"I don't like getting second place, especially by that little of time - two-tenths of a second," Quinn said, referring to her runner-up time of 18 minutes and 30.7 seconds.

Quinn kind of suspected things would be amiss when she reached the starting line. The pressure she put on herself to do well manifested itself in a bundle of nerves before the race. Her mind feverishly played out the race, worrying about the outcome.

By the time she was readying herself to start, Quinn already felt a sluggishness begin to overtake her.

"I was just so nervous, all my energy drained out of me and I couldn't do it," Quinn said.

Rather than dwell on the past, Quinn is choosing to focus on the future. She hopes to finish her high school track career by capturing the state championship which eluded her in the fall.

"I don't have a state title yet," Quinn said. "I really want one before I go to college. I just think its my time."

The senior should be a title contender in multiple events. She is a defending Region 3 champion in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters. Quinn also recorded top-six finishes in all those events at the 5-A state meet last spring, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the 3,200.

Perhaps the most amazing aspect of those performances is that Quinn did not make a name for herself as a junior high phenom.

Indeed, Quinn only began running in high school after expressing dissatisfaction with competing in swimming to a close friend on Bingham's track team. Her friend encouraged her to run instead. Quinn figured she had nothing to lose, and hasn't looked back since.

Longtime Miners track coach Jeff Arbogast said Quinn's drive to achieve excellence has helped her emerge into an elite runner.

"The dedication and maturity is at a level high school girls don't normally achieve or see," Arbogast said. "Our girls on the team are getting an opportunity the last several years to see what is possible. Kim is a self-driven and self-made runner."

Quinn has worked to shake off a series of illnesses that limited her participation during the indoor season. For three weeks she was sidelined, first with bronchitis, then tonsillitis.

Indoor competition ended up being more of a transition phase as she tried to regain her distance-running form. She finally began feeling like her old self only a couple of weeks ago.

Quinn's future looks bright when it comes to continuing her track and cross country career in college. She has already received scholarship offers from Utah State and Alabama, and a few other schools have invited her for campus visits.

Arbogast believes Quinn has the potential to accomplish more than any runner to come out of Bingham.

"Her legacy at Bingham is already defined," he said. "She's been the greatest individual talent that has come out of the woodwork and made themselves great that I've seen in 30 years."

Major Miner

* Kim Quinn returns as the defending Region 3 champion in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters.

* Quinn is looking to earn her first ever state title this spring.