MONONA — While he maintains all of his focus was on winning a state title, Andy Buchanan knows there was an additional goal set during last fall's cross country season: Get prepared for track season.

"In-season, we were thinking about cross country, but after the season was over we were pretty much geared up for distance races during the track season," the Madison La Follette senior said. "We trained all winter in the (3,200 meters) because we knew that winning a state title in cross country had us ready to race this spring."

"All four of us … were ready for this."

It showed Friday at the Monona Grove Invitational, as Buchanan and cross country teammates Trevor Scharnke, Abdou Seye and Alex Brill destroyed the competition en route to winning the 3,200 relay in 8 minutes, 2.84, nearly 7 seconds ahead of second-place Stevens Point.

"This is why we (ran cross country)," said Brill, who built a lead large enough running the third leg that Buchanan could put it on cruise control during the final 800 meters. "This is good competition, and we know all these races leading up to state prepare us mentally."

That effort was good enough to lead La Follette the team title with 88 points, ahead of Stevens Point (74) and Racine Park (67).

And not only are the Lancers distance machines, they are exceptionally deep. Senior John Prusynski, also a member of La Follette's cross country team, fell back early but stormed past McFarland's Shane Lacy to win the 1,600 in 4:23.13.

"I had no idea what the race was going to look like before I ran it," said Prusynski, who later watched Buchanan win the 800 in impressive fashion. "You never know if you have that last gear, you just hope you get to a certain point and then you see if you have it.

"I had the gear and I was hoping it would carry me to the end."

After breezing through two preliminary rounds of the 100, Madison West sophomore Armani Davis finished a distant fourth to Milwaukee Vincent speedster Centrell Minter, who won in 11.03 seconds.

"The final heat is so much faster than the other ones were," said Davis, who also finished third in the 400. "My coaches had told me about Centrell and how fast he was, and I had an opportunity to see it up close.

"He had another burst of speed and that kind of got me. I could have ran faster with him, I just have to figure out how for next time."

Host Monona Grove also had a good showing. Senior Nick Grosso recorded a throw of 168-3� to win the discus to defeat teammate Damonte Reed, whose throw of 152 feet earned him second.

Grosso, who also finished fourth in the shot put, was named field event performer of the invitational. Silver Eagles seniors Kendric Smith (110 hurdles) and Travis Morehouse (high jump) also had first-place finishes.