ champion in the last three years after Jacob England’s title in 2016.

“Everything went according to plan,” Bullington said. “Everything went well. I got in front of everybody … that’s my resting pace right there with them and I surged and kept surging throughout.”

Bullington ran with the pack for the first half-mile before building as large as an eight-second lead on the rest of the field. Webster County’s Ryan Maynard closed with a final kick to finish two seconds behind Bullington’s 16 minute, 20.93-second race.

“I have really good strength running through endurance,” Bullington said. “There was a lot into this game plan. I got out in front about a half-mile out and started to go and surge off. On the uphill, I attacked the hill and downhill is one of my greatest strengths. I just let go on downhills and did that the whole race.”

The confidence that comes with setting the pace early and holding it throughout the 5K is what made Bullington’s senior year special, according to Warren East coach Kevin Lashley.

Bullington won the 2A, Region 2 meet last weekend by over 20 seconds at the Hardin County Fairgrounds in 16:57.10. The mileage Bullington built over the summer set the pace for a senior year ending with a championship.

“Everything he did, you couldn’t ask for an individual to do it better,” Lashley said. “If it makes sense, Colton almost runs stupid in the fact he didn’t think about anything except for that current moment. Ten to 15 seconds at a time and he re-evaluates. That’s how he runs. He’s a very intelligent runner. Running out front, it’s not for everyone, but that seems to be his forte.”

The charge by Maynard was the only inkling of a threat to Bullington’s lead. Bullington’s late kick has been a work in progress all season, Lashley said, but his sizable lead was enough to hold off a two-second win.

“Really no surprise,” Lashley said. “That’s Colton. You know what you’re going to get. You live or die by the way that you run and today was victorious for him.”

Bullington’s win helped Warren East to finish fifth in the team standings with 208 points. Junior Garrett Elrod earned a podium spot with a 13th-place finish in 17:24.51.

Lexington Catholic dominated for a second-straight state title with 85 points and Boyd County finished runner-up with 163 points.

It’s the second straight top-five finish for Warren East after placing second in 2017.

“It’s really great,” Bullington said of the finish. “We’re trying to make a legacy and it’s great to be a part of that. Jacob (England) is one of my best friends and to be a state champion with him means a lot.”

South Warren’s Luke Spurrier reached the podium to finish fifth in the boys’ 3A race in 16:10.76, over 20 seconds behind champion Christian Parker of Madisonville.

Warren East junior Emma Steff was the highest area finisher on the girls’ side with a 22nd-place finish in the 2A race in 20:39.60.

South Warren’s girls’ placed seventh in the team standings with four runners finishing in the top 50. Eighth-grader Megan Kitchens led that group with a 30th-place spot in 20:45.47.

Class A Boys

1. Holy Cross (Louisville), 62 points

2. Lexington Christian, 105

3. Owensboro Catholic, 136

16. Edmonson County, 204

Class A Girls

1. Bishop Brossart, 107

2. Lexington Christian, 185

3. Walton Verona, 188

Class 2A Boys

1. Lexington Catholic, 85

2. Boyd County, 163

3. Boyle County, 172

5. Warren East, 208

Class 2A Girls

1. Scott, 106

2. Highlands, 115

3. Mason County, 121

26. Franklin-Simpson, 603

Class 3A Boys

1. Trinity (Louisville), 54

2. St. Xavier, 112

3. Madison Central, 173

11. Bowling Green, 393

17. South Warren, 467

29. Greenwood, 717

Class 3A Girls

1. Oldham County, 64

2. Daviess County, 174

3. Lafayette, 189

7. South Warren, 264

17. Bowling Green, 497

19. Greenwood, 501{&end}