LEADING MEN—Royal High cross country runners Korey Yoakum, left, and Sean Davidson share a few laughs during practice. RHS is No. 2 in the nation in the latest Harrier Super 25 rankings. Meet one of the finest boys’ cross country teams in the nation.

Well, the Royal High runners will tell you they’re happy just to be the best in California.

The Highlanders, second in the country in the most recent Harrier Super 25 rankings, enter the postseason as favorites to win the Division I state championship.

Royal’s runners set some pretty lofty goals before the season started.

“Our goal is not to lose one race,” said Travis Edwards, the top runner and leader of the pack. “I had an idea, but I didn’t think we’d be this good.

“It’s been pretty awesome.”

Royal finished second at the Ventura County Championships last weekend, but rested its top five runners.

Head coach Ryan Luce, who guided the Highlanders to state titles in 2004 and 2005, called this team special.

“They share a passion for running,” Luce said. “There are serious kids. There are loud kids. There are runners who’ve taken on leadership roles. Collectively they’re an awesome team.”

Edwards leads a team that hopes to peak for the state meet at Fresno’s Woodward Park on Sat., Nov. 28.

“He tries to really push it out there,” Luce said of Edwards. “He’s a racer. At the end of the day he wants to finish first, not second.”

Edwards, who finished in 15 minutes flat at the Mt. SAC Invitational on Oct. 24, has a formula for success.

“My strategy is so simple,” he said. “I go out with the front pack and stay up there as long as I can.”

Seniors Sean Davidson and Paul Jesson are exceptional runners who generally finish within seconds of Edwards.

Korey Yoakum solidifies the fourth spot in the lineup. Christian Garza and Colin Keane compete for the fifth and final scoring slot.

Sean Upson, Nico Gervasoni and Scott Weir also contribute.

Yoakum has enjoyed a breakthrough season, highlighted so far by nabbing 13th place at Mt. SAC in 15:22. His performance helped the Highlanders win the Division I team sweepstakes.

The senior said he was never much of a practice runner, but he has formed better habits following the examples of Edwards, Davidson and Jesson.

“If I can stay with them in practice,” Yoakum said, “I can stay with them in races.”

Yoakum, who Luce said is “motivated,” embodies the Highlanders’ confidence, exuberance and determination.

“If we don’t win state, that would be a waste of a season,” Yoakum said. “No. 1 in the state is what we’re all training for.

“We’re not slowing down.”

Jesson, who has been running for almost eight years with the Simi Valley Running Rebels and Royal, said this team becomes united once the sneakers are laced.

“We have a saying, ‘When one goes, we all go,’” Jesson said.

Luce said Jesson is a consistent runner who always has to be a half-step ahead of everyone else—and he doesn’t know how to take it easy.

“Sometimes he gives too much,” Luce said.

Luce said Davidson became interested in cross country when the coach was talking about his team during third-period earth science class for freshmen.

“He never did it a day in his life,” Luce said. “Now he’s one of the top runners not only on my team but in the state. He still has untapped potential.

“Now I’m talking about Sean to my classes.”

Davidson is certainly enjoying his senior year.

“Half of it feels unreal to be this good and talked about this much,” he said. “But the other half of it is we’re doing what we’re supposed to. And we’re having a good time running.

“We’re totally focused on state. We’re set on our goal.”