The sun was shining and the air was cool with a light breeze as Highlander runner Philip Flanders crossed the finish line alone in first place at the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association Nevada State Championships Saturday morning at Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno.

Flanders won the 5,000 meter race in a time of 18:01 beating Justin Grant and Triton Manzo of Lowry who finished second and third in a time of 18:15 and 18:16 respectively.

Unlike other racer's who collapsed after the finish of the race, Flanders appeared relaxed, quiet and confident as he walked down the finish chute to be greeted by his parents, girlfriend and coaches who appeared to be more excited than Flanders.

"It is a little hard to believe," Flanders said. "I felt relaxed today, it wasn't windy and cold (like last week)"

Flanders, who placed second last week in the region championship, ran 20 seconds faster this week on the same course to earn his first ever state title.

"Everything went according to plan, even the conditions, during Saturday's race," Flanders said.

Flanders said he was relaxed throughout the race because he knew the course, had an easy week of practice prior to the race and a well devised race strategy from his coaches Lyle Freeman and Bill Devine.

"He was really confident because he trained hard all year," Freeman said. "Everything was pointed towards this race. The whole season."

Devine, who was not at the race because his daughter Addie was racing the same day out of state, said he couldn't be more thrilled for his junior runner.

"I couldn't be more thrilled for Philip," Devine said. "We had a plan in the last race and he finished second, so we went almost opposite of that and it worked."

The plan was an unusual one, to run very hard the first mile so the other runners would get tired and lose their sprinting speed said Freeman.

Freeman was aware that Flanders was a strong hill runner but did not have the finishing kick of the other runners in the race .

By the second mile Flanders had a comfortable lead as he ran up the final hill, across a flat section, and cruised into the finish.

"It's really nice when you make a plan and it works," Freeman said. "It's unusual to go out hard that early (in the race) but we took the chance and it worked."

Flander's quiet disposition was what made the plan work according to Freeman.

"He is a low-key smart kid who stuck to the race plan," Freeman said. "He never panicked so it worked."

After the boys' race Highlander Amanda Frank competed in the girls' 5,000 meter race and finished in 27th place in a time of 25.07.

The winner of the race was Felicia George of Lowry with a time of 22.04.