BOONE, N.C. — In 1998, when he was beginning a comeback from cancer that would lead to seven consecutive Tour de France wins, Lance Armstrong came here to train in this "arduous but beautiful country" and work with coaches and trainers at Appalachian State University.

Two years earlier, then coaching at Port St. Joe, Chiles High School cross country coach Scott Gowan first brought his team of runners here for much the same reasons. He has returned every year. His record in the 10 years he has coached at Chiles: three boys' state championships, one for the girls, and a combined five runner-up finishes.

Eighteen of Gowan's boys and girls were back this week for a five-day team running camp at ASU that gave them the chance to train at elevation, and if their success at a Thursday meet for campers was any predictor of the season to come, the teams again may be a threat to bring home state championships.

Chiles sophomore girls Lily Williams and Carly Thomas finished one-two by a sizable margin over their closest competitors, leading the nine Chiles runners to a first-place finish among teams from around the Southeast, including second-place powerhouse Chapel Hill, which has won eight North Carolina state championships.